In ancient Greece, if you had been a woman, the book would not have called you a citizen at all. Today we are all citizens. So what does the word really mean, and why is the subject that deals with it called Civics? Let us begin with where the word was born.
1. Where the word comes from
The subject we call Pouroniti in Bangla is Civics in English. The word comes from two Latin words: 'Civis' and 'Civitas'.
'Civis' means citizen. 'Civitas' means city-state. Tap the rows of the grid below and match them up.
gridrecall the two Latin words
Word to meaning
word
meaning
Civis
citizen
Civitas
city-state
Civics
the subject Pouroniti
'Civis' means citizen. It is one of the two Latin words.
'Civitas' means city-state. It is the other one.
From these two Latin words comes Civics, Pouroniti in Bangla.
2. Who was a citizen in ancient Greece
In ancient Greece the citizen and the city-state were inseparable. A city-state was built up from small regions.
Those who took part directly in the functions of the city-state were called citizens. Slaves, women and foreigners did not have that chance, so they were not called citizens. Tap the four chips and see who was who.
classifytap a chip
Who is a citizen?
Hint: look at who could take part in state functions.
Citizen. The book calls exactly these people citizens.
Not a citizen. A slave had no chance to take part in state functions.
Not a citizen. The same reason: no chance to take part.
Not a citizen. The same reason: no chance to take part.
All four seen. There was one test: direct part in the work of the city-state.
3. The modern state and its citizens
The modern state took shape in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries through a long process. It is formed on the basis of sovereignty, over a defined territory, with a population. Citizens are given security through the rule of law and the judiciary, a well-organised administration and the government.
Security has two sides. By forming the Army, Navy, Airforce and paramilitary forces, the state protects its people from external threats. The police, Ansar and other forces keep internal law and order.
The modern state gives all citizens, women and men alike, political, economic, social and religious rights. All citizens enjoy all rights equally.
Today large nation states have taken the place of city-states. Bangladesh, for example, has an area of 147,570 km² and a population of nearly 165 million (census of 2022).
Travel between the two ages. The city-state of ancient Greece and the state of today: who stands inside the ring, and who outside?
two agesswitch the age, pick a person
who is a citizen, who has rights
The people are a sketch, not a count, and the two territories are not drawn to scale.
There is a catch, though: not everyone gets every political right. Tap the chips to see who does not.
classifycheck age and citizenship
Who lacks political rights?
Cannot vote or be elected. Those under 18, who are minors, cannot enjoy these political rights.
No political rights. Foreigners can neither vote in an election nor be nominated for one.
This is not a sentence from the book; it is our inference. The book names two barriers, being under 18 and being a foreigner, and an adult citizen has neither.
All three seen. The book names just two barriers: age and being a foreigner.
4. Citizenship, and Civics
The status the state accords to its citizens is called citizenship.
Civics and citizenship is called the science of citizenship, because every matter connected with citizenship is discussed in Civics.
According to the British political scientist E. M. White, Civics is a valuable branch of knowledge. It deals in detail with the past, present and future of citizenship, and with everything that touches humanity at the local, national and international levels. Now sort out how wide that reach is.
sort themchip, then bin
Two senses
Pick up a chip, then drop it in a bin. Hint: in the narrow sense it is only one thing.
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Ask: is this the whole field, or just one thing in it?
All in place. Everything linked to citizenship comes into Civics, which is why it is called the science of citizenship.
Put together, the definition runs: the regular discussion of the behaviour and functioning of citizens, families, society and the state, through which knowledge of the ideal civic life is imparted, is called “Civics and Citizenship.”
As citizens of the state, each of us needs a clear idea about Civics.
5. Check yourself
Start with the first question.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 1
Citizens whose age is ___ cannot enjoy political rights such as voting or being elected.
That is not the answer: 18 years. Those under 18 years old cannot cast their votes or be elected.
That is not the answer: above 18 years. Those under 18 years old cannot cast their votes or be elected.
Right. Those under 18 years old cannot cast their votes or be elected.
That is not the answer: above 60 years. Those under 18 years old cannot cast their votes or be elected.
Now the second.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 2
In ancient Greece, the following could not be citizens:
i. i. Foreigners ii. ii. Women iii. iii. Slaves
This combination does not match; the true statements are i, ii and iii. Slaves, women and foreigners were all not called citizens because they could not take part in state functions.
This combination does not match; the true statements are i, ii and iii. Slaves, women and foreigners were all not called citizens because they could not take part in state functions.
This combination does not match; the true statements are i, ii and iii. Slaves, women and foreigners were all not called citizens because they could not take part in state functions.
Right. Slaves, women and foreigners were all not called citizens because they could not take part in state functions.
And the last one.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 3
What is the English synonym of 'Pouroniti' in Bangla?
That is not the answer: Civis. The English word for the subject called 'Pouroniti' in Bangla is Civics.
That is not the answer: Civitas. The English word for the subject called 'Pouroniti' in Bangla is Civics.
That is not the answer: Citizen. The English word for the subject called 'Pouroniti' in Bangla is Civics.
Right. The English word for the subject called 'Pouroniti' in Bangla is Civics.
The whole note on eight cards.
cut from the notetap to turn over
Eight cards
QuestionFrom which language, and which two words, does Civics come?
AnswerFrom the Latin words 'Civis' and 'Civitas.'
QuestionWhat does 'Civis' mean?
AnswerCitizen.
QuestionWhat does 'Civitas' mean?
AnswerCity-state.
QuestionWho were called citizens in ancient Greece?
AnswerThose who directly participated in the functions of the city-state.
QuestionWhy were slaves, women and foreigners not called citizens in ancient Greece?
AnswerBecause they did not have the opportunity to take part in the functions of the state.
QuestionBelow what age can a citizen neither vote nor be elected?
AnswerThose under 18 years.
QuestionWhat is citizenship?
AnswerThe status accorded to the citizens by the state.
QuestionWhy is Civics called the science of citizenship?
AnswerBecause all matters related to citizenship are discussed in Civics.
Source: Civics and Citizenship, Classes 9-10 (NCTB), Chapter 1 “Civics and Citizenship”, the “The Concept of Civics and Citizenship” part.