Athens/Sparta Information Sheet

Belief and Culture Both Athens and Sparta worshipped their gods and respected people. They loved beauty, music, literature, drama, philosophy politics, and art and some even loved battle and sports. Where they differed was that while the Spartans had militaristic values, Athenians were democratic. The Spartans emphasized only on expanding their power and gaining control over other kingdoms while the Athenians also grew infrastructure wise in ancient times. They understood the importance of such growth and concentrated on them besides on military strength. Social Structure Sparta was like no other city-state in Greece. The social system was made up of three classes which were hierarchical and specialized. Only the citizens (Homoioi) of Sparta were considered equal and possessed political rights. Those people belonging to this class were born into it. The freemen, or perioikoi, were farmers and animal herders who often practiced a trade. Although they enjoyed freedom, they had no rights, and therefore, no influence upon political decisions. The third and lowest class consisted of the Helots. Members of this group were servants of the aristocrats who owned the land and held powerful political influence Athens also had a constitution and an assembly. However, in comparison to Sparta, the entire population was encouraged to participate in all aspects of government. All men had the right to vote by the age of eighteen. There were an estimated sixty to eighty thousand slaves owned by the Athenians collectively. It was not unusual for a citizen of even marginal wealth to own one or two slaves.

Athens/Sparta Information Sheet

Economics and Arts Sparta was never the economic equal of the other polis. But it did prosper in the areas of agriculture and raising animals. They exported ceramic works to China in return for ivory. These vessels were deep and decorated with birds. The people of Sparta loved poetry, music, and dance. Architecturally, Sparta contained religious temples complete with bronze statues. Athens economy was dependent more upon trade. Athens became the foremost trading power of the Mediterranean by the 5th century BC. Athens was the cultural hotbed of Greek civilization. It was known for its writers, artists, scientists, and philosophers. Athens became famous throughout the Aegean for its fine painted vases testament to the highly sought after culture of Athens. War Athens and Sparta were two rival city-states, the latter had a very well trained military strength and soldiers and the former boasted a good navy. Athens and its allies, known as the Delian League, came into conflict with the Spartans and the Peloponnesian league, and in 431 BC a war broke out between the two cities - a war based on trade routes, rivalries, and tributes paid by smaller dependent states. This conflict, the Peloponnesian War, essentially was a 28-year period of on and off civil war among Greek city-states. (A city-state was the city, such as Athens, and the surrounding country under its influence and protection; Athens and its surrounding area, known as Attica, was about the size of Rhode Island). Sparta had a clear military advantage on land, but the Athenian navy surpassed Spartas capabilities at sea; neither side was able to seize and maintain the upper hand. Both sides experienced major victories and crushing defeats, and the war was frequently interrupted by periods of negotiated peace. The war ended in 404 BC with the defeat of Athens and its democracy.

Roll of Women Family ties in Athens were stronger and women were legally the dependents of their husbands or their father. They could own no property apart from the family. In Sparta, women had rights that other Greek women did not have. In Sparta women were stronger and they formed liaisons with men as they chose. They could also own property by themselves. In Athens women did chores such as weaving or cooking, but in Sparta the women were free of all such chores.

Athens/Sparta Information Sheet

Athens

SPARTA