Athens and Sparta: A Comparative Study Practice Flashcards

This flashcard set covers the political, social, and military developments of Athens and Sparta, including key reformers like Draco, Solon, Cleisthenes, and Lycurgus.

Archons

The Athenian officials who replaced the Basileus by the mid 700s.

Council of the Areopagus

The Athenian governing body dominated by the Aristoi and responsible for courts and law.

Ecclesia

The Athenian assembly.

Metics

Non-citizen residents of Athens who originally had limited government participation until reforms by Solon and Cleisthenes.

Aristoi

The wealthy elite class in Athens whose power was based on agriculture and who dominated the Areopagus and courts.

Debt Slavery

A practice in Athens where individuals were enslaved to pay off debts; it was made law by Draco but abolished by Solon.

Draco (622)

A tyrant who wrote the first Greek law code, which was characterized by capital punishment for most offenses.

Solon (594)

An Athenian reformer who changed the basis of political participation from birth to wealth, granted citizenship to Metics, and abolished all debts.

Grain Reform

A policy under Solon that banned grain exports from Attica, forcing a shift to olive cultivation and increasing grain imports.

Hoplites

Infantry soldiers who fought in a phalanx formation; their equality in battle led to demands for equality in politics and the right to debate.

Cleisthenes (508)

Known as the Father of Athenian Democracy, he expanded citizenship, lowered property requirements for archons, and created the Council of 500.

Council of 500

A central feature of Cleisthenes' democratic reforms in Athens.

Ten Demes

The political divisions of Athens established by Cleisthenes to expand participation.

Laconia

The region in the Peloponnese where Sparta is located.

Lacedaemonians

Another name for the people of Sparta.

Lycurgus (750s)

The figure credited with the dramatic social and political reforms that organized the Spartan state.

Ephors

Spartan officials who held executive power.

Gerousia

The Spartan council of elders.

Helots

The enslaved population in Sparta whose labor allowed Spartan citizens to focus exclusively on military training.

Agoge

The Spartan military academy that boys entered at age 7 to learn survival and military skills.