Athens & Sparta

Athens & SpartaComparing Two City-States

Athens Sparta

Population Total 140,000 40,000 men

were citizens 40,000 slaves

PopulationTotal

100,000 About 8,000

were adult male citizens

Government Direct Democracy The Assembly open

to all citizens Male Own land 18 years old

No political roles for women

Government Oligarchy, but it

had elements of– Monarchy– Democracy– Aristocracy

Assembly– Males age 30 and

up– No political roles for

women

Social Structure Freemen: All male citizens

Top - Aristocrats Middle - Small farmers Bottom - Thetes (craftsmen)

Metics – foreigners Women

Rarely seen outside the home No rights

Slaves – no rights

Social Structure Spartiates:

– Military professionals– Land was farmed by serfs– Could vote

Perioeci:– Free men– Could not vote or serve

in the army– Foreigners

Helots: – Slaves

Women had few rights but more independence

Military Strong navy

Trireme

Military Strong army

"Either come back with your shield or on it."

Spartan Scytale

Life Style & Values Democratic Participation in

government as a civic responsibility

Cultural superiority Arete

Empire Trade

Life Style & Values Militaristic values Children of citizens

were raised to be “Spartan”

Infanticide Children were

taught to respect:– Elderly– Women– Warriors

Education Boys:

Reading, writing, mathematics, music, poetry, sport and gymnastics

Went to school from age 5 to 18 Some went to an academy for

philosophy, ethics and rhetoric Citizen boys entered a military training

camp for two years Girls:

Little formal education Spinning, weaving and other domestic

arts

Education Boys: – Taken from parents at

age seven– Trained in the art of

warfare– Joined the military at

20 Girls:

– Educated at age 7 in reading, writing, gymnastics, athletics and survival skills

– Could participate in sports

– Treated more as equals

Role of Women Kept at home with

no participation in sports or politics

Wives were considered property of their fathers or husbands

Some women held high posts in the religious life of Athens

Role of Women Assigned a

husband at age 18

Enjoyed a great deal of freedom– Could own and

control their own property

– In times of war, could oversee husband's property