Two Cities

Two Cities

Athens VS. Sparta

Open Ended

First and Last name

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Athens City-State

• Walled city near the sea

• Busy port that supported trade

• Talented master potters and sculptors

• Wealthy shopped at a marketplace

• Citizens gathered to debate the issues of the day

Sparta City - State

• located in a fertile farm are in a plain

• no walls surrounded the city

• simple buildings compared to Athens

• Simple clothes

• Soldiers or Military throughout the streets

Comparing the two City-States

Different for reasons:

Athens near sea, eager to trade. Athens made friends with other city-states; exchanged ideas

Sparta in a plain and isolated from others; it's harbor was 25 miles away. Suspicious of outsiders and their ideas.

Athenian Government

• became a democracy around 500 B.C.E.

• Only free men over the age of 18 were citizens

• Women and slaves not permitted

• Council of 500 met every day (selected by lottery out of men 30 years and older)

• The Council ran the daily business and suggested new laws

Athenian Government continued

• New laws had to voted on by 6,000 citizens to pass

• if less the the number needed, slaves with ropes dipped in red paint rounded up more citizens

• Water Clock used to keep time of speakers

Athenian Economy

• Not a great place to grow food

• Trade was how they survived

• Italy and Egypt were main places they traded with

Athenian Economy continued

• Had a huge marketplace called the AGORA

• Small stands that sold everything from food to household needs

• Most clothes were made at home but sandals and jewelry were popular

Education in Athens

Belief that producing good citizens was important. Bad news for girls...

Boys in school from 6/7 to 14. Books were rare, so they had to memorize everything! (Reading/Writing/Arithmetic/Literature)

Writing tablets helped boys learn.

Education in Athens continued

• Sports of Wrestling and Gymnastics were taught

• Music - Singing and playing the Lyre

• @ 18 years old, they had to do mililtary service

• Girls - learned household tasks, married around age 15.

Women in Athen

• Could not inherit or own much property

• Could not vote or attend assembly

• Most could not choose their own husband

• Educated their sons until school, and daughters until 15.

Slaves in Athens

• Many slaves, many born into slavery or captives of war

• Some slaves taught Athenian children

• Trained as artisans or worked at farms

• Some slaves worked in Silver Mines (harsh work)

Spartan Government

Very different from Athens. Sparta was an Oligarchy, with a few leaders.

Sparta had a "Council of Elders" that had 2 Kings and 28 other men.

To be on the council, you had to be at least 60 years old and a noble family. Served for the rest of their lives.

Like Athens, only men could serve.

Spartan Economy

• farming was the key, not trade like Athens

• Conquest of neighboring land or food to help feed all of Sparta

• Sparta Men were made to serve in the military until age 60, so slaves had to do much of the growing and making goods.

• Slaves (Helots) were conquered people and had to pay/grow food for Sparta

Spartan Economy continued

• Used Non-Citizens to make shoe/military equipment (knives, spears, pottery)

• Sparta discouraged trade (feared new ideas)

• Used heavy iron bars as their money! (discourage stealing)

Education in Sparta

• Education was to produce capable men and women who could fight and protect Sparta

• Likely abandoned sickly infants

• Valued discipline and strength

• Age 7, ALL children trained for battle...yes, even girls

• lived in barracks

Education in Sparta continued

• Taught to suffer

• march without shoes, not well fed

• encouraged to steal food as long as they didn't get caught

• At age 20, Men were given a difficult test of fitness, military and leadership

• Stayed in barrack until age 30 (not home even if married)

Women in Sparta

• Simple life, clothes with little decoration

• No jewelry, cosmetics, or perfume

• Strong and healthy ...and ready to fight

• Guard property, and slave revolts.

• Able to speak to others (not like Athens)

• Hold property, and remarry if war took husband

Slaves in Sparta

• "Helots" from conquered areas

• More Helots then Spartan citizens (outnumbered the people)

• Treated harshly, fear of revolts from Helots

• Legend of releasing the most powerful Helots (but actually killed them)

• Could buy off their freedom

Summary of Athens and Sparta

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