What was seen as a consequence of the limited definition of citizenship in ancient Athens?

The limited definition of citizenship in ancient Athens was indeed seen as a consequence that led to a lack of true democratic representation. In ancient Athens, citizenship was restricted primarily to male landowners, which excluded a large portion of the population, including women, slaves, and non-citizens. This narrow definition meant that the views and interests of many members of society were not represented in the decision-making processes of the assembly or other political structures.

Because the pool of individuals who could participate as citizens was so limited, the policies and laws created by the assembly tended to reflect only the interests of those who were considered citizens. Consequently, the broader population—those who had a stake in the city-state but were excluded from citizenship—lacked a voice in the political system. This inherent exclusion undermined the democratic ideal that democracy should represent all members of society, thereby resulting in a significant gap in representation and participation in the political discourse of Athens. Thus, the idea that citizenship was limited directly contributed to a situation where true democratic representation was not achieved.