Acient Greece: the Two Superpowers, Athens and Sparta

2 In ancient Greece there were two superpowers, Athens and Sparta. They coexisted in Greece with their own span of power in Greece along with many allies. These superpowers were both very well known for their power and also their utter differences. They, of course, had tensions between them due to differences in their ways of life, especially their governments, and the rivaling each other because they were both the best in their own ways among all other Greek poleis. Tensions continued to build up and Athens was expanding all over Greece and the paranoia of Sparta grew. Eventually the Spartans’ paranoia was too great and was a major reason for the Peloponnesian War along with the fact they had very different governments. Athens was a “progressive, democratic city.”[1] The major steps toward democracy were introduced by the reforms of the Athenian ruler, Solon. Although Solon had major impact on Athens’ government, Athens was also influenced by tyrannical rule because, throughout Greek history, Athens was ruled by archons. A major part of Athenian government was the Council of the Areopagus. They, the Areopagus, were once the “central governing body of Athens,”[2] but by the time of the Peloponnesian war they were reduced to having control of trying criminal cases. One significant power that they held was that they were the only ones able to

present any matters to the Assembly, The council members of the Areopagus consisted of men that were elected by the Assembly. [3] The assembly was the “sole legislative body and exercised control over administration and judicature.”[4] Any citizen was allowed to make suggestions as long as they were not crossing any lines. The Assembly consisted of men that had to be eighteen years of age. If the assembly did not give permission for a new law, it would not be able to become an official law until approved by the Assembly. Sparta, unlike Athens, was a “conservative, even reactionary, oligarchy.”[5] Similar to the