Final answer:
In historical contexts like Athenian democracy, men needed to have persuasive oratory skills to speak at assemblies, embodying the public persona expected of a Roman man or Athenian citizen with a focus on effective argumentation and presentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In historical contexts, such as Athenian democracy or Roman public life, to have the right to speak at assemblies, the boys or men needed to embody certain rhetorical skills. This required an ability to convince their peers through argumentative skill and oratory prowess.
In ancient Rome, someone like Quintilian would focus on not just what to say, but also on the importance of how to stand and dress in a manner that represented a Roman man's public persona.
During Athenian political assemblies, all adult males had the right to vote, and public speaking was a valued skill, as decisions were influenced by one's ability to persuasively argue their point.
Similarly, in other contexts such as theatrical expression or even higher legislative bodies, the manner of speaking or presenting one's opinions, whether through words or body language, was critical for participating in the collective decision-making process.