What Are The Differences Between Sparta And Athens

Spartan government, in contrast, is oligarchical. People were most often brought into slavery as a result of being conquered in battle, however some were brought in to battle through their familial lineage. Upon being brought in to slavery, a Spartan slaves’ main duty was to aid in battle. In Sparta, the government and voting was held by select elites. These elites would most likely make decisions for themselves, without considering the well-being of other citizens not wealthy enough to vote. This would be undesirable for Spartan slaves and common people as their voices are not heard, and they have no rights in their freedom to vote.

The reason for this is that few people actually ruled Sparta, and their power or time in office was limited to avoid corruption. There were two kings to keep a check on one another, there were 28 members of the Gerousia – a council of elders that included the two kings, five ephors who held in their hands the highest of powers but only served for one year, and the apella which was made up of all other Spartan citizens or Homoioi.

The Spartans were a military force to be rekon with, in part their entire lives were focused upon developing and training their people into excellent soldiers. In order to have a society that had such a presence, their way of life was drastically different from any other city- state of this time. Politically, there was no hierarchy within Sparta, all men were seen as legally equal. The government leaders were made up of two hereditary kings, who would often be prominent leaders within their military. There was a council that was referred as, the “Gerousia”. The council was only made up of men who had reached a certain age, around sixty years. This was to ensure that only men with experience and knowledge would be able to deliberate the important issues that were being discussed. These men also were retired from the Spartan military, thus having knowledge in military strategy. This group mainly reviews foreign and domestic issues, which ultimately is preparation for the council made up of Spartan citizens(73-74).

Spartan’s government was far superior to the government of Athens. Sparta had elements of an oligarchy. The two kings were part of the government for tradition were the Council of Elders, or Gerousia, a group of twenty-eight Spartiate men and the two kings that who create bills, that the Assembly, or common man, vote on. . There were extensive checks and balances to make sure that no part, or branch, became too powerful. The Assembly was composed of every adult male in Sparta, but theoretically anybody could participate.

Athens and Sparta were two powerful city-states, different from each other where Athenian democracy focused on economic advancement, while Sparta oligarchy focused on military force. Democracy is a system of government where citizens have the right to vote, whereas oligarchy is a system of government where only a group of people is in control and only their opinion or decision that were taken into consideration. Leading to the thesis statement that people are better served by Athenian democracy than the Spartan oligarchy, supported in three evidence points. Firstly, Athenian democracy allowed citizens participation in government that gave them freedom to vote and take part in legislation. Secondly, the Athenian government provided Athenian men better education, by being taught how to read and write to reach their academic advancement. Lastly, the Athenian democracy’s contribution to Athens military advancement that protected its citizens.

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.

This is in fact not the case. There are two other groups in Spartan government, the Ephors and the Gerousia. The Ephors were 5 annually elected officials. These 5 Ephors along with the 2 kings can be considered the “executive branch” of Spartan government. The Gerousia was considered the elite elder council made up of 30 Spartan men who are 60 years or older. Once a Spartan man became a member of the Gerousia he would have that title for the remainder of his life. The Ephors and the Gerousia held all the real power in Spartans government. They decided what matters would be brought to the Assembly and could veto any decision made by the Assembly

The diversity of the structures and culture of the Greek society led to a great variation in the ways and conditions of living from city to city. The citizens of Sparta and Athens, the two largest city-states then differed in everything, except Each city has its specificity, which it adheres to and distinguishes it from other city-states. Only government systems. Despite the commonalities and differences between the systems of government in the Greek cities. the free citizens of these cities were changing the regimes and their rulers.

The Spartan social roles and government were very exquisite, proper and always knows their positions. At the bottom of the scale there where the Helots. The helots had so little to no rights that it was okay if their owners killed them. The helots were usually obtained or captured by the Spartans when out in battle. Helots were used as property and served their masters. Except they were not following what the man said. They followed what the women said due to the fact that men were fighting in wars and boys were training. Citizen males over the age of thirty were allowed to vote. The women were allowed to become citizen; as well they just did not receive the same rights as the men might have. Though the women in Sparta did have the most freedoms. They were allowed to own their own properties, they did not need permission to go out of the house; all because of the respect the Spartans had for mothers, also because the men were always in war. Lastly there was the Gerontes. They were the citizen males who were rich and over the age of sixty who had the most rights. One could only become a Genonte after surviving war. So, women could not become a Genonte due to the fact that they were not allowed to join the military and because they were not male.

According to me people in Athens and Sparta obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community it because of the political realm that it is made to modernize and civilization owes much to Athens, and further to the democracy which was born in it and also Athens participate in the way people who govern them by helping as public officers or member of jury in court cases. Jurors were chosen by lottery and were paid for service.

In Sparta, the head of the government was split between two kings, one from the Agiad clan and the other from the Eurypontid clan. They were supported by the Gerousia, a council of elders comprised of men over age sixty. This was an achievement since the average life span was thirty-five. Ephors were magistrates that were elected to one-year terms. They often dominated weak kings. All free males were members of the Assembly. They met monthly and elected the members of the Gerousia and Ephors.

The citizens of Sparta participated in public life and make decisions affecting the community because they were member of the assembly and as citizens, they were only mem. They affected decisions of the community because only warriors participated in political life. “Periokoi and of course Helots, along with slaves and freeborn Spartan males who had lost their citizenship rights for some reason were not members of the assembly (Brand, p3).” when spots became available, the assembly had the power to choose the new members of the Gerousia because he encountered once monthly and also adopted laws and decisions for

Sparta was ruled by a king or at some point two kings. These two kings were from two separate families of royalty and neither of them had absolute power. The king or kings had to be consulted by the Ephors. The Ephors had a lot of power and authority in the Spartan government. They were a group of five elders, men over the age of 30 who would serve in this position for a year. They had the power to bring up charges against anyone in Sparta, including the king. Unlike Athens who was set on trying to establish a peaceful democratic atmosphere; Sparta was a lot more militaristic and strict. One of the Spartan government’s main priorities was the strength of the Spartan army. They believed that strength, endurance and numbers were a key part in a successful and powerful army. Therefore every Spartan boy at the age of seven would be taken away from their mothers and put into training for the next 13 years.

Athens and Sparta are two powerful city-states, different from each other in such way that

The ancient civilization of Greece contained many different city-states; two of these city-states were Sparta and Athens. Sparta and Athens were different in their values, politics, and societies. Sparta was focused on their military, discipline, and to have a strong state. Athens was a democratic state that was peaceful and where women were open to culture and democracy. How do these two city-states differ?