Download AthensvSparta - Rachel`s History Classes

Athens: Athens is located in south-central Greece, on the peninsula landmass called Attica. It sits on a large
plain surrounded by mountains, and lies about four miles from the Aegean Sea. Because of Athens' proximity to
the sea, it developed strong trade relationships with other city-states, allowing it to become powerful and
prosperous. During the fifth century B.C.E., Athens secured its powerful trade status by constructing the Long
Walls. These two parallel walls stretched for four miles, connecting Athens with its port city Piraeus, and thus
ensuring the safe transport of trade goods inland from the coast. Another major Athenian economic asset was
silver - obtained from the silver mine of Mt. Laurium - which helped finance the Athenians' social and military
programs.
By the early 500s B.C.E., Athens had become the most important Greek city-state, primarily for two reasons: its
democratic form of government, and its strong encouragement of the arts. Most free male Athenian citizens
could vote and hold public office. Talented people from throughout Greece came to Athens to learn and study in
various artistic fields. The best artists, architects, and writers came together in this unique, cosmopolitan city
that became noted for its beauty and splendor.
In the early fifth century B.C.E., invasions from the Persian Empire severely threatened Athens' independence
and prosperity. After defeating the Persians in 479 B.C.E., Athens put together an alliance - called the Delian
League - of numerous Greek city-states that would serve as a mutual defense pact against future Persian
aggression. Over time, as Athens grew more powerful, it became the dominant member of the alliance. League
members paid an annual tribute to Athens in exchange for Athenian protection. Eventually, Athens used these
resources to crate a naval empire in the Aegean Sea and to fight its major enemy during the latter part of the
fifth century B.C.E. - Sparta.
Sparta: The city-state of Sparta was located in the southeastern part of the Greek region known as the
Peloponnesus. The city sat on the northern tip of a plain, between high mountain regions to the east and west,
and about 25 miles from the sea. Sparta's location on a fertile and rain-nourished plain enabled it to develop a
strong farming economy. Though based on fertile land, this farming economy was also a product of cheap
forced labor. A large class of serfs called helots (pronounced HEH-lots) farmed the land and allowed the free
Spartans to concentrate their efforts on other pursuits.
Sparta rose as a powerful city-state on the basis of its strong and stable oligarchic government and its militaristic
lifestyle. All male citizens were required to perform full-time military service. This well-trained, full-time army
enabled Sparta to be the dominant military power in southern Greece for several hundred years. In addition, it
helped ensure that the helots would not rebel against the Spartans. In contrast to Athenian society, the
Spartans' lifestyle was rigid and anti-intellectual. Spartans scorned wealth, splendor, and the arts: even during
the height of their prosperity, they continued to build only wooden houses, and erected very few public
monuments.
During the sixth century B.C.E., Sparta became the most prominent and powerful city on the Peloponnesus.
Around 550 the Spartans became leaders of an alliance of Greek city-states that created a powerful, united
force against all its enemies. The alliance - called the Peloponnesian League - helped Athens defeat Persia during
the Persian Wars (490-479 B.C.E.). However, Athens' power and prestige continued to rise throughout the fifth
century B.C.E. Sparta began to fear the spread of Athenian democracy to other city-states, which in turn might
encourage Sparta's own helot class to rebel against the Spartan government. Thus, the Peloponnesian League
began to seek ways to curb Athenian influence.