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The Greeks
Sparta vs. Athens
Two different city-states
• Sparta
• Athens
Sparta
• Sparta is in Peloponnesus
• They were Dorians who conquered
Laconia
• They turned the conquered people into
state owned slaves known as helots
– Helots were supposed to work the land
– The helots outnumbered them so they had to
have strict control.
Spartan culture
• They had two kings and a council of elders
and an assembly made up of all citizens to
approve major decisions
– Citizens were male, native-born Spartans over
30.
Being a citizen
• From childhood Spartans prepared to be part of
•
•
a military state.
All newborns were examined and the sickly ones
were left to die.
At 7 boys began training for a lifetime in the
military.
– They moved into barracks
– They slept on hard palates, ate bad food, had hard
exercise, and strict discipline
– They were encouraged to steal food but were
punished if caught.
A soldier’s life
• Spartan youth became excellent soldiers
• At 20 they could marry, but they lived in
the barracks for another 10 years and ate
there for another 40 years.
Women in Sparta
• Girls were to produce healthy soldiers and sons
•
•
for the army.
They were to exercise and strengthen their
bodies.
They had to obey their fathers or husbands
– They could inherit property
– Because of wars they took on more responsibilities.
Spartans
• Isolated themselves from their neighbors
• Looked down on trade and wealth
• Travel was forbidden
• “Spartans are willing to die because they
have no reason to live”
Athens
Athens
• Athens is in Attica
• Government went from
•
monarchy to aristocracy
Under the aristocracy
wealth and power grew
but people were not
happy
– They demanded change
and didn’t want the nobles
to have all of the power.
– In hard times, farmers had
to sell their land and even
themselves sometimes to
pay debts.
Call for change
• Athens moved slowly towards a
democracy-government by the
people.
• Solon was appointed chief
official and was told to make
reforms.
– He outlawed debt slavery and
freed those in debt slavery
– Opened high offices to more
citizens
– Gave citizenship to some
foreigners
– Gave the assembly more say in
important decisions
Not really that reformed
• Solon’s reforms helped but only for some
• Citizenship was still limited
• This led to the rise of tyrants-people who
gain power by force.
More reforms
• And the assembly was made - this was a
legislature-a law making body.
– They debated laws
– All male citizens over 30 were members
Government still limited
• Democracy still limited
• Only male citizens could participate
Slaves and women had no voice
• BUT Athens gave people more of a say
than anybody else.
Women in Athens
• Women had no part in
•
public life
In wealthy homes, Athenian
women were secluded
– They managed the
household, spun and wove,
took care of the children, and
prepared food.
• Poor women worked
outside of the home
Education in Athens
• Only boys attended school if their families
could afford it.
– They learned to read and write, studied
music, poetry, and public speaking
– They received military training
– But they were encouraged to explore and
learn new things.