Athens v. Sparta

1. Athens v. Sparta

2. A long time ago, in a land far far away... • During the 5th century BCE, Greece was dominated by two powers: Athens and Sparta • These city-states were VERY different in structure and beliefs

3. AthensSparta • Head of the Delian League • Power was based in command of the sea (super strong navy) • Head of the Peloponnesian League • Great land power and controlled many neighboring territories whose peoples were enslaved

4. AthensSparta • About 150,000 people (40K citizens, 40K slaves, 70K aliens, women, children • By 432 BCE, Athens is the most populous city-state • About 115,000 people • 8,000 citizens (adult males) • 7,000 women and children • 100,000 slaves and semi-freed

5. GovernmentAthens Sparta • Classified as a “direct democracy” • Claims to be the birthplace of democracy • Classified as an oligarchy • Had elements of: monarchy (rule by kings), democracy (election of council/senators) and aristocracy (rule by upper class)

6. Government: Athens • Elected officials: 10 generals, magistrates (judges) • Council of 500: administered the decisions made by the Assembly • Assembly: open to all citizens, passed laws and made policy decisions • Did women participate in the political life of Athens?

7. Government: Sparta • Two kings: generals in charge of the armies, some religious duties • Five overseers: elected annually (every year), ran the day-to-day operations, could veto decisions made by the Council or Assembly • Council of Elders: 28 men over 60 y.o. and elected for life by the citizens and the 2 kings, acted as judges and proposed laws to the Assembly • Assembly: all male citizens 30 or older, voted on proposed laws by shouting out their votes • Did women participate in the political life of Sparta?

8. Social Structure: Athens • Freemen: all male citizens, divided into three classes: • Aristocrats--owned large estates, made up cavalry or was a captain on a boat • Small farmers • Thetes--urban craftsman and boat rowers • Metics: aliens (not born in Athens, not citizens), couldn’t own land but could run businesses and industries (manufacturing) • Slaves: less harshly treated in Athens than most other Greek city-states, had no rights and an owner could kill a slave. Some were given important roles (like policemen) • Women had no rights in Athenian democracy

9. Social Structure: Sparta • Spartiates: military professionals who lived mostly in barracks, land owners whose serfs worked their land, could vote • Outsiders (“Perioeci”): freemen, included artisans, merchants, craftsmen, could not vote or serve in army • Helots: serfs (slaves tied to land) descended from those taken over by Sparta, constantly rebelling, treated like slaves, and required to give 1/2 of their crops to the Spartiates owning the land • Women had few rights in Sparta

10. MilitaryAthens Sparta • Most powerful navy in the Mediterranean • Strong army • Most trained and feared fighters on land

11. Life Style and ValuesAthens Sparta • Democratic values • Participation in government was a civic responsibility • Believed themselves to be culturally superior • Militaristic values • Children taught to get along with nothing (spartan) • Citizens not permitted to own gold or silver or luxuries • Children taught to respect elderly, women, and warriors

12. Male Education: Athens • 5-14 y.o. (5-18 if wealthy): schools taught reading, writing, mathematics, music, poetry, sports, and gymnastics • If he went on to the academy: also learned philosophy, ethics, and rhetoric (persuasive public speaking) • Military training camp for two years • Metics: expected only to get a basic education, but could go further if so desired

13. Male Education: Sparta • Boys taken from home at 7 y.o. and trained in warfare • Only given a cloak- no shoes or other clothes and purposefully not enough food forcing them to steal to learn survival skills • 20 y.o: placed into higher ranks of the military • 30 y.o: could marry but still lived in barracks with other soldiers • Educated in choral dance, reading, and writing, but athletics and military training stressed

14. Female EducationAthens Sparta • Received little formal education (except for the aristocrats who may have had private tutors) • Generally kept at home • Taught spinning, weaving, and other domestic arts • Started education at 7 y.o. (same as boys) • Taught reading, writing, gymnastics, athletics, and survival skills • Allowed to participate in sports

15. Role of Women: Athens • Kept at home, rarely seen in public • No participation in sports or politics • Wives considered property of their husbands • Responsible for all aspects of managing a household-meal planning and preparation, slaves, cleaning, spinning, weaving, etc… • Some women held high posts in religious life

16. Role of Women: Sparta • Treated more like equals: goal was to produce women who would have strong healthy babies • Having children was considered equal to military service • Assigned a husband at 18 • Could move around and enjoy a great deal of freedom (if they weren’t slaves) • House stuff was left to lower classes and slaves • Could own and control their own property • Expected to oversee husband’s property and guard it from invaders and revolts while he was away at war.

17. Food & ShelterAthensSparta • Enjoyed luxuries and foods from all over the Mediterranean (big navy=lots of trade) • Wealthy Athenians homes were built around a courtyard, some even had “plumbing” • Trained to dislike fancy food and luxuries • “Spartan Broth”= pork, blood, salt, and vinegar • Men lived most of their lives in military barracks, away from their families

18. Cultural AchievementsAthensSparta • Art • Architecture • Drama • Literature • Philosophy • Medicine • Science • DEMOCRACY • Military supremacy • Concept of a simple life