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Life in Two City-States: Sparta and Athens
Directions: You will need to read through chapter 27 from your History Alive textbook to find
out more about the two city states. While you do, you will need to answer the following
questions, and take notes in the space provided. Be sure to copy direct quotes as this
information will be used in your next project.
Government
Consider the following:
27.3 Why was Athens considered a democracy?
27.7 Why was Spartan government considered an oligarchy?
As you read, compare and contrast the two styles of government. Find both similarities and
differences between the two systems.
Athens
(Frey 261)

“a democracy”

“Athens allowed only free men
to be citizens. All men over the
age of 18 who were born in
Athens were Athenian citizens.”

“The Council of 500 met every
day”

“The names of all citizens 30
years of age or older were
collected, and 500 of those
names were chosen.”

“ran the day to day business of
the government and suggested
new laws”
Similarities

Sparta
(Frey 265)
Had own
government.

“Sparta was an oligarchy”

Had an assembly.


Only male citizens
in assembly.
“The Council of Elders
consisted of two kings and
28 other men.”

“The two kings inherited
their position and shared
equal powers.”

“The other 28 members of
the council were
elected…had to be at least
60 years old and from a
noble family."

“The Council of Elders held
the real power in Sparta. It
prepared laws for the

“A much larger group, the
Assembly…met on a hill every
10 days”

“6,000 citizens had to be
present”

“The Assembly debated and
voted on laws proposed by the
council. Every citizen had the
right to speak"
Assembly to vote on, and it
had the power to stop any
laws passed by the
Assembly”

“The Assembly had very
little power.”

“Members of the Assembly
could only vote yes or no on
laws”
Economy
Consider the following:
27.4 How did Athenians get the goods they needed for everyday life?
27.8 How did Spartans get the goods they needed for everyday life?
As you read, compare and contrast the two economies. Find both similarities and differences
between the two systems.
Athens

Economy based on trade with
other city-states and foreign lands
to get goods and natural resources
they needed.


Similarities

Based on farming and
conquering other people to
get what they need (including
new land for farming).
“The land around Athens did not
provide enough food for all the
city’s people. But Athens was near
the sea, and it had a good harbor.
So Athenians traded with other
city-states and some foreign lands
to get the goods and natural
resources they needed.” (Frey,
262)

‘Sparta didn’t have enough
land to feed all its people, so
Spartans took the land they
needed from their
neighbors.” (Frey, 266)

Discouraged trade-thought
new ideas from other people
would weaken government.
“They acquired wood from Italy
and grain from Egypt. In
exchange, Athenians traded honey,
olive oil, silver, and beautifully
painted pottery.” (Frey, 262)

Didn’t have coins, used heavy
iron bars as money.

“Legend says that an ancient
Spartan leader decided to use
iron as money to make it hard
to steal. A thief would need a
wagon to carry enough iron
bars to be valuable.” (Frey,
266)

Men spent lives as soldiers,
non-citizens and slaves
produced needed goods for
soldiers-clothing and
weapons.

“The Spartans also made use

Developed coins made of gold,
silver and bronze.

“Athens developed its own coins to
make trade easier.” (Frey, 262)

Had a marketplace called Agora
where people could buy household
items, sandals, jewelry and slaves.

Sparta
The land did
not provide all
the food the
people needed.
of noncitizens, called
perioikoi.” (Frey, 266)

Turned the people they
conquered into slaves called
helots.

“The helots continued to live
in their own villages, but they
had to give much of the food
they grew to the Spartan
citizens.” (Frey, 266)
Education
Consider the Following:
27.5 How did Athenians train the minds AND bodies of boys?
27. 9 How did Sparta train boys AND girls so they could protect the city-state?
As you read, compare and contrast the two educations. Find both similarities and differences
between the two systems.
Athens

Main purpose of education was
to produce good citizens.
Similarities
Education was
important to the future
success of the city-state
Sparta
( Frey 267)

Purpose of education was
to produce men and women
who could protect Sparta

“If a baby did not appear
healthy and strong, it might be
left to die on a hillside.” (Frey,
267)

Education was focused on sharp
mind and health body.

“Education meant physical
training as well as book
learning.” (Frey, 263)

Boys and girls educated
differently

Valued strength and
discipline

“Since only boys grew up to be
citizens, boys and girls were
educated quite differently.”
(Frey, 263)

From age 7 boys and girls
were trained to fight, even girls
received some military training


Girls learned how to manage a
household, did not learn to read
or write.
“They (girls) learned
wrestling, boxing, footracing,
and gymnastics”(Frey, 267)

“They (girls) were taught to
cook, clean, spin thread, and
weave cloth. Some also learned
ancient secret songs and dances
for religious festivals.” (Frey,
263)


“Spartan boys were taught
to suffer any amount of physical
pain without complaining.
They marched without shoes.
They were not fed well, and
they were encouraged to steal
food as long as they did not get
caught.” (Frey, 267)
Boys went to school from age 6
to 14 and were taught reading,
writing, arithmetic, literature,

Males lived in soldier’s
barracks until 30 years old.
music and sports

Military training began at age
18

“After their service, wealthy
young men might study with
private teachers. These teachers
charged high fees for lessons in
debate and public speaking that
would help young men become
political leaders.” ( Fret, 263)

Boys taught to read and
write, although this was not
considered as important as
military training.

At age 20, Spartan men
given a test of fitness, military
anility and leadership skills.
Treatment of Women and Slaves
Consider the Following:
27.6 How were women AND slaves treated in Athens?
27.10 How were women AND slaves treated in Sparta
As you read, compare and contrast how each city-state treated their women and slaves. Find
both similarities and differences between the two locations.
Athens

Women and slaves not citizens.

Women could not inherit or own
much property

Women could not vote or attend
the Assembly
Similarities
Women and slaves had
fewer rights then men
Sparta

Women lived same simple
life as men

Women did not wear jewelry,
cosmetics or perfume

Women were expected to be
healthy and strong, and
protect husband’s property

“A woman was expected to
look after her husband’s
property in times of war. She
also had to guard it against
invaders and revolts from
slaves,”(Frey, 268)

“Most could not even choose
their own husbands” (Frey, 264)

Few women held jobs, some sold
goods in the marketplace, a few
had important jobs as priestess

“An Athenian wife had separate
rooms at home and never went
out alone.” (Frey, 264)

Women could own control
their own property
Women were not free to speak to
men in public

“they could even marry
another man if their first
husband had been away at
war too long.” (Frey, 268).

Women were free to talk to
men in public

Slaves (helots) were treated
harshly and sometimes killed


Many slavery in Athens- some
born into slavery, others made
slaves when captured

“Most people who weren’t poor
owned at least one slave.” (Frey,
264)

Slaves worked in silver mines,
ran households, tutored children
and some were craftsman
so they would revolt

“The Spartans were afraid
the helots would revolt, so
they treated them very
harshly.” (Frey, 268)

“The government sometimes
declared war on the helots so
that it could legally kill any
slaves it thought might
rebel.” (Frey, 268)

Helots had some rights –
could marry whomever they
wanted, pass their name on to
their children, sell extra crops
after giving his master his
crops and possibly buy their
freedom.