Essay Compare And Contrast Sparta And Athens

Athens and Sparta were two Greek poleis that coexisted between 750-c. 500 B.C.E. (Duiker 119). Even though these two city-states were similar in a few ways, they were different in many more ways, so they didn’t particularly get along very well. Almost every aspect of their lives was different, from their government systems, to their views on men and women, and finally to their lasting effects on Greek history and culture. Despite their differences, they both influenced Greece and the Mediterranean areas. Athens was a democracy city-state that elected archons annually (124). Whereas Sparta was ruled by two kings that ruled for life or were forced out of office, and were advised by a Council of Elders (123). Sparta was a war centered society, but Athens focused more on academics and philosophy. Spartan values were centered around being brave, self-disciplined, and honoring and fighting for Sparta, even if it meant death. Trade and agriculture were very important to the Athenian economy (137). Both government styles had elections and voting involved, but it was limited to some based on gender and
In Athens, life revolved around men. The women were just wives, meant to bare children and tend to home issues (137). Women could not vote or take part in government in either society, but women could own and inherit property in Sparta (122). Overall women had the same responsibilities and household duties in both cultures, but they were permitted more rights in Sparta. In Sparta, men were taken away from home at a very young age and put into government custody, where they would be placed in barracks and trained for the military with very harsh disciplinary acts (122). At the age of 20, they were enlisted into the military, and could marry, but remained living in the barracks until they turned 30. Family was the main focus in Athens, and women were expected to have many children, especially