The GreeksThe Greeks

Sparta vs. AthensSparta vs. Athens

Two different city-statesTwo different city-states

• SpartaSparta

• AthensAthens

SpartaSparta

• Sparta is in PeloponnesusSparta is in Peloponnesus• They were Dorians who conquered They were Dorians who conquered

LaconiaLaconia• They turned the conquered people They turned the conquered people

into into state owned slaves known as state owned slaves known as helotshelots– Helots were supposed to work the landHelots were supposed to work the land– The helots outnumbered them so they The helots outnumbered them so they

had to have strict control.had to have strict control.

Spartan cultureSpartan culture

• They had two kingsThey had two kings and a council of and a council of elders and an assembly made up of elders and an assembly made up of all citizens to approve major all citizens to approve major decisionsdecisions– Citizens were male, native-born Citizens were male, native-born

Spartans over 30.Spartans over 30.

Being a citizenBeing a citizen

• From childhood Spartans prepared to be From childhood Spartans prepared to be part of a military state.part of a military state.

• All newborns were examined and the All newborns were examined and the sickly ones were left to die.sickly ones were left to die.

• At 7 boys began training for a lifetime in At 7 boys began training for a lifetime in the military.the military.– They moved into barracksThey moved into barracks– They slept on hard palates, ate bad food, had They slept on hard palates, ate bad food, had

hard exercise, and strict disciplinehard exercise, and strict discipline– They were encouraged to steal food but were They were encouraged to steal food but were

punished if caught. punished if caught.

A soldier’s lifeA soldier’s life

• Spartan youth became excellent Spartan youth became excellent soldierssoldiers

• At 20 they could marry, but they At 20 they could marry, but they lived in the barracks for another 10 lived in the barracks for another 10 years and ate there for another 40 years and ate there for another 40 years.years.

Women in SpartaWomen in Sparta

• Girls were to produce healthy soldiers and Girls were to produce healthy soldiers and sons for the army.sons for the army.

• They were to exercise and strengthen They were to exercise and strengthen their bodies.their bodies.

• They had to obey their fathers or They had to obey their fathers or husbandshusbands– They could inherit propertyThey could inherit property– Because of wars they took on more Because of wars they took on more

responsibilities.responsibilities.

Spartans Spartans

• Isolated themselves from their Isolated themselves from their neighborsneighbors

• Looked down on trade and wealthLooked down on trade and wealth

• Travel was forbiddenTravel was forbidden

• ““Spartans are willing to die because Spartans are willing to die because they have no reason to live”they have no reason to live”

AthensAthens

AthensAthens

• Athens is in AtticaAthens is in Attica• Government went from Government went from

monarchy to aristocracymonarchy to aristocracy• Under the aristocracy Under the aristocracy

wealth and power grew wealth and power grew but people were not but people were not happyhappy– They demanded change They demanded change

and didn’t want the nobles and didn’t want the nobles to have all of the power.to have all of the power.

– In hard times, farmers had In hard times, farmers had to sell their land and even to sell their land and even themselves sometimes to themselves sometimes to pay debts.pay debts.

Call for changeCall for change• Athens moved slowly Athens moved slowly

towards a towards a democracy-democracy-government by the people.government by the people.

• Solon was appointed chief Solon was appointed chief official and was told to official and was told to make reforms.make reforms.– He outlawed debt slaveryHe outlawed debt slavery and and

freed those in debt slaveryfreed those in debt slavery– Opened high offices to more Opened high offices to more

citizenscitizens– Gave citizenship to some Gave citizenship to some

foreignersforeigners– Gave the assembly more say Gave the assembly more say

in important decisionsin important decisions

Not really that reformedNot really that reformed

• Solon’s reforms helped but only for Solon’s reforms helped but only for somesome

• Citizenship was still limitedCitizenship was still limited

• This led to the rise of This led to the rise of tyrants-people tyrants-people who gain power by force.who gain power by force.

More reformsMore reforms

• And the assembly was made - this And the assembly was made - this was a was a legislature-a law making body.legislature-a law making body.– They debated lawsThey debated laws– All male citizens over 30 were membersAll male citizens over 30 were members

Government still limitedGovernment still limited

• Democracy still limitedDemocracy still limited

• Only male citizens could participateOnly male citizens could participateSlaves and women had no voiceSlaves and women had no voice

• BUT Athens gave people more of a BUT Athens gave people more of a say than anybody else.say than anybody else.

Women in AthensWomen in Athens

• Women had no part in Women had no part in public lifepublic life

• In wealthy homes, In wealthy homes, Athenian women were Athenian women were secludedsecluded– They managed the They managed the

household, spun and wove, household, spun and wove, took care of the children, took care of the children, and prepared food.and prepared food.

• Poor women worked Poor women worked outside of the homeoutside of the home

Education in AthensEducation in Athens

• Only boys attended schoolOnly boys attended school if their if their families could afford it.families could afford it.– They learned to read and write, studied They learned to read and write, studied

music, poetry, and public speakingmusic, poetry, and public speaking– They received military trainingThey received military training– But they were encouraged to explore But they were encouraged to explore

and learn new things.and learn new things.