Comparing Sparta And Athens In The Peloponnesian War

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.

If you had the choice to live in Athens or Sparta, which one would you choose and why?

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.

During the late Archaic Greek and Classical periods, two particular city-states were in existence with significant similarities as well as differences. These two city-states, Sparta and Athens have unique formations of government, histories, goals, as well as societies.

In ancient Greece there were two major polises which allowed the Greek culture to achieve greatness during the 400-500 B.C.E. era. These two polises were Athens and Sparta; both city states differed in many ways before the start of the Persian War. There were low rugged mountains that separated these two city states so communication and travel were difficult. The government of these two city states can be seen as a primary difference between the two. Draco, Solon, Pisistratus, and Cleithenes were four leaders that greatly influenced the political development of Athens. Athens and Sparta differed primarily in their political, social, and economical aspects. But there were other difference that Athens and Sparta share which I will examine in this essay.

Introduction Athens and Sparta were two of the largest, most powerful, and most influential cities of Ancient Greece. They may have both been big and historically well revered, but their societies were structured and ruled very differently. This difference is especially true politically speaking. (Athens & Sparta: Democracy vs. Dictatorship, 2016) Sparta was very focused on growing and maintaining a strong army, in efforts to ward off any uprising from their rule over the Helots.

Athens was superior to Sparta, and was more sophisticated, but was it really better than Sparta? Athens was the brains of Ancient Greece, and its citizens cared about more than just their military. Athens used mathematics, science, and philosophy to build their city-state. Athens had great trading routes due to the location from the Aegean Sea, and they also had a great naval military due to the sea.

In historic times, there existed a divergent people, the Greek way of life was one of the classical civilizations which is considered the melting pot of politics, poetry, art and military of ancient times. Ancient Greece was constructed of a variety of villages that were known as city-states; the aforementioned city-states existed within the known territories, however each of these city-states had their own culture, values and customs. Various city-states cooperated with one another, however they also had a history of fighting with one another, but the most powerful city-states were considered: Sparta and Athens. The Athenians were known for political practices and culture, whereas Sparta was famously known for its disciplined military and vast weaponry. The predominant goal for the Spartan Empire was to establish an elite state of hoplites (infantrymen), while the supreme ambition for the Athenians was to construct a society of well-balanced attributes. Although Sparta and Athens both operated their societies in a different manner, there were few similarities that could be seen in certain aspects of their city-states.

It’s me again, today I experienced jury-duty and realized how magnificent it is to be a citizen of Athens. The city-state is just so beautiful and possess great government, morals, values, and so much more. I’m so proud to be an Athenians and dedicate time for the government. We have well-rounded, caring people in our city-state unlike Sparta. Athens is superior compared to Sparta, we’re clearly the better city-state. It’s so delightful having equal justice for those who are citizens because of the fantastic government are provided with. We have three branches of government and they all check and balances each other. I believe this is a crucial part of why Athens is a splendid place. Our democratic government features allow

The poleis of Athens and Sparta both had similarities and differences to each other, because of this, these poleis make excellent candidates to compare and contrast. For one thing, Athens and Sparta both had starkly different governments, Athens had a government where Athenian land-owning males could voice their opinions, while Sparta had an oligarchy. Athens had one of the best navies for the time period, while Sparta had one of the strongest land forces, the Spartiates. Also, Athens cared more for luxury items than Sparta and Athens pursued knowledge instead of military power, unlike Sparta. Although Sparta and Athens had many differences, they also had some similarities, such as how both poleis had very strong armies.

In roughly 460 BCE, Epilates and Pericles launched an attack and changed their approaches of conservatism at home and positive relations with Sparta abroad. For around fifteen years (461-445 BCE), Athens, in cooperation with Argos, went to war with Sparta for control of the Greek territory; this was the First Peloponnesian War. At first Athens was triumphant, however, she was soon compelled to make peace with Persia (449 BCE) and afterwards with Sparta. An enduring consequence of the war was that Athens practiced stricter control over her partners: the Delian League turned into the Athenian Empire. Ruled by Pericles, Athens sought to keep traditions and maintain peace with Sparta. During this time, Athenians created the freest government the

Sparta was a standout amongst the most critical Greek city-states all through the Archaic and Classical periods and was well known for its military ability. The expert and very much prepared Spartan hoplites with their particular red shrouds, long hair, and lambda-decorated shields were likely the best and most dreaded warriors in Greece, battling with unique excellence at such key fights as Thermopylae and Plataea in the mid-fifth century BCE. The city was likewise in consistent battles with the other real Greek urban communities of Athens and Corinth and got to be included in two extended and immensely harming clashes, the Peloponnesian Wars of the mid-to-late fifth century BCE and the Corinthian Wars in the mid-fourth century BCE.

n the beginning of this section, the Athenians are made to look better than the Spartans when they are ready and willing to fight the Persians again while the Spartans remained at home. The Athenians sent a messenger to the Spartans saying, “You agreed with us to oppose the invader in Boeotia, but you broke your word and allowed him to invade Attica…However, your immediate duty is to…put your army in the field,” and the Spartans reluctantly and after some time put their army in the field (556). Later, the Athenians military roles are highlighted when the Megarians were being pressed by the Persians and needed assistance, “nobody was willing to go except the Athenians” (562). When decided which troops would get to hold one of the wings, the