Rival City-States:Sparta Vs Athens

Athens and Sparta are the two most famous and powerful Cities States in Ancient

Greece.

They are very

different.

Sparta

“Come back with your shield or on it”

Sparta• It’s located on the

Peloponnesus Peninsula.

• Sparta has a militaristic society.

Spartan Society • 3 social groups• Citizens: real “Spartans”, control

Sparta (only 5%).• Perioci: free men, pay taxes &

serve in the army but have no political power.

• Helots: slaves, the majority. Spartans used force to control them.

• The most important principle: the life of every individual belongs to the State.

Government

• Militaristic Oligarchy• Sparta has two kings:

–1 king in charge of military matters;

–1 king in care of domestic matters.

Government

Council of Elders• 28 male citizens over

the age of 60:– they propose laws & serve as a

criminal court

Assembly• All male citizens over age of 30:

– they voted on laws

Government

• Main value: the army (no need for walls! Army will defend!)

• All men want to become soldiers

• Newborn infants are examined:

• healthy = they can live• sickly = they must die.

Military Society

• Primary purpose is to produce soldiers!

• Military training begin at age 7 for boys;

• soldiers at age of 20;• serve until age 60.

Education/Training

• Life’s ambition is to be a soldier’s mother.

• Women are expected to be healthy & strong so that they can bear strong children.

• Trained in gymnastics, wrestling & boxing.

Spartan Women

• They are respected in Spartan society, but they can not participate in government.

Spartan Women

• No interests in philosophy, science, literature, & the arts

• No individual freedom.

Impact of Military Society

Athens

• It’s on the Attica Peninsula (north of Sparta)

• They descend from the

Mycenaeans

Development

Social Class• Citizens:

• All free men born in Athens (50%)

• Metics:• Born outside Athens• No land, but paid taxes• Slaves: Captured in war,

considered property

Government

• Assembly:• ALL free men over the age of 18 can participate • It is considered their public

duty.

Government

• Council of 500• Give ideas to

the assembly• Members chosen by lottery

once a year

Government

• Ostracism:• If a

politician’s name appeared on 6,000 ostraca they would be EXILED!!!

Government

• Only boys receive an education• They enter school at 7;

graduated at 18• They study arithmetic,

drawing, music, gymnastics, rhetoric, literature (Iliad & Odyssey), etc.

Education/Training

Education/Training• At age 18 men

served in the military for 2 years.

• They receive physical

Education (sports)

• No formal education; learned household duties from theirs mothers

• Married between 13-15 • Primary purpose is to have

children

Athenian Women

• No legal rights• They can not

participate in government, or go to the market or the Olympics.

Athenian Women

• Democracy, philosophy, architecture, drama, art…

Athenian Legacy

Test yourself… SPARTA - 1• Sparta has a m____________ society.• Spartan society: 3 social groups:

Citizens, Perioci: f___ m___, and Helots: s______.

• E______ i_______belongs to the State.• Primary purpose is to produce

s________.• Life’s ambition is to be a

soldier’s m______.• They are respected in Spartan

society, but they c__ n___ participate in government.

• No i_________ freedom.

Test yourself… SPARTA - 2• Sparta has a militaristic society.• Spartan society: 3 social groups:

Citizens, Perioci: free men, and Helots: slaves.

• Every individual belongs to the State.• Primary purpose is to produce

soldiers.• Life’s ambition is to be a

soldier’s mother.• They are respected in Spartan

society, but they can not participate in government.

• No individual freedom.

Test yourself – ATHENS - 1

• Citizens: all f___ men born in Athens.

• Metics: born o______ Athens.• Slaves: considered p______.• Assembly: a_ free men can

participate.• Only b___ receive an education.• Women: m____ between 13-15 • Athens legacy: democracy,

p_______, architecture, drama, art…

•

Test yourself – ATHENS - 2

• Citizens: all free men born in Athens.

• Metics: born outside Athens.• Slaves: considered property.• Assembly: all free men can

participate.• Only boys receive an education.• Women: married between 13-15 • Athens legacy: democracy,

philosophy, architecture, drama, art…

•