Download Athens or Sparta Comparison - Tamalpais Union High School District

Athens or Sparta: Where Would You Like to Live?
Factor
Population
Government & Political
Organizations
Social Structure
Allies
Military
Strength
Life Style and Values
Education
Athens
Approximately 140,000 inhabitants. About
40,000 men were citizens, 40,000 slaves. By
423 BC Athens had become the most
populous city-state in Hellas.
Usually classified as a “direct democracy” (all
citizens attended the Assembly). Athens
claims to be the “birthplace of democracy”.
Elected officials including 10 generals
(strategos), magistrates (archons), and others.
Council of 500 were charged with
administering decisions made by the
Assembly.
The Assembly, made up of all eligible citizens.
The Assembly passed laws and made policy
decisions.
Women did not participate politically.
Freemen were all male citizens divided into
classes: Aristocracy, middle ranks (small
farmers), lowest ranks (craftsmen and
triremes rowers). Metics were outsiders who
could not own land by run
businesses/industries. Slaves were the lowest
class with no rights. Women had no rights.
Delian League, with Athens clearly the most
powerful. Athens taxed and protected other
city-states.
Strong Navy.
Democratic values for citizens. Believed in
participation in government as a civic
responsibility. Believed in cultural superiority
to other city-states.
Schools taught reading, writing, mathematics,
music, poetry, sports, and gymnastics.
Girls received little formal education with
domestic skills being emphasized.
Sparta
Approximately 8,000 Spartiates (adult male
citizens) ruled over a population of 100,000
enslaved and semi-enslaved people.
Usually classified as an “oligarchy” (rule by
a few), but it had elements of monarchy
(king), democracy (election of
council/senators), and aristocracy (rule by
the upper class or land owning class).
Two kings were generals in command of
the armies and with some religious duties.
Five overseers (ephors) elected annually
ran the day-to-day operations of Sparta.
They could veto rulings made by the
council or assembly.
Council or Senate, who acted as judges and
proposed laws to the citizen’s assembly.
The Assembly of all Spartan males could
support or veto the council’s
recommendations by shouting out their
votes.
Women did not participate politically.
Three Classes made up of Spartiates
(military professionals who owned land and
could vote), Perioeci (“neighbor/outsiders”
who were freemen, merchants, etc,
including foreigners), Helots were slaves
with no rights.
Women had few rights, but more
independence than elsewhere in Greece.
Peloponnesian League, with Sparta clearly
the most powerful.
Strong Army, best and most feared fighters
on land.
Militaristic values. Children raised to be
“Spartan” with few possessions. No
ownership of gold and silver. Spartan
mother’s saying… “Either come back with
your shield or on it”.
Boys taken from parents at age seven and
trained in the art of warfare. Survival skills
with minimum support. Educated in choral
dance, reading and writing. Athletics and
military training were emphasized. Girls
were educated in reading and writing,
gymnastics, athletics and survival skills.
Could participate in sports. Treated more
as equals
Role of Women
Athenian women and girls were kept at home
with no participation in sports or politics.
Wives were considered to be property of their
husbands. They were responsible for spinning,
weaving and other domestic arts.
Some women held high positions in the ritual
events and religious life of Athens.
Cultural Achievements
Art, architecture, drama and literature,
philosophy, science, medicine, etc.
Government (democracy, trial by jury, etc.)
Athenians enjoyed luxuries and foods from all
over their empire. Wealthy Athenians homes
were quite nice with an inner courtyard.
Food and Housing
Girls were educated in reading and writing
and could participate in sports. They were
treated more as equals to men. The goal
was to produce women who would produce
strong, healthy babies. At age 18 she would
be assigned a husband and return home.
Citizen women were free to move around
and enjoyed a great deal of freedom.
Domestic arts were handled by other
classes. Women were expected to oversee
her husband’s property in times of war.
Military supremacy and simple lifestyle (the
Spartan Life). One of the first attempts as
forming a utopia or idea community.
Spartan Broth that consisted of pork, blood,
salt and vinegar. Spartans were trained to
dislike luxuries and fancy foods. The men
lived most of their lives in military barracks.
Name ___________________________________
Period ____
Which Do You Pick… Athens or Sparta?
Using the information on the Athens/Sparta chart, answer the following questions in at least one paragraph/complete
sentence responses…
1. If you were a full citizen in one of the two societies, which would you chose to belong to? Give three reasons why.
2. If you knew nothing about the historical outcome of the two described societies, based on the information alone
which would you predict would be the longer-lasting, or most historically significant (most long lasting influences or
results)? Give at least two specific reasons why.
3. Which society do you believe treated women more fairly? Support your answer with at least two reasons.
4. Describe what you think is the single major cultural/historical accomplishment of Sparta and Athens, and explain
why. Remember, both are remembered for almost entirely different reasons.