Sparta Vs Athens
Introduction
Many cultures have admired the ancient city-states of Athens and Sparta and have desired to imitate features of their cultures and governments for their own. Subsequently, this has led to both city-states having a long lasting influence on the modern compositions of many world governments. This paper will briefly delve into the governmental structures and who could participate in the governmental process in the ancient city-states and will conclude with the author’s opinion on their lasting influence.
The Governments of Athens and Sparta
How did people in Athens and Sparta obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community?
Certain requirements were necessary before a Spartan or Athenian …show more content…
Rules and regulations were in place in both city-states that governed the selection of public office holders. All Athenian citizens could serve in the Ecclesia as long as they had completed their mandatory military service (“Athens”, 2008). The rules governing the other two bodies, the Boule and the Dikasteria were much more stringent. Subsequently, for an Athenian to serve as a member of the Boule or the Dikasteria he had to be a citizen who performed his military obligation, had obtained the age of thirty, and won election via popular vote from his peers (“Athens”, 2008).
Spartan rules were similar in some regards but different in others. Like Athens, all Spartan citizens held office in the general legislative body, the Assembly. Once a Spartan citizen had finished his military service at the age of sixty, he was eligible to run for office in the Gerousia legislative body or as a member of the executive branch of Spartan government as an Ephor (“Sparta”, 2008). The Spartan government differed as it had a Monarchy composed of two kings whose right to the position was decided entirely along bloodlines (“Sparta”, 2008).
How were the two city-states similar in their governmental …show more content…
The Spartan government had an executive branch which was composed of two kings and a group of elected officials called Ephors who performed important executive functions as well as serving as a buffer to keep the kings power in check (Brand, n.d., p.9-10). While the legislative bodies of the Spartan government also handled judicial duties (Brand, n.d., p.10) the Athenians had a separate judicial body known as the dikasteria which handled court cases and were considered the branch of government closest to representing the people as a jury was viewed as the highest authority in the land (“Athens”,
Many cultures have admired the ancient city-states of Athens and Sparta and have desired to imitate features of their cultures and governments for their own. Subsequently, this has led to both city-states having a long lasting influence on the modern compositions of many world governments. This paper will briefly delve into the governmental structures and who could participate in the governmental process in the ancient city-states and will conclude with the author’s opinion on their lasting influence.
The Governments of Athens and Sparta
How did people in Athens and Sparta obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community?
Certain requirements were necessary before a Spartan or Athenian …show more content…
Rules and regulations were in place in both city-states that governed the selection of public office holders. All Athenian citizens could serve in the Ecclesia as long as they had completed their mandatory military service (“Athens”, 2008). The rules governing the other two bodies, the Boule and the Dikasteria were much more stringent. Subsequently, for an Athenian to serve as a member of the Boule or the Dikasteria he had to be a citizen who performed his military obligation, had obtained the age of thirty, and won election via popular vote from his peers (“Athens”, 2008).
Spartan rules were similar in some regards but different in others. Like Athens, all Spartan citizens held office in the general legislative body, the Assembly. Once a Spartan citizen had finished his military service at the age of sixty, he was eligible to run for office in the Gerousia legislative body or as a member of the executive branch of Spartan government as an Ephor (“Sparta”, 2008). The Spartan government differed as it had a Monarchy composed of two kings whose right to the position was decided entirely along bloodlines (“Sparta”, 2008).
How were the two city-states similar in their governmental …show more content…
The Spartan government had an executive branch which was composed of two kings and a group of elected officials called Ephors who performed important executive functions as well as serving as a buffer to keep the kings power in check (Brand, n.d., p.9-10). While the legislative bodies of the Spartan government also handled judicial duties (Brand, n.d., p.10) the Athenians had a separate judicial body known as the dikasteria which handled court cases and were considered the branch of government closest to representing the people as a jury was viewed as the highest authority in the land (“Athens”,