In ancient Athens, voters scratched names onto pottery shards during exile votes.

The longer version

Broken pottery was the cheapest writing material available in any Greek town, so it suited a vote that needed thousands of names. Each citizen scratched the name of the man he wanted removed, and officials counted the fragments rather than the votes.

The point was to defuse rivalry before it turned violent. A politician who seemed too powerful, or who had quarrelled badly with others, could be sent away for a fixed period without losing his property or status. Because the decision needed a large turnout, it also showed how seriously the assembly took balance among its leaders.

Where this entry sits

This set looks at ancient civilizations, old inventions, trade routes, calendars, and the ordinary objects people once used every day. Nothing here is advice or opinion, just short notes about how daily life used to be organised long ago. The full list sits on the History page, where every entry is listed in order.