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Comparing Athens to Sparta
GOVERNMENT
ATHENS
SPARTA
Athens was a democracy with 2 main governing bodies.
Sparta’s government was a combination of the
following:
COUNCIL (The Boule)
Monarchy: A ruling family
Oligarchy: A small group controls a large population
Democracy: Citizens decide on laws
Your research showed two numbers for this. The Council of 400 was
later made into 500.
RESPONSIBILITIES: The council took care of the day to day
problems/issues in Athens. They were in charge of government workers
and they dealt with ambassadors from other Greek city-states and
decided which issues would go before the assembly.
This group was made of citizens (men) who served for 1 year.
2 KINGS: These kings shared responsibility. One king
was in charge of the army.
ASSEMBLY (The Ekklesia)
GERONTIS: A group of 30 that included the kings and
28 elders of at least 60 years of age (retirement age
from the army). They were elected by the people and
acted as an advising body.
RESPONSIBILITIES: 40 times throughout the year, upwards of 40,000
adult-male citizens would meet (only about 5,000 would actually meet).
This group made decisions about war, foreign policy, wrote/revised
laws, and approved/condemned public officials. Decisions were made
by majority vote.
EPHORS: 5 elected officials that had the power to
indict the kings and held the responsibility of the
supreme court.
Athens also had a group called the Dikasteria which
acted as a court system.
DEMOS: The assembly. Male citizens of at least 30
years whose main responsibility was electing.
EDUCATION
ATHENS
The main goal was to train Athenian citizens in both art
and war. Schools were small and private. Education
was highly valued. You can infer that only wealthy
children could attend formal education.
BOYS: Formal education began around age 6. Boys would
study subjects such as language arts, music, and physical
education. Boys between 18-20 who were able bodied would
receive military training.
GIRLS: Taught at home or by a private tutor. Girls were taught
skills such as house keeping and mothering skills. Some
women received a good education but most never learned to
read or write.
SPARTA
The goal of Spartan education was to produce a
strong military.
BOYS: At age 7 boys were put into military camp.
Between 18-20 Spartan boys would be given
physical tests. If they didn’t pass, they would have
zero political rights. At the age of 20 they entered
the military where they would serve until age 60.
GIRLS: Girls were given physical training are were
raised to be extremely tough. Although women
didn’t serve in the military, they were trained to
have very good combat skills.
ROLE OF WOMEN
ATHENS
SPARTA
• Very few choices/rights
• Could not choose whom to marry
• Could not own property
• Citizen’s wives (respectable women)
could divorce, but if they did they
would lose all property and rights to
children.
• Women were expected to stay at
home and be good mothers
• Women could own land (they own 1/3
of all land in Sparta.
• Women could also inherit and sell land.
INFERENCE QUESTION: Women were
trained in combat and could own land.
Why do you think this was?
SOCIAL CLASS
ATHENS
SPARTA
Athenian social class was divided into sections based on
wealth.
3 main classes of society:
UPPER CLASS: Male, citizens.
MIDDLE CLASS: Combination of citizen/non-citizens.
LOWER CLASS: Free men who were once slaves or from poor
families.
SPARTANS: These were people were native Spartans,
descendants of the first Spartan people. They were the only
ones who could participate in politics.
**Not stated in your notes: There may have only been 810,000 male Spartan citizens throughout all of Sparta at any
given time.
SLAVES/WOMEN: Slaves and women were not considered
citizens.
PERIOECI: Foreigners who payed taxes. They served in the
military along with Spartan citizens. In charge of
trade/communication with neighboring city-states.
HELOTS: Slaves who were under Spartan rule. They could earn
freedom and join army.
**Not stated in notes: The vast majority of the population in
Sparta was made of the Helot slaves.
INFERENCE QUESTION: Why didn’t the Helots ever revolt
against Spartan rule?
ART/CULTURE/ENTERTAINMENT
ATHENS
SPARTA
Athens was the cultural center of Greece.
•
People could study and excel in any direction they chose
• Philosophy
• Art (architectural design, pottery, sculptures, fine jewelry)
• Athletics
• Many great architectural structures such as The Parthenon
and the Theatre of Dionysus.
• Many theatrical performances were done there. Actors
were always men.
Sparta contained large monuments, buildings, and temples.
Sparta was renowned for poetry, music, and dance.
Spartan lyricists were admired throughout the world.
People from all over would travel to Sparta to watch song and
dance competitions.
Not much remains from ancient Sparta.
MILITARY
ATHENS
•
•
•
Athenian soldiers were required to serve 2 years in the
military.
Athenians could be called into military action at any time
until the age of 60.
HOPLITES: Foot soldiers armed with swords, shields, and
long lances.
• Athens had a powerful navy.
• TRIREME: Powerful navy ship
SPARTA
Perhaps the most iconic military in history.
•
Known for bravery, skill, and professionalism.
• Best of the Greek hoplite warriors.
• Spartan men were in the military from age 20-60
• Sparta was the only Greek city-state without a wall
(INFERENCE QUESTION: What does this tell you about the
Spartan military?)
• Primary weapon was a 7-9 foot spear (drou)
• Small sward (xiphos) with a 2 foot blade.