Download Sparta and Athens

Name_________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 9: The Greek World Section 2: Sparta and Athens Big Idea The two most powerful city-­‐states in Greece, Sparta and Athens, had very different cultures and became bitter enemies in the 400s BC Main Ideas: 1. The Spartans built a military society to provide security and protection 2. The Athenians admired the mind and the arts in addition to physical abilities 3. Sparta and Athens fought over who should have power and influence in Greece Spartans Build a Military Society Questions:
1) Why did Lycurgus create such a military-dominated social system?
After a slave revolt, Lycurgus wanted to discourage another revolt by increasing the military’s
role in society
2) What happened if a baby boy was born unhealthy?
It was taken outside of the city and left to die
3) What were the main values of Spartan men and what evidence do you have to support
your claim?
Answers vary
Strength – jumped, threw javelins, and swam to increase strength.
4) In a society organized such as Sparta was, why might women have more rights and
responsibilities than in a society organized such as Athens was?
While the boys and young men in Sparta were away from home serving as soldiers, women
filled the roles, such as property owners and heads of households, that men filled in other
societies
Reading Check: What was the most important element of Spartan society?
The military
Athens Admire the Mind Questions:
1) What were Athenian girls taught?
To weave and sew, care for the home
2) What was the basic difference between life in Sparta and life in Athens?
Sparta – focused on and organized around the military, so all training and education supported
the military
Athens – thought that the mind and the body should be trained, so education, clear thinking, and
the arts were valued
3) Considering only Athens and Sparta, in which city-state would you rather have lived?
Answers vary
Reading Check: Why did girls in Athens receive little education?
Because men didn’t think women needed education
Sparta and Athens Fight Vocabulary
1) alliance – an agreement to work together
Key Ideas
1) Peloponnesian War – a war between Athens and Sparta that threatened to tear all of
Greece apart
Questions:
1) What happened to the Delian League?
Athens increased its influence over the other city-states in the league, began to treat other
members unfairly, and used the league’s money to benefit Athens. The league became an
Athenian empire
Reading Check: What happened to Greece after the Pelopennesian War?
Sparta became the most powerful city-state in Greece
Assessment:
Compare and contrast Athens and Sparta.
Athens
- Military: limited service
Both
- Boys were trained to fight
Sparta
- Military: main element in
society
- Education: wealthy boys
given education
- Both had an alliance against
the Persians
- Education: limited to basics
- Women: few rights and not
educated
- Women: had rights, owned
land, trained physically