Athens vs. Sparta Greek Civilizations

Athens  Athenian Direct Democracy –All citizens (males over 18) were equal before the court and participated in governmental activities & voting  Not allowed citizenship & voting rights –Slaves needed their master’s permission to marry or have children. –Women were their husband’s property –Foreign residents (metics) could not vote  Elements of democracy –Assembly met every 10 days –Passed laws, elected officials & made decisions on war & peace

Sparta  Totalitarianism-form of government that uses force and power to rule a people.  Oligarchy- Rule by a few (generals/kings)  3 groups existed: –Slaves (Helots) –Spartan Females- could own property –Spartan Males- raised by the state from the age of seven.

Quotes  Read the following quotes and decide if they better reflect the Athenian or Spartan civilizations  Do you recognize the authors?

Quotation #1 “The fundamental motif through all the centuries has been the principle that force and power are the determining factors. All development is a struggle. Only force rules. Force is the first law….Only through struggle have states and the world become great. If one should ask whether this struggle was gruesome, then the only answer could be-for the weak, yes, for humanity as a whole, no. Instead of everlasting struggle, the world preaches cowardly pacifism, and everlasting peace. These three things, considered in the light of their ultimate consequences, are the causes of the downfall of all humanity.”

Quotation #2 “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable Rights (life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness), that to secure these rights Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”