1. Aim: How did Athens and Sparta’s Governments Differ?

2. Rule in Greek City-States
750 BCE- Polis (City-State)
Political unit
Made up of a city & its surrounding country side (many villages)
Greek Political Structures
1) Monarchy: Single ruler (King) rules
2) Aristocracy: Small group of noble landowners
3) Oligarchy: Rule by a few powerful people 2

3. Athens Builds Limited Democracy
Political reformers move toward democracy
Rule by the people
Citizens could participate in Assembly
Only free adult males were citizens
Council of 500
Proposed laws and counseled assembly
Emphasis on Education
School began at age 7
Boys studied reading, grammar, poetry, history, math, logic, and public speaking
Girls didn’t attend school 3

4. Sparta Builds Military State
Daily life
Most powerful army
Day focused on military training
Boys and girls taught to marching, exercising, and fighting
Didn’t value arts, literature, education
Government consisted of:
Assembly (Passed laws)
Elected officials
Counsel of Elders (Proposed laws) 4