Athens & Sparta Comparing Two City- States
Jan 02, 2016
Athens & Sparta
Comparing Two City-States
Athens Sparta
Population
Total 140,000 40,000 men
were citizens 40,000 slaves
Population
Total 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