Athens & Sparta: A Tale of Two Cities 1

Different Values Athenian Values Spartan Values Individuality Strength Beauty Freedom Spartan Values Strength Duty Discipline

Athens A city of the Wise

Athens Where: City located on southern portion of the Greek peninsula, not on the Peloponnesus where Sparta had power. Known For: A city run by thinkers and known for both its military might and wisdom in government and battle. Athens is famous for being the primary basis of western civilization. Especially in its democracy, although its democracy wasn’t always constant, and its form is slightly different than what we’re familiar with.

Government New, democratic ideas emerge from Athenian culture and society: Direct Democracy: Citizens either vote directly or elect representatives Public Debate: Becomes an art in Athens to discuss and argue specifics of government Duties of the Citizen: All citizens have responsibilities such as voting, defending the city-state, and participating in the government process

Art & Beauty Athenians valued art and beauty above all. Sculptures, buildings, keeping oneself beautiful very important Art: culture, sculpture, paintings, vases, poetry, theater- ALL very important

Woman and Children in Athens Women didn’t have the same rights as in Sparta, few freedoms.  Woman were expected to take care of the home Boys were taught reading and writing and girls were taught domestic skills, like spinning and sewing, by slaves Woman not allowed out of the house except maybe for visiting other woman nearby, controlled by family and men. Saw woman’s main purpose was to produce healthy children Odd treatment considering that women played an important role in some religious rites and the city’s patron goddess was Athena

Hetaerae Women could be educated if they were Hetaerae Educated to entertain men with good conversations at parties Learned physical talents, like dancing, playing music. Some forced into prostitution  Despite public discrimination, against woman, their opinions were often respected by men

Athens: Home of Revolutionary Ideas Social reforms: Embraced new ideas and philosophies, debate, and freedom of speech. Debt-slavery was abolished. Anybody who had been sold into slavery due to debt was freed. Introduced trial by jury. Death penalty only for murder. Classes were based on income, not birth. Council of 500- Voting representatives of the people of Athens.

Sparta The Warrior State

Sparta- A City of Warriors Focused on: war and building up strength to fight Why strict laws: An early slave revolt causes the Spartans to create strict laws that demanded public allegiance to the state. No artistic culture; only war skills

Spartan Government the city-state was controlled by a kings (2) or by the oligarchy councils. Were mainly generals Citizens are not encouraged to speak freely, the few who rule were usually powerful military leaders. The apella was like a lower legislative body. Every citizen over 30 could attend. Votes were taken by shouts. The gerousia was like a Senate – a council of 30 elders (they had to be over 60) and were elected for life by the apella. Could veto the apella.

Everyone but the Warriors – Helots A helot was a land-bound slave that worked Spartan land (if all the citizens are going to be soldiers, somebody’s has to be the farmers). Helots were from conquered lands near Sparta. Helots were owned by the state and not individual masters and the masters couldn’t sell them Sparta got half of the helot’s crops, helots kept the rest. Significantly outnumbered the citizens warriors of Sparta. The potential threat of a slave revolt was another reason why the Spartans had such a potent army and the Spartans were reluctant to fight too far from home… 13

Culture Everything went towards developing and fielding a strong army. Sparta was a military culture Everything went towards developing and fielding a strong army. The majority of all men were fighters ONLY. No traders or farmers, that is what freeman and helots were for. Not allowed to Travel from Spartan lands. Outsiders not welcome, only to trade. Discouraged from studying philosophy, literature, or arts. Studied only the art of War, thought philosophy and debate was dumb.

A Boy’s Life in Sparta Male children were taught at home until they were 7 and they began their military training. At 13, they were dropped off in the woods in groups with nothing and had to survive (without theft) At 20, made a soldier and joined the army. Live 10 yrs in the barracks. At 30, he could marry as long as he remained loyal to the arts of war. At 60, a soldier could retire from the army and a younger soldier took his place. Spartans trained for war their entire lives. Everyday they did exercises for all ages and were always done naked. They would fight for hours without stopping. It was to train them not to have fear and to get them used to fighting constantly and not to depend on armor to protect them.

Military Service and Children To help ensure the physical superiority of their people, babies were they were taken to elders. If the elders deemed the baby unfit, it was left exposed to die on a hillside.  Mothers accepted that their sons may not make it to be full soldiers and might DIE in the process of being trained. There was a saying Spartan mothers said to their sons when they went off to learn to be a soldier and when they went off to war. “Return with your shield, or on it.”

Strong Spartan Women Spartan woman had more rights than in the rest of Greece. Learned reading/writing Girls given similar harsh physical training as the boys, some combat to protect the city-state. Received same amount/quality of food as boys Could own/control property and Could overtake husband’s property while he was @ war. Expected to defend it too and to put down revolts. Not rushed into bearing children.

Athens vs. Sparta Reflection