Sparta and Athens

Greece 2.1: Sparta and Athens - City-State Rivals

Guiding Question: Why did the Spartans focus on military skills?

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• Like other city-states, Sparta's economy was based on agriculture

• Sparta did not set up overseas colonies

• Instead, they invaded neighboring city-states and enslaved the local people

• they called their enslaved laborers helots

• helots means "capture" in Greek​

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​Sparta: A Military Society

• Around 650 BC, the helots revolted against their Spartan masters

• the Spartans crushed the uprising and wanted to prevent future revolts

• they decided to make Sparta a military society that stressed discipline

• they believed in simplicity, and strength through self-denial

• leaders thought a military society created obedient and loyal citizens​

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​A Strong Military

• Spartan men entered the army at age 20

• They stayed in military camps with other soldiers instead of their own homes

• a typical meal at military camp was black broth ​

• they could live at home again​ when they turned 30 but continued to train for combat

• they finally retired from the army at age 60​

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​A Strong Military

Open Ended

What was a difference between how Spartan girls and boys were raised?

• ​since Spartan men lived far away from home, Spartan women enjoyed more freedom than women in other city-states

• they could own property and travel

• girls were trained in sports and remained physically fit

• their main goal for Sparta was to raise strong, brave sons

• they expected their men to win or die in battle​

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​Spartan Women

Open Ended

Why did women have more freedom in Sparta than in some other Greek city-states?

• Sparta's government was an oligarchy ruled by two kings

• the kings had little power and their only duties were to lead the army and carry out religious ceremonies

• Sparta had two other governing bodies, the assembly and the council of elders​

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​How Was Sparta Governed?

• the assembly was made up of male citizens over 30

• assembly made decisions about war and peace​

• the council of elders was the most powerful and acted as judges

• the council were only officials who could order an execution

• each year they elected ephors or officials to enforce laws and managed the collection of taxes​

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​How Was Sparta Governed?

Spartan Oligarchy

• Leaders feared another helot uprising so they discouraged free thinking and new ideas

• they believed learning could lead to unrest

• Sparta did not welcome visitors and prevented citizens from traveling outside the city-state beyond military reasons​

• discouraged people from studying literature and art

• they continued to use heavy bars instead of coins like other Greek city-states

• they discouraged trade and isolated Sparta from other Greek city-states​

• other Greek city-states thrived on trade while Sparta remained a poor farming society​

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​Sparta's Strictness

Open Ended

Why did Sparta fall behind other Greek city-states in many areas?