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Explore the unique ways of life in the two most famous Greek city-states and how they governed themselves.
Imagine two neighbors: one spends all day debating laws and writing plays, while the other spends every waking hour training for war. How could two cities in the same country be so completely different?
In Ancient Greece, the rugged mountains and deep seas acted like giant walls, separating people into small, independent communities. Each of these communities was called a polis, or city-state. A polis wasn't just a city; it was like its own tiny country with its own laws, army, and money. Because they were so isolated, each polis developed its own unique personality. While they all spoke Greek and worshipped the same gods, an Athenian felt very different from a Spartan. The agora, or open marketplace, was the heart of the polis where people met to trade and talk about politics.
Quick Check
Why did the geography of Greece lead to the creation of many small city-states instead of one big empire?
Answer
The mountains and seas isolated communities, making it difficult for them to unite under one government.
Athens was famous for its art, architecture, and a brand-new way of governing called democracy. The word comes from demos (people) and kratos (rule). In Athens, they practiced direct democracy, meaning every citizen could vote on every law. Instead of electing leaders to decide for them, citizens met in a large group called the Assembly. However, 'citizenship' was limited. Only free men born in Athens were allowed to participate. Women, slaves, and foreigners had no voice in the government. Athenians valued education, believing that a good citizen should be well-rounded in music, math, and public speaking.
Imagine you are an Athenian citizen in the year BCE. To pass a new law about building a temple, you would: 1. Walk to the Pnyx (a large hill) early in the morning. 2. Listen to different speakers argue for or against the law. 3. Raise your hand to vote. If more than citizens were present and the majority raised their hands, the law passed!
Quick Check
What is the main difference between 'direct democracy' and the way most governments work today?
Answer
In direct democracy, every citizen votes on every law themselves, rather than electing representatives to do it for them.
While Athens focused on the mind, Sparta focused on the body. Sparta was an oligarchy, meaning 'rule by a few.' A small group of powerful men made all the decisions. Spartan life revolved around the military. At age , boys were taken from their homes to live in barracks and begin the agoge, a brutal training program designed to create the world's toughest soldiers. Unlike Athenian women, Spartan women had more freedom; they were encouraged to exercise and own land so they could raise strong Spartan sons. The Spartans valued discipline, strength, and loyalty above all else, often looking down on the 'chatty' Athenians.
Consider the life of a Spartan boy compared to an Athenian boy: 1. At age , the Athenian boy is learning the lyre (a musical instrument) and memorizing poetry. 2. At the same age , the Spartan boy is training barefoot in the cold, learning to survive on very little food to build toughness. 3. The goal for the Athenian is to become a 'wise citizen'; the goal for the Spartan is to become an 'invincible warrior.'
The differences between Athens and Sparta created a constant tension in Greece. Athens was a naval power with a bustling economy based on trade. They welcomed new ideas and foreigners. Sparta was a land power that was suspicious of outsiders and preferred to keep their society exactly the same for centuries. While Athens gave us the foundations of philosophy and government, Sparta showed the world the power of discipline and military strategy. Both cities relied heavily on enslaved people, known as helots in Sparta, to do the farming and labor so the citizens could focus on politics or war.
If you were a woman in Ancient Greece, your life depended entirely on your city-state: 1. In Athens, you would stay mostly indoors, managing the household and rarely appearing in public. 2. In Sparta, you would compete in wrestling and racing, manage the family estate while men were at war, and have significantly more legal rights. 3. Challenge: Why might a military society like Sparta give women more freedom than a 'democratic' society like Athens? (Answer: Because men were always away at war, women had to run the city!)
What does the term 'Democracy' literally mean?
At what age did Spartan boys begin their military training?
In Athenian democracy, every person living in the city (including women and slaves) could vote.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain to a friend the main difference between how an Athenian boy and a Spartan boy grew up.
Practice Activity
Draw a Venn Diagram. Label one circle 'Athens' and the other 'Sparta.' Fill in the middle with things they had in common (like language and gods).