Athens and Sparta: Two Greek City-States

Summary

Athens and Sparta, two contrasting Greek city-states, are compared in this script. Athens, a coastal city, relied on naval forces and trade, with a democratic government and a culture rich in arts and philosophy. Sparta, an inland city, focused on agriculture and military conquests, governed by an oligarchy. Athens had a marketplace, the Agora, with convenient coinage, while Sparta used inconvenient iron bars as currency. Women in Athens had limited rights, whereas in Sparta, they enjoyed more freedoms. Education in Athens aimed at creating good citizens, with boys educated from age 18, while Sparta emphasized military training from age 7 for both genders, fostering strong warriors.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Athens was located near the sea, which influenced their naval military focus.
• 🏞️ Sparta was an inland city-state with a military based on an army.
• 🏛️ Athens worshipped Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war.
• ⚔️ Sparta revered Ares, the god of war.
• 🎭 Athens was known for its artisans, poets, and philosophers.
• 🏺 Sparta's society was primarily composed of warriors, with some artisans.
• 💰 Athens had a trade-based economy with a marketplace called an Agora and used convenient coins.
• 🌾 Sparta relied on farming and conquests, using iron bars as inconvenient currency.
• 🗳️ Athens practiced democracy where citizens voted on laws.
• 👥 Sparta was governed by an oligarchy led by the Council of Elders.
• 👩 Athens women had limited rights, focusing on home and child-rearing.
• 💪 Sparta women had more rights, including owning land and being strong for defense.
• 🤝 Slaves in Athens were treated better than in Sparta, where they were harshly treated as prisoners of war.
• 📚 Athenian education aimed to create good citizens, educating only boys with military training starting at 18.
• 🏋️ Sparta emphasized education for both boys and girls from age 7, focusing on making them strong warriors.

Q & A

What was the primary difference in location between Athens and Sparta?

Athens was located near the sea, while Sparta was situated inland.

How did the geographical location of Athens and Sparta affect their military?

Athens had a navy due to its proximity to the sea, whereas Sparta had an army because it was inland.

Which Greek gods were associated with Athens and Sparta, respectively?

Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, was associated with Athens, and Ares, the god of war, was associated with Sparta.

What types of jobs were common in Athens compared to Sparta?

In Athens, there were many artisans, poets, and philosophers, while in Sparta, people were primarily warriors, though there were also some artisans.

How did the economy of Athens differ from that of Sparta?

Athens had a trade-based economy with a marketplace called an Agora and used convenient coins for trade. Sparta relied on farming and conquering others, using iron bars as money, which was inconvenient.

What form of government did Athens have, and how did it differ from Sparta's government?

Athens had a democracy where citizens voted for laws, while Sparta was governed by an oligarchy led by a few people known as the Council of Elders.

What were the rights of women like in Athens and Sparta?

In Athens, women had few rights, with no say in government and mainly managing the home and raising children. In Sparta, women had more rights, could own land, have jobs, and were expected to be strong to defend their land.

How were slaves treated in Athens and Sparta?

Slaves in Athens were treated better than in Sparta, where they were treated very poorly and harshly as prisoners of war.

What was the purpose of education in Athens, and how did it differ from Sparta?

In Athens, education aimed to create good citizens and was only for boys, with military training starting at age 18. In Sparta, education started at age 7 and was for both boys and girls, focusing on making them strong and brave warriors.

What was the main focus of Sparta in contrast to Athens?

Sparta was focused on conquering its enemies, had an oligarchy, and a strong army, while Athens was more peaceful, with a focus on trade and democracy.

How did the use of money differ between Athens and Sparta?

Athens used convenient coins for trade, whereas Sparta used iron bars, which were less convenient.