Download Athens and Sparta

Athens and Sparta
Athens and Sparta
Living in Sparta
• Life was harsh and cruel
• One basic rule of law: Put Sparta’s needs above
your own
• Sparta had a huge, powerful army
• Spartan citizens only trained for war
• Helots farmed the land
• Helots greatly outnumbered Spartan citizens
Athens and Sparta
Athens and Sparta
Growing Up in Sparta
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Boys began military training at 7
Boys were encouraged to cheat and steal, but were punished if caught
At 20, boys became soldiers
At 30, they could join the Assembly
At 60, they could retire from the army
Girls had more freedom and opportunities than any other girls in
Greece
Girls exercised and trained to have strong bodies to have healthy
babies
Women ran farms and estates
Spartans only interest was to be strong, brave and powerful in battle.
Athens and Sparta
Athens and Sparta
The Persian Invade
• Persian Empire was extending its control
through the middle east around 500 BC
• Persians invaded Greece with a huge army
• They intended to conquer all city-states
• The Athenian army defeated the Persians at
Marathon even though they were
outnumbered
Athens and Sparta
Athens and Sparta
Conflict and the Athenian Army
• Greeks united to defeat Persia
• Athens became the most powerful city-state
• City-states formed the Delian League to protect themselves from invaders
• Athens prospered from the alliance, but other city-states did not
Sparta and Athens at War
• Athens used the Delian League to become rich and powerful
• Sparta and other city-states formed the Peloponnesian League to protect them
from Athens
• In 431 BC, the Peloponnesian War began ( Athens vs. Sparta )
• Athens had powerful navy, Sparta had a powerful army
• Sparta could not be attacked by sea.
• Sparta invaded Athens. The war lasted 27 years
• Plague killed 1/3 of Athens population
• Sparta won the war and Athens never recovered