Comparing Athens and Sparta: Government, Education, Social Structure, Allies, Military Strength, Lifestyle, and Cultural Achievements

Slide1Athens vs. Sparta

Slide2How would people describe yourcountry’s… • Government • Education • Social Structure • Allies • Military Strength • Lifestyle • Cultural Achievement

Slide3Comparison Activity• In groups you will complete a chart comparing different features of Athens and Sparta • In groups of 2 you will create a chart comparing: – Location – Government – Education – Social Structure – Allies – Military Strength – Lifestyle – Cultural Achievement – Role of Women – Food – Population

Slide4AthensSparta Population Government Social Structure Allies/Military Lifestyle/Values Education Role of Women Cultural Achievement Food

Slide5PopulationAthens • Approximately 140,000 • By 432 B.C. largest city-state – 150,000 Athenians – 50,000 aliens and 100,000 slaves Sparta • 8,000 adult males • Over 100,000 slaves and semi-enslaved people

Slide6GovernmentAthens • Direct democracy • Elected officials including 10 generals, magistrates • Council of 500: administer decision made by Assembly • Assembly: all male citizens; passed laws • Trial by jury Sparta • Oligarchy: rule by few • Combination of different forms of gov. • Two kings: led army • 5 Overseers: ran day-to- day operations of Sparta; had veto power • Senate: 28 men over 60; elected for life; acted as judges; proposed legislation • Assembly: all Spartan males

Slide7Social StructureAthens • Freemen: all male citizens • Upper: Aristocrats – Land owners – Naval captains and military leaders • Middle: small farmers • Lower: craftsman • Metics: foreigners • Slaves: treated less harshly than other Greek city- states Sparta • Spartiates: Land owning military professionals • Perioeci: foreigners  who were craftsman, artisans • Helots: serfs (farmers) who worked on the Spartiates land – Gave 1/2 of all their produce to Spartiates / military

Slide8Allies/MilitaryAthens • Delian League: collection of city-states that pledged loyalty to Athens – Athens taxed them for protection • Athens had very strong navy Sparta • Peloponnesian League: • Superior army on land • Entire culture was focused on the art of war

Slide9Peloponnesian War

Slide10Lifestyle / ValuesAthens • Democratic values • Participation in government a civic responsibility • Many religious holidays • Theatre / sporting events • Trading empire brought contact with many other cultures Sparta • Militaristic values • Citizens were not permitted to own luxuries • Children were taught to respect elderly, women, and warriors

Slide11EducationAthens • Schools taught reading, writing and mathematics, music, poetry, sport and gymnastics • Ages 5-14 (wealthy went until 18) • Academies were set up to study philosophy, rhetoric, and ethics • Girls were taught homemaking skills Sparta • Boys: at age 7 they were taken from their parents and taught the art of war – Had to steal to survive – At age 20 they entered the military – At age 30 they were able to marry • Girls: at age 7 they were reading and writing, gymnastics, athletics and survival skills

Slide12Role of WomenAthens • Women were kept at home • Could not participate in athletics • Some women held high posts at religious ceremonies Sparta • Girls were educated • Could participate in sports • Goal was to produce healthy babies • Married at 18 • Enjoyed a great deal of freedom • Could own and control their property • Expected to protect land while husband was at war

Slide13Cultural AchievementAthens • Art – Sculptures – Pottery • Architecture • Drama • Literature • Philosophy • Science • Medicine • Mathematics • Democracy Sparta • Military supremacy • Simple lifestyle • “ideal” community

Slide14FoodAthens • Enjoyed food from all over the empire • Trade brought goods from all over the Mediterranean region Sparta • Spartan Broth: pork, blood, salt, vinegar • Trained to dislike luxuries and fancy food • Men lived separate from wives for much of the time

Slide15Discussion• If you were a young teenage girl of the citizen class, in which city-state would you rather live? Why? • If you were a slave, in which would you rather live? Why? • If you were a boy of the citizen class, in which would you rather live? Why? • If you were a young soldier, in which would you rather live? Why? • If you were a very wealthy person of the citizen class, in which would you rather live? Why?