Athens & Spartans

By:
9/16/12

1 Athens and Spartans, two of Greece most powerful and intriguing cities share there difference and similarities. The difference and similarities to be discussed are the politics, societies, and the economics. These differences between the two are what have given them the historical relevance they have today, while the similarities are what made the Greece societies shine as well. Athens can be considered as one of the most glorious cities of the ancient world. The Athenian society was far different then its rival Spartans society. The greatest difference would be the up brining, as far from birth until adult hood. The Athenian’s believed in education, philosophy, art, science and of course military training, but of course during this time period men and women were educated very differently. The Athenian men were far more highly educated, while the women not as much. Women were made more objective for men.
“An Athenian boy would be taught at home either by slaves or their mothers until the age of 6 or 7. Then the boys would go to school and learn reading, writing, literature, and arithmetic until they turned 14. During this time the boys also learned wrestling and gymnastics to make sure the boys were strong along with learning how to play the lyre and sing […] Girls on the other hand had a very different training. Their mothers would teach the girls to clean, cook, weave cloth and to spin thread. A few girls also learned ancient secret songs and dances for religious festivals. Around the age of 15 girls married a man much older than the woman”. ("Sparta and Athens" 2010)

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The men and women played different roles, most things men did women could not do, for example be out doors. “Women, on the other hand, should stay inside, teaching female slaves necessary skills, managing the goods brought into the household, and presiding over the spinning and weaving” (Sherman et al. 2008) The Spartan society can be considered as one the most war hardened cities of all time. While there rival city Athens were more into the arts aspect of life, Spartans were in other words “militaristic, and strict” (Sherman et al. 2008). The Spartans had some form of education in there up bringing but there man focus was militant training.
” A boy would be taught a home until the age of 7. At the age of 7 a Spartan boy went to the barracks to receive military training. At the barracks Spartan boys learned fighting skills such as running, boxing, wrestling and racing. The Spartan boys also learned to read and write but the Spartans did not consider such skills important.” ("Sparta and Athens" 2010)
There military training was harsh and was the true meaning of the only the strong survive. It was said that if you were not born physically up to par for the Spartans training you were of no use. If deemed physically up to par then they would spend a vast majority of their life training, and then from that point on be dedicated to the army.
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“At birth, each child was examined by elders, and if deemed physically deficient, the child would be exposed left outdoors to die. At 7, boys were turned over to the state and spent the next thirteen years in training […] At 20, young men entered the army and lived the next ten years in barracks.” (Sherman et al. 2008).
The Athenian society also had a different approach when it came down to politics; they were a “City of Democracy”. This democracy (rule by the people) form of government allowed the people to be governed a little more fairly than any other system of government at the time being.
” Women, children, foreigners, and slaves were not allowed government positions. There were three government groups. There was the assembly which included all Athenian citizens, there was the council of 500 which were Athenian citizens above the age of 30 were chosen by lottery, and there was the stategoi which were elected. The assembly composed of at least 6,000 citizens which had a meeting every 10 days.” ("Sparta and Athens" 2010)
Within this government you would have to have some form of wealth to obtain a position that would allow you to make any detrimental decisions. Spartans form of government was the exact opposite, they ruled by an “Oligarchy” meaning “ruled by few people”. They also had three parts of government but had the duties were far different. Spartans chose who could be within the government by rankings, at the very 5 top would be the kings, second would be the council elders, and towards the bottom of the decision making would be the Assembly. The Athenian economy was based primarily off of trade, and being that they were more advanced naval wise then Spartans, they were able to rule the Mediterranean Sea’s trade. “As a result the Athenians traded with other city-states along with a few other civilizations in the Mediterranean region. Some resources the Athenians required were wood from Italy, and grain from Egypt. In exchange the Athenians often gave items such as honey, olive oil, silver and pottery” ("Sparta and Athens" 2010)
This automatically would have given them more wealth then the Spartans could have obtained. Spartans on the other hand never really had a flourishing economic system being that their main focus was on their military. Instead they would have other people who they would have conquered to maintain economic balance.

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[ 1 ]. "Sparta and Athens." Last modified 2010. Accessed September 16, 2012. http://anonemuss.hubpages.com/hub/Sparta-and-Athens.
[ 2 ]. Dennis Sherman, and Salisbury Joyce, The West In The World,
(New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008), 53.
[ 3 ]. Dennis Sherman, and Salisbury Joyce, The West In The World,
(New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008), 57.
[ 4 ]. "Sparta and Athens." Last modified 2010. Accessed September 16, 2012. http://anonemuss.hubpages.com/hub/Sparta-and-Athens.
[ 6 ]. "Sparta and Athens." Last modified 2010. Accessed September 16, 2012. http://anonemuss.hubpages.com/hub/Sparta-and-Athens.