10/22/2015 Greek City-States: Athens and Sparta

10/22/2015 Spartan society 3 social groups Equals: descended from the invaders, controlled Sparta Half-citizens: free, paid taxes and served in the army but had no political power, some farmed but others worked in the city as traders or artisans Helots: slaves, greatly outnumbered the other groups so Spartans used force to control them, in large part this is why Sparta became a military city-state

10/22/2015 Spartan Government Two kings led Sparta 1 king handled military 1 king took care of domestic matters A council of Elders Made up of 28 male citizens over the age of 60 Proposed laws and served as a criminal court An assembly Included all male citizens over 30 Elected 5 ephors Made sure the kings stayed within the law Elected for a 1 year term Controlled the education of Spartans

10/22/2015 Sparta’s Military Society Goal was to make every male citizen a part of the military machine Military worked to expand Sparta and control the helots A group of officials examined new born babies and those deemed unhealthy were left to die At 7 boys left home to join the barracks Mainly military training but they also learned how to read and write From age they learned specifically about warfare At 20 they could marry but could not live at home until age 30 Were available for military service until the age of 60

10/22/2015 Sparta’s Military Society (cont’d) Spartan women Received strict physical training Taught to be devoted to the city-state Their best value was seen as producing Spartan soldiers Results of military society: Strong government Almost unbeatable army No individual freedom Created almost no art or literature and made almost no advances in science

10/22/2015 Athenian Society 3 class groups Citizens: extended to all those born in Athens, only the men had political rights Metics: born outside Athens, free and had to pay taxes but had no political rights and could not own land Slaves: captured in war, together with metics made up more than half of Athenian society

10/22/2015 Early Athenian Government After the monarchy ended, an aristocracy took its place All adult male citizens met in an assembly Elected generals in time of war Elected nine archons (rulers with a 1 year term) First written code created around 621 Solon (archon in 594 B.C.) Outlawed selling people into slavery to pay their debt Divided citizens into 4 groups based on wealth: wealthiest 2 could hold office