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Transcript
Ancient Athens LifeinAthens Athenswasoneofthemostbeautifulcitiesintheancientworld.Theybuiltmarbletemplesandtheatres anddecoratedthemwithfinestatues.Atheniansweretaughttoseebeautyinnature,andtoimprovetheirmines throughlearning. Athenswaslocatednearthesea,andthesurroundingareahadlittlequalityfarmland.However,itwaseasy forAthenianstotravelbyboattotradeforfoodandotherresourcesthattheyneeded.Asaresult,Atheniansfound theirstrengthinseatrade,andtheirlargenavalfleetofwarships.Athensbecamewealthybasedonitstradewith Greekcity-statesandothercivilizationsaroundtheMediterraneanSea. AthenianCulture Asaresultofthiswealthandtheabilitytosecuretheirbasicneedsthroughtrade,Athenianscouldspend lesstimeworkingandcouldfocusonculturalpursuits.Athensbecameathrivingcenterofculture.Athenianartists sculpted,madeanddecoratedpottery,wroteplays,danced,playedmusic,anddesignedelaboratetemplesand otherlargebuildings.Athenianphilosophersalsodebatedanddiscussedthegreatideasofthetime.This environmentofdebateanddiscussionwasfosteredbythedemocraticsystemofAthens,becauseallcitizenswere expectedtoparticipateingovernmentandneededtobeknowledgeableontheimportantissuesofthetime. RolesinSociety MuchofthedailylifeofAthenscenteredonthebusinessoftradeandthearts.Mentookcareofallofthe dailyresponsibilitiesoftheirbusinesses.Theytookcareofmanytasksfortheirhomes,suchasshoppingatthe market.Menalsospentmuchoftheirtimemeetinginthepublicsquarestodiscussbusinessandpolitics.Thisfree timewasavailabletothemenofAthensbecausemembersoftheenslavedclasstookcareofmanyoftheir responsibilitiesathomeandwereinchargeofraisingcrops. Becausethementookchargeofmostofthebusinessoutsideofthehome,thewomenofAthensrarely enteredpublicspaces.Theywereexpectedtostayhometocompletedomesticchoresandraisechildren.These rolesweretaughtandreinforcedintheeducationofchildreninAthens. Education Boysweretaughttoread,write,doarithmetic,andparticipateinculturallife,whilegirlsstayedhomewith theirmothers.AsAthenianmalesgrewup,theybecametraders,artisans,andmerchantswhoactivelyparticipated inthecultureandpoliticsofAthens.Whentheyreachedtheageof18,menwereallowedtotaketheoathof citizenshipandbecamefullparticipantsinthedailylifeofAthens.Athenianwomenwerenevergivencitizenship. Girlshadfeweroptionsandopportunitiesintheirlives.Theydidnotgotoschool.Theystayedhomeand wereinstructedbytheirmothersinhowtomaintainahomeandraisechildren.Despitetheirextremelylimited abilitytoparticipateingovernment,womenwereimportanttothereligiouslifeofAthens.Theycouldbecome priestessesandoftenledthedailyreligiousceremoniesthattookplaceinthecity-state. Overall,Athenianswereeagertoshareideas,materials,andproductswithpeoplefromothercity-states. TheirshipscarriedthemajorityofMediterraneantrade,leadingtoAthensbecominganimportanttradingcenter andoneoftherichestcitiesinancientGreece. Ancient Sparta LifeinSparta TherichfarmlandofthePeloponnesuswasattractivetomanyothercity-statesandcivilizations.Thefears ofoutsideinvasionandofahelot(slave)revoltledSpartatocreateadominantmilitaryculturethataffectedall aspectsofSpartanlife. Throughouttheancientworld,thecity-stateofSpartawasknownasastrictmilitarystate.AllSpartans wereexpectedtoobeythelawsofthecity-statewithouthavingtherighttodiscusswhetherthelawsweregoodor bad. SpartanCulture BecauseSpartabaseditspoweronmilitarystrength,Spartansspentlittletimefocusingontheartsand culture.Frombirth,Spartancitizenswereraisedtobecomefiercesoldiers.Whenaboywasborn,hewasbrought beforeacouncilofelderswhoexaminedhimtoensurehewashealthyandstrong.Iftheboywasdeterminedtobe healthy,hewasreturnedtohisparents.Ifthecouncildecidedthechildwasnothealthyorweakinsomeway,the babywastakenawayfromhisparentsandlefttodieofexposure.Spartansbelievedthispracticewouldstrengthen theirsocietybyensuringthatonlythestrongestmemberssurvived.Occasionally,weakorunhealthybabieswould bespared,andraisedashelots(slaves). Education Whenboysreachedtheageof7,theylefttheirfamiliesandmovedintothebarracks(militaryhousing)to begintheirtrainingassoldiers.Theyremainedintraininguntilage20,atwhichtimetheybecamemembersofthe Spartanarmy.Theywereallowedtomarryaftertheyturned18,buttheywerenotallowedtolivewiththeirwives untiltheyturned30. Althoughtheirtrainingwasnotasintenseasthatoftheirmalecounterparts,Spartanwomenwerealso trainedinmilitarytechniques,tobeabletodefendSpartashouldenemiesattackwhilethemenwereaway. Additionally,womenperformedmanyexercises(suchasthrowingjavelins,wrestling,andrunning)tobecomeand staystrong,becauseSpartansbelievedstrongwomenproducedstrongchildren. RolesinSociety WhileSpartanmenmaintainedpoweringovernmentaffairs,womenplayedanimportantroleinSpartan society.Becausethemenspentmuchoftheirtimetrainingforandfightinginwars,Spartanwomenwereexpected torunthehouseholdandhandlethedailybusinesswhenthemenwereunableto. Thehelots,Sparta’senslavedclass,alsoplayedanintegralroleinsociety.Whilethemenandwomenwere trainingforwar,thehelotscarriedoutthedailyworkofthecity-state.Theymadethegoods,farmedtheland,and conductedthelimitedtradethatSpartahadwithothercity-states. Overall,Spartanswerenotinterestedinart,science,orbeautifulbuildings.Infact,theymadefunofpeople inothercity-stateswhodidcareaboutthesethings.TheSpartansalsoshowedlittleinterestintradewithother city-states,becausetheyfearedthatexchangeofmaterials,products,andideaswouldleadtothemlosinginterest inasternmilitarywayoflife.
