Greece (Sparta and Athens)

Greece (Sparta & Athens)

Polis

• Greeks identified with their Polis over being Greek

• Polis=City-state

Sparta

• Geography: Located on the Peloponnese, mountain terrain

• Government: Oligarchy: Made up of 2 kings and a council of elders

• Economy: Based on farming

• Society: Revolved around war: Militarism, Military training begins youth, lasts 13 years, retire 60

• Militarism: Glorification of military power

Athens

• Geography: Located on the Aegean Coast

• Government: Democracy (limited): Athenian reformer: Draco, Solon, Cleisthenes 

• Economy: Based on trade

• Society: Valued education: wealthy boys attended school & learned, girls learned how to run at home

• Powerful Navy

Sparta & Athens

• Women: More freedom in Sparta, but expected to produce healthy sons, No public life in Athens, cared for home, no school

• Similarities: 1. Polytheistic, worshipped Greek gods, 2. Same alphabet, 3. Both participated in the Olympic games, 4. Slavery= Sparta, Helots(state owned slaves), Athens, captured during war, debt slavery, 5. Feared the Persian Empire