The Greek city states of Athens and Sparta were very different in terms of their governments. Athens was at first an oligarchy, however, later transitioned to a direct democracy. Sparta, in contrast, combined a monarchy with an oligarchy, including elements of democracy. The first difference was who held the most power. Athens had a Council of 500 and an Assembly; the Council of 500 proposed possible laws for Assembly consideration, however, the Assembly proposed, debated, and voted on laws, therefore it was the more powerful group. Sparta had a Council of Elders, five Ephors, and an Assembly. The Council proposed and debated laws, and the Assembly voted on them; since there was no debate or discussion in the Assembly, the Council of Elders …show more content…
Since Sparta was a military state, the primary purpose of education was to create soldiers who did what they were told. As soon as children born, it was determined if they would live or die. Greek historian and biographer Plutarch explains, “their [elders of the tribe] business it was carefully to view the infant, and, if they found it stout and well made, they gave order for its rearing...but, if they found it puny and ill-shaped, ordered it to be taken to what was called Apothetae, a sort of chasm under Taygetus; as thinking it neither for the good of the child itself, nor for the public interest,” (Doc J) Children were deemed unfit if they were “puny” or “ill-shaped” and could in no way benefit society. This is immensely foolish, however, to judge individuals as infants. Because these children are so young and still have so much potential, there is no telling what they may achieve in the future; even if the child is a puny infant, it may grow up to be a fine soldier. In another account, Plutarch emphasises, “...so that the whole course of education was one of continued exercise of a ready and perfect obedience...Reading and writing they gave them [Spartan boys] just enough to serve their turn; their chief care was to make them good subjects, and reach them to endure pain and conquer battle.” (Doc H) Spartan children started their education at age 7, and starting at such a young age allowed for immediate brainwashing. Creating soldiers was easy enough, however, they needed soldiers who were obedient, loyal to the state, who did not think for themselves. New ideas were highly discouraged, and children were stripped of individual identities. Spartan education turned young boys into fierce soldiers, and free thinking individuals into obedient subjects. Unlike Sparta, Athens was not a city-state for war, but it valued philosophy, literature, and the arts. Though schooling in Athens was not as
Sparta’s government was said to have a mixture of the major types of government which is oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy. While Athens seems to only have a democracy. In Document 2, an excerpt from “The Spartan Constitution” by Aristotle there’s a quote that states “they praise Lacedaemon because it is made up of oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy..” This quote tells exactly what type of government Sparta had. It’s also said that Sparta is the foundation for the governments we now have in the world. Athens on the other hand had a democracy as stated in Document 3, an excerpt from “Funeral Orations” by Pericles a quotes from this excerpt states “it is true that our government is a democracy, because it’s administration is in the hands, not of the few, but of many..” This quote clearly states that the type of government Athens has is a
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.
Sparta’s and Athens are Greece city state in 400 be Athens were not good fighters but good with water Sparta’s were really good on land but to so much on water but I think Sparta is better than Athens because they allow women’s right and there really good fighters the beat Athens in the first battle of the Peloponnesian war and Athens doesn’t have women’s right but there really good with boats and ships.
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.
Athens was superior to Sparta for two reasons. These two reasons include Athen’s government and their navy.
Athens is superior towards Sparta throughout ancient Greek history. During the Archaic Age, Sparta was solely focused on fighting wars and training their children for these wars. Athens on the contrary, was a city that focused heavily on the arts and was a very relaxed and peaceful city to live in. In Athens, all men born to Athenian parents were citizens, in Sparta, only the wealthy were citizens. In 594 BCE, Salon, the new leader of Athens, he created a constitution that ended the political control of the wealthy. Unless someone was part of the 1 percent, Athens gave members of society more rights than Sparta. By 508 BCE, Cleisthenes came to power in Athens and creates a democratic constitution of all people. While this advancement occurred
Awesome job! Your compare and contrast regarding Sparta and Athens is exceptional. I like the fact that you described many aspects of their lifestyles. In addition to Sparta’s military the individuals who chose to enlist served until the age of 60. Sparta also gained more power once they defeated the city of Athens in the Peloponnesian War. Due to the lifestyle of these individuals they were given a word in the English language Spartan which means brave and undaunted.
The government of Sparta was ruled by two kings. These kings would lead the army in times of war. In addition to the kings, there were also five ephors that were elected. Sparta also had a council that created the laws. The council was made up of two kings and twenty-eight elders.
Amid the stature of Athens, it's social, political, and monetary force Athens occupants have jealousy of Sparta. The city-state of Athens developed quite differently from Sparta. Athens was a typical aristocratic Polis whose nobles served first as magistrates and then on the governing council Areopagus.
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.
Between the city-states Athens and Sparta, Sparta is superior geographically. To start with, Sparta is superior because of farming. For example, Sparta farmed crops like grapes, olives, barley, and wheat. Another example is Sparta produced broad beans, chickpeas, and lentils. In fact, they had fertile soil.
Athens and Sparta were two of the most powerful and well known cities among all the Greek nations. Most would find it easier to find more similarities among these two groups of mighty people. But there are some differences between these two power houses. For instance the way that these cities were governed and their political procedures and functions were quite different from each other.
Athens and Sparta were both great city-states that helped shape culture today. They were both located in Ancient Greece around the 5th century B.C. Although they had the same religion and language they were unique in many ways. They had very different militaries, economies, and life of children. Both Athens, and Sparta extremely valued their military, however they were very unlike.
In early Greece the government for both Athens and Sparta were not that different and slowly diverged into different governments. In early times they were both ruled by a basileus who is a king or tribal chief. Sparta retained this system much longer than Athens did. Gradually the Greek monarchy was replaced by an oligarchy which means ruled by a few. In Athens they were ruled by three archons whereas in Sparta they were ruled by two kings.
Athens and Sparta were both Greek city-states that shared the same language and a similar religion but on a social, political and a cultural basis the two states remained antithetical to each other (Hanson, 491). In 430 BC the city-state Megara supported and helped Corinth to fight against Athens so Pericles decided to remove all Megarian products from the Athenian market. Corinth and Megara supplicated to Sparta which in return asked Athens to abolish this Megarian decree. Pericles would only agree to Sparta's demands if Sparta would accept foreign states to take part in trading with Laconia. Sparta refused but proposed as a requirement for peace that Athens should surrender her Empire and recognize the independence of all Greek cities. Pericles and the Athenians refuse