Athens & Sparta Comparing Two City-States

Athens Sparta

Population Total 140,000 Total 140,000 40,000 men were citizens 40,000 men were citizens 40,000 slaves 40,000 slaves

Population Total 100,000 Total 100,000 About 8,000 were adult male citizens About 8,000 were adult male citizens

Government Direct Democracy Direct Democracy The Assembly open to all citizens The Assembly open to all citizens Male Male Own land Own land 18 years old 18 years old No political roles for women No political roles for women

Government Oligarchy, but it had elements of Oligarchy, but it had elements of –Monarchy –Democracy –Aristocracy Assembly Assembly –Males age 30 and up –No political roles for women

Social Structure Freemen: All male citizens Freemen: All male citizens Top - Aristocrats Top - Aristocrats Middle - Small farmers Middle - Small farmers Bottom - Thetes (craftsmen) Bottom - Thetes (craftsmen) Metics – foreigners Metics – foreigners Women Women Rarely seen outside the home Rarely seen outside the home No rights No rights Slaves – no rights Slaves – no rights

Social Structure Spartiates: Spartiates: –Military professionals –Land was farmed by serfs –Could vote Perioeci: Perioeci: –Free men –Could not vote or serve in the army –Foreigners Helots: Helots: –Slaves Women had few rights but more independence Women had few rights but more independence

Military Strong navy Strong navy Trireme Trireme

Military Strong army Strong army "Either come back with your shield or on it." "Either come back with your shield or on it."

Spartan Scytale

Life Style & Values Democratic Democratic Participation in government as a civic responsibility Participation in government as a civic responsibility Cultural superiority Cultural superiority Arete Arete Empire Empire Trade Trade

Life Style & Values Militaristic values Militaristic values Children of citizens were raised to be “Spartan” Children of citizens were raised to be “Spartan” Infanticide Infanticide Children were taught to respect: Children were taught to respect: –Elderly –Women –Warriors

Education Boys: Boys: Reading, writing, mathematics, music, poetry, sport and gymnastics Reading, writing, mathematics, music, poetry, sport and gymnastics Went to school from age 5 to 18 Went to school from age 5 to 18 Some went to an academy for philosophy, ethics and rhetoric Some went to an academy for philosophy, ethics and rhetoric Citizen boys entered a military training camp for two years Citizen boys entered a military training camp for two years Girls: Girls: Little formal education Little formal education Spinning, weaving and other domestic arts Spinning, weaving and other domestic arts

Education Boys: Boys: –Taken from parents at age seven –Trained in the art of warfare –Joined the military at 20 Girls: Girls: –Educated at age 7 in reading, writing, gymnastics, athletics and survival skills –Could participate in sports –Treated more as equals

Role of Women Kept at home with no participation in sports or politics Kept at home with no participation in sports or politics Wives were considered property of their fathers or husbands Wives were considered property of their fathers or husbands Some women held high posts in the religious life of Athens Some women held high posts in the religious life of Athens

Role of Women Assigned a husband at age 18 Assigned a husband at age 18 Enjoyed a great deal of freedom Enjoyed a great deal of freedom –Could own and control their own property –In times of war, could oversee husband's property