Compare And Contrast Athens And Sparta

The city-states Athens and Sparta were rivals in ancient Greece. Geographically the two were very close to each other, but they had a very different economy, cultural values, and way of governing. Both city-states had two very different ways of doing things. I will be highlighting the major differences.

There are many important city-states that played a significant role in how ancient Greece developed. Two of the most famous city-states, also known as the “superpowers” are Athens and Sparta. These two could not have been more different when it came to geography, government, society and ideas. As time passed Sparta and Athens went from being allies to absolutely hating each other.

During the times of Ancient Greece, two major forms of government existed, democracy and oligarchy. The city-states of Athens and Sparta are the best representatives of democracy and oligarchy, respectively. The focus of the times was directed towards military capabilities, while the Athenians were more interested in comfort and culture. It was the oligarchy in Sparta that put a war-like attitude as its first priority and best met the needs of Ancient Greece. These factors empowered Sparta and led to the development of an authoritative and potent state. Other contrasting issues included women’s rights, social classes, and value of human life.

Athens and Sparta are the two famous city-states in Ancient Greece. The Athens was more superior then Sparta. The Athenians were stronger because they had a better geography, government, cultural achievements, and I would rather live in the Athens.

Ancient Greece was comprised of small city-states, of which Sparta and Athens were two. Athens was renowned as a center of wisdom and learning. The people of Athens were interested in arts, music, and intellectual pursuits. Sparta, on the other hand, was recognized for its military strength. A Spartan's life was centered on the state, because he lived and died to serve the state. Although the competing city-states of Sparta and Athens were individually different as well as governmentally diverse, they both managed to become dominating powers in Ancient Greece.

In the period known as classical Greece in the years 800-323 BCE, Greece comprised of small city states (poleis) which were considered and operated as independent small countries. Amongst those city states Athens and Sparta were two of the most powerful and considered in Greek history as the most influential states to western civilisation. These two city states shared some common characteristics whilst in some instances they were very different from each other. Sparta and Athens had differences and similarities in the way they governed their city states, in how they established their military forces, how they treated women, their marriage customs and social gatherings

Sparta the state that is based on pure military and knowledge skills has focused more on preservation rather than celebration this was shown through their buildings, they were simple but very useful these buildings were made by farmers. That is what Sparta is compiled of the most battle ready and toughest farmers. Sparta being considered a state it was not thought of as a city, other states such as Athens had more protection such as a wall, but Sparta was more of a unconstrained land being more open to nature. Spartans had the respect of most people meaning no army dare cross into their land without some deep consideration. Even though their land is a more open area their location being in the laconian region had given them instant defence

Source R is of … The main role of their army was to protect Sparta’s borders from both other city-states and in revolts. Sparta’s whole way of life, their militaristic society and the State’s constitution all revolve around its army. As time went on, Sparta developed into the leading military force in ancient Greece and they believed that they had the ‘best army in the world’ at the end of the Peloponnesian War and upheld this status for over a quarter of a century.

From about the time of the Persian invasion until the Battle of Leuctra, Sparta was viewed as the powerhouse of the Greek city-states. There were numerous reasons behind their success, but there are few that stand out as the most prevalent. Spartan boys are born to be warriors, they are sent to the Agoge at the age of seven and forced to abide by the Laws set by Lycurgus the Lawgiver. Spartan men never had to worry about chores or any work that was done in the kleroi, allowing more time and focus to be dedicated towards militaristic training. The Spartan army had the ability to call upon the Perioikoi and Helots if need be as extra warriors, which became a significant advantage at time. These reasons, along with

The Spartan State was a militaristic force to be reckoned with, and is famous for the values that were expected of their people. These Spartan values and militaristic system of government is described in a document by Plutarch (45-125 CE) regarding Sparta after the Lycurgian reforms, specifically after

In the beginning, Sparta had a good foundation, with sufficient natural defenses (Freeman, 2004, pg. 168). Spartan culture emphasized courage and immortal honor imbued to forfeiting your life by dying in service to one’s home city, not to mention bringing glory to your family (Freeman, 2004, pg. 164). Shortly following Sparta’s inception began their excursions into conflagration, starting with those located closest to them, bringing them to dependence on Sparta and forcing them to contribute manpower to the Spartan army and yet not allowing them to participate in the governance of Sparta (Freeman, 2004, pg. 168). Despite no clear cause or need for further expansion (such as Athens dire need for grain) and an increasingly less defendable border, the Spartans became greedier still, seeking more land and dominance (Freeman, 2004, pg. 168-169).

The ancient cities of Athens and Sparta were acrimonious foes in historic Greece. While, like many cities within and around Greece, posed many similarities, there differences were even greater; these differences usually proved to showcase which rival cities held the “upper-hand” in their jurisdiction and rule over the other free cities. To make the case of which city held a more prudent political power, however, in addition to whose was best? I think that all depends on beliefs and political allegiance. Both Athens and Sparta, respectively, were the conceptual ideological form of citizenry.

If I had a choice during the 5th Century to be part of either Spartans or Athens I would choose to be part of the Spartans. I say this for many reasons I will explain shortly. Athens and Spartans were quite different when it came to the way each of the cities were ruled and the way each of the citizens that lived there were treated. In Sparta the government was very different from the Athens. If you entered Sparta it was as if you were entering some sort of camp for the military. They were very disciplined and honestly treated most of their citizens like soldiers. Now I know what you are thinking. You are thinking well Sparta does not sound fun at all so why would anyone want to live there or choose them

Early Sparta and Athens was a building process with many ups and down of which they learnt how to run their cities. Early Sparta did not have enough land to support it's growing population, so they conquered the neighbouring state of Messinia and doubled the amount of land that they had control of. Sparta then experienced a period of great wealth and power in the Greek region until, the Messinian people who had been enslaved by the Spartans revolted wanting their freedom and land back. It took

In the world of the ancient Greeks, there were hundreds of states that composed the Peloponnesian group that formed Greece. Among these states, there were two that stood more prominent and dominant than all of the others: Sparta and Athens. These two titans of the Archaic periods left lasting marks on history that still reverberate even to this day. In many ways, they were very similar to each other, and in others, they could not be more contrasting.