Rival City-States: Athens versus Sparta

Rival City-States:Sparta vs. Athens

Athens and Sparta were probably the two most famous and powerful city states in Ancient Greece.

However, they were both very different.

SpartaCome back with your shield or on it

DevelopmentLocated on the Peloponnesus PeninsulaConquered neighboring region & took over landCreated militaristic society

Spartan Society 3 social groupsCitizens: descended from the invaders, controlled Sparta (only 5%)Perioci: free men, paid taxes & served in the army but had no political powerHelots: slaves, greatly outnumbered the other groups; Spartans used force to control them

Founded on the principle that the life of EVERY INDIVIDUAL belonged to the stateGovernment

Militaristic OligarchyTwo kings led Sparta1 king handled military1 king took care of domestic mattersGovernment

Council of Elders28 male citizens over the age of 60Proposed laws & served as a criminal courtAssemblyIncluded all male citizens over age of 30; voted on lawsGovernment

Life revolved around army (no need for walls! Army will defend!)All men aspired to become soldiersNewborn infants were examinedHealthy = livedSickly = left to die on hillside

Military Society

Primary purpose was to produce soldiers!Military training began at age 7 for boysBecame soldiers at age 20Served until age 60Education/Training

Trained to read, write & use weaponsTaught to steal, but not get caughtHarsh training: no shoes, sometimes no clothingEducation/Training

Lifes ambition was to be a soldiers motherWomen were expected to be healthy & strong so that they could bear strong childrenTrained in gymnastics, wrestling & boxing

Spartan WomenAlthough they were respected in Spartan society, women COULD NOT participate in governmentSpartan Women

Exceptional athletes, competed well in the Olympics, & defended Greece against invadersBUTImpact of Military Societydiscouraged trade & shunned philosophy, science, literature, & the artsNo individual freedomLittle economic growth

Impact of Military Society

Athens

Located on the Attica Peninsula (north of Sparta)Descended from the Mycenaeans

Development

Social ClassCitizens:All free men born in Athens (50%)Metics:Born outside AthensNo land, but paid taxesSlaves: Captured in war, considered property

GovernmentAssembly:Passed laws & decided public issuesALL free men over the age of 18 could participate It was considered their public duty

Government

Council of 500Drafted & proposed lawsOversaw meetings of the assemblyMembers chosen by lottery once a year

GovernmentOstracism:If a politicians name appeared on 6,000 ostraca they would be EXILED!!!

Government

Only boys were given an educationEntered school at 7; graduated at 18Studied arithmetic, drawing, music, gymnastics, rhetoric, literature (Iliad & Odyssey), etc.Education/TrainingBoys would train for future jobs after schoolThey entered the military after graduation & then went onto careers such as businessmen or Olympic athletes

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Education/TrainingAt age 18 men served in the military for 2 years Ephebic Oath:Pledge of loyalty to Athens & to good citizenship

No formal education; learned household duties from motherMarried between 13-15 Primary purpose was to have childrenAthenian Women

Wore clothes to depict their status in societyNo legal rightsCould not participate in government, or go to the market or the OlympicsAthenian WomenWore clothes to depict their status in societyMost important job for all women is having childrenWealthy women would manage house & slavesPeasant women would manage house & work in fieldWomen not allowed to go to market or Olympics

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Democracy, philosophy, architecture, drama, artAthenian Legacy

Wore clothes to depict their status in societyMost important job for all women is having childrenWealthy women would manage house & slavesPeasant women would manage house & work in fieldWomen not allowed to go to market or Olympics

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