1. World History I Unit 5: Ancient Greece
Athens vs. Sparta

2. Five Minute Writing Assignment
Last class, we learned about different types of governing methods used by the Ancient Greeks in their city-states. Please identify and define all types discussed. Also, provide a response to the following question: Which form or type of government do you believe to be the most effective, and why?
Please keep the following question in mind: Is America more or less democratic than Ancient Athens?

3. “This is Sparta!”
Located in the southern part of Greece known as the Peloponnesus, and disconnected from other city states due to the Gulf of Corinth
Established in a fertile valley surrounded by mountains
A natural defense; Sparta also had no walls around its city, instead trusting its defense to the citizen-soldiers
Created by the Dorians
Reminder: Who were the Dorians?

4. What made Sparta a military state?
Sparta conquered its neighbor Messenia in 725 B.C. and took their land
The Messenians became peasants forced to farm the land and pay the Spartans half of the yearly crop
These peasants were known as “helots.”
Messenians, although essentially slaves, outnumbered the Spartans 8:1.
Messenians rebelled around 600 B.C. Sparta barely put the revolt down

5. Spartan Government Sparta’s structure = diverse!
Had two hereditary kings
Titular roles; they were viewed as leaders in battle and religion
Two groups essentially governed Sparta
Assembly: all free adult males. They elected officials and voted on major items
Council of Elders: proposed laws on which the assembly voted; composed of 60 year old Spartan males
Five Ephors: elected officials; carried out the laws the council passed. These men controlled education and court cases

6. Spartan Society Tiered social structure
First: citizens descended from original inhabitants (Who again?)
This group included the ruling landowning families (what would we call them?)
Second: free noncitizens
Worked in commerce and industry (what would we call this group?)
Third: helots
Pretty much slaves to the Spartans; some worked in households

7. Spartan Men and Women Men: life was all about military training!
Boys left home at 7 and went to the barracks
Given tunics, no shoes, and hard benches to sleep on
Given meals of black porridge
Children identified as “weak” at birth were left to die on top of a mountain
Women: no military training, but equally tough!
Athletics: Women ran, wrestled, and played other sports
Managed family estates
Enjoyed a greater amount of education
Did not have the right to vote
Remember!: Service to Sparta was considered highest duty. Did not value arts, individual expression, or other forms of culture. Instead, they stressed strength, valor, and discipline

8. Athens North of Sparta; located on a rocky hill
Considered the intellectual center of Ancient Greece
Citizens educated to think and act as free people
Athenians gravitated to philosophy, drama, and the arts

9. Athenian Government Class struggle in Athens: Rich vs. Poor
Rather than fight, leaders instituted reforms
Tried to create a democracy
Citizens participate directly
Who could vote?
Only free adult males counted as citizens
No slaves, women and foreigners
Not just “no voting”; they had few rights at all
Role of Athenian women: managing the household, child rearing, etc. Had no part in government or intellectual discussions

10. More Tyrants!
Athenian commoners often fought with rich aristocrats (note: Athens was an aristocracy at this time)
One tyrant, Cylon, was stopped, and as a result the people demanded a written set of laws
Draco: Greek lawmaker who wrote the first legal code
Code had some flaws, including debt slavery
Fighting continued
Aristocrats chose a statesman, Solon, to head the government and prevent civil war. Solon was given full power

11. Solon, continued.
Credited with laying the foundations of Athenian democracy
Outlawed debt slavery
Made political, economic and legal changes
Citizens could now participate and debate in the Athenian assembly
Citizens could bring charges against others
Encouraged export and trade of grapes and olives = profitable for Athens!
Like Draco, though, he couldn’t do it all. Fighting continued between landowners and farmers
Fighting gives rise to more tyrants, Pisistratus and Cleisthenes being two.