Sparta V. Athens: Men & Women, Boys & Girls, Citizens & Slaves 2016-2017 6th Grade World History Mill Creek Middle School Mr. Dixon

SPARTA Sparta focused on foreign conquest in response to population pressure (too many Spartans, not enough resources!). By 600 BCE they had conquered their neighbors. This doubled their agricultural acreage and provided food and money for future military power. An army marches on its stomach! War against others also forced political reforms within Sparta. They created the first written constitution in Greek history – and it created a government that was ruled by the needs of the army. In fact, every aspect of a citizen’s life was ruled by the needs of the military, from birth to death.

SPARTAN BOYS Every new-born infant was examined by a committee. It was abandoned to die if it showed any type of deformity. Boys enrolled in special troops at 7. Remained members until age 18. Girls still lived at home but boys lived away from parents. Put through increasingly brutal series of classes designed to make them used to suffering and hardship. Also designed to break down family relationships. Education focused on military, history, and athletics.

SPARTAN MEN Began formal military training at 18. Took 2 years to complete (age 20). Applied for admission into a military club after successful completion of training. Membership was official indication that a boy had become a man. Application for admission had to be voted on by other members of club. Vote had to be unanimous – 1 “no” vote meant you were out. Not allowed to marry or have a family for 10 years (age 30). Still had to have meals with club until he was 60. Military clubs formed basic unit of military service – your troop or company.

SPARTAN WOMEN Girls Raised in the home and stayed there until marriage. Main goals in life: Grow up, marry, and become the mother of more warriors. Famous mother quote to son: “Come home with your shield…or on it.” In other words, death before dishonor. Also were trained to run the household. Wives were in charge of the household and farm while their husbands were gone to war. Girls also trained extensively in gymnastics, running, and learning how to throw a spear and shoot a bow. They had to be fit to have fit babies!

HELOTS (fancy word for a slave in Sparta) Spartan men were given plots of land to support themselves after they joined a military club. They did not work land themselves as they were in training or at war. The work was done by helots: Helots were slaves owned by the Spartan state. Helots could be put to death by a Spartan warrior for any reason – but mainly to prevent revolts and runaways. The military state helped keep helots in their place. Manufacturing was also done by helots. Spartan men lived off the work of others so that they could devote their entire life to being a soldier.

SPARTAN GOVERNMENT Two kings were elected: 1 led the army to war and 1 stayed home to defend Sparta. Hereditary – sons were often elected to follow their fathers. Council 28 man council. All members over 60 years old. Drew up proposals for legislation. Assembly of the Spartans All full male citizens. Voted on legislative proposals. Presided over by five elected officials called ephors – they were also priests for Sparta. King Leonidas

And now…to Athens!

ATHENIAN BOYS Every new-born infant was examined by his or her parents or a priest, as in Sparta. It was abandoned to die if it showed any type of deformity. The Greek ideal was on the perfect form for humans, starting with infants. Education for boys focused on: Military training and tactics. Rhetoric (the art of public speaking). Poetry and the arts (well-rounded citizens were knowledgeable in all areas), incl. Iliad & Odyssey.

ATHENIAN MEN Boys enrolled in special troops at 18. They were required to serve 2 years. Wealthy boys could purchase their own armor and weapons. Sons of poorer citizens became the servants and foot soldiers who helped out. Athenian warriors were called hoplites. They could stay in the military as long as they wished. They lived at home with their parents until they married and moved into their own home. If they left the military, they could still be called up as a sort of reserve force in the event of a national emergency.

ATHENIAN WOMEN Girls Raised in the home and stayed there until marriage. In fact, Athenian girls and women seldom ever even left their homes. Main goals in life: Grow up, marry, and become the mother of a large family. Also were trained to run the household. Unlike Spartan wives, they were not trained on how to run the family farm or business; this was not allowable for women. Girls were not trained in athletics and only a few were educated to read and write. They had very few rights in Athens.

ATHENIAN GOVERNMENT Originally, Athens was not as strong as they would become. By 650 BCE they were gaining dominance in trade and warfare. Entered a period of internal turmoil around 630 BC Two attempts by individuals to seize control of the city. Great deal of unrest by lower classes and hoplites (warriors) against domination by oligarchy of wealthy landowning families. Eventually, the idea of a citizen versus a subject, and elected leaders versus inherited power caught on. Athens was the first democracy in the history of the world!

CITIZENSHIP All city-states restricted who could become a citizen, including Athens. Your parents had to be citizens for you to be a citizen, both in Athens and in Sparta. Citizens only made up part of total population. Rest were foreigners, slaves, and freedmen, along with their wives and children.

SLAVES AND FREEDMEN Slaves played crucial role in economy of all city-states of ancient Greece, including Athens. Freedmen worked as craftsmen, small farmers, small retail merchants, and fishermen. But they worked for themselves, not for others. To work for someone else on a regular basis was the mark of a slave Essential characteristic of a freedman was economic independence No matter how low-level or demeaning the work they did, if they were free to pick and choose their work, they were seen as free.

FREEDMEN Freedmen often very poor Did not view themselves as oppressed working class. Complaints directed against the rich Especially wealthy creditors. They were involved in politics to try and eliminate or reduce their debts to wealthy aristocrats. Saw themselves as independent businessmen. Wanted recognition of their status and relief from the costs of doing business. Never formed any kind of alliance with slaves to overcome their mutual exploitation. Because they saw themselves as inherently better than slaves.

FREEDMEN WOMEN AND SLAVE WOMEN Women had no political role in Athens at all. Charged with running households and nothing else – not even the farm Slave women and freedman women had more freedom Since they were not considered important enough to worry about Could pretty well do what they wanted in their private lives