Athens Vs Sparta Research Paper

Midterm #2 Parts 1-3
Part 1
Q 2. Athens/Sparta: ALERT: This question is not comparing Athens and Sparta First, Identify and analyze 5 components of Athens that gave it strength. Then 5 components that weakened it. Second, Identify and analyze 5 components of Sparta that gave it strength. Then 5 components that weakened it. (You probably will want to include consideration of the following aspects - political, social, economic, and cultural aspects). Third, 1 thing" you admired about Athens? 1 "thing" you disliked. Then 1 of each about Sparta. Finally, Why did, does Sparta - so important in that time - seem to have vanished from importance when we think of Greece? Intro Sparta is well known for its warrior culture, its gender equality, and its universal education.
Sparta’s gender equality is very admirable, but its reliance on slavery is something people would dislike today.
Sparta was strong because of its government system, treatment of elders, education system, gender equality, and strong military, but weak because of its lack of walls, lack of navy, large slave population, and reliance on Perioikoi. On the other hand, Athens is known for its beauty, music, literature, drama, philosophy, politics, and art, as well as being the birthplace of democracy. Athens democracy is very admirable, but its gender inequality is something people would dislike today. Athens was strong because of its democracy, strong navy, trade, education, and focus on growth. Athens focused on expanding its territory, and weak because of its weak military, gender inequality, lack of rights for slaves, and its lack of rights for foreigners. Both Athens and Sparta are two very important city-states, but Athens is more
memorable.
1 Thing to Admire Sparta/ I Thing Disliked About Sparta
Sparta’s gender equality is very admirable, but its reliance on slavery is something people would dislike today.
5 Things that Strengthened Sparta
Sparta was strong because of its government system, treatment of elders, education system, gender equality, and strong military. Two Kings ruled Sparta at all times: one from the Agiad family and the other from the Eurypontid family; one king would rule at war and the other at Sparta. Under the kings were the 28 Gerontes (Elders), 5 Ephors (officials), and Ecclessia (Spartiate Assembly) (Adams). Unlike other Greek states, old people (60+) were shown more respect in Sparta. At seven, Spartan boys started their military training at the Agoge, state-sponsored education system. Both kings went to the Agoge too. At the Agoge, they were taught survival skills, as well as, athletic and military skills; the Spartan military worked as a giant formation, a phalanx formation and there were no rankings, all men were equal. The most skilled became the Crypteia (secret police). At age 20, Spartan males became full-time soldiers until their deaths. The Spartan army even commanded all of the other city-states armies in wars between the Greco-Persian Wars. Although, Sparta was male dominated, woman could not serve in the military or in government, but they did receive an education, drive chariots, and compete in athletic events. Women married later than women in other city-states marry and generally lived longer. A child bearing woman would live alone until 30, because men from 20-30 were required to live in barracks. Men would share their wives, because they were more interested in healthy male children. Women were also able to own their own properties. Women of Sparta enjoyed more liberties than in other city-states. “Only Spartans who died in battle and Spartan women who died in childbirth were entitled to having their names engraved on their gravestones” (Primary).
5 Things the Weakened Sparta
Sparta was weak because of its lack of walls, lack of navy, large slave population, and reliance on Perioikoi. Unlike most city-states, for the most part Sparta did not have any wall to protect it. Sparta “lay at the northern end of the central Laconian plain, on the right bank of the river Eurotas, a little south of the point where it is joined by its largest tributary, the Oenus (mod. Kelefina)” (Halsall). The Spartiates relied on the mountains and people to protect them. During the Peloponnesian War, Sparta won against the Athenians who had a stronger navy from invasion. Not everyone was a Spartiate. Spartans captures slaves called Helots. Helots were used for manual labor, such as farming, since the Spartans were full time soldiers. The Helots were able to buy their way out of slavery, could have religious rites, could marry, could own property, but were not allowed to vote. For the most part the Spartiates and the Helots lived in peace. The Spartiates took preventive measures to ensure that Helots would not revolt, but sometimes the helots did. Other members of Sparta, Perioikoi, were traders and artisans, who were reserve troops and responsible for manufacturing weapons and shields. They controlled the trade and manufacturing, including bronze, ivory, and wooden art and jewelry.
Why does Sparta Vanish in Importance? There are not as many historical documents as Athens available for people to see. People do not really know much about Sparta other than legends.
1 Thing to Admire Athens/ I Thing Disliked About Athens democracy is very admirable, but its gender inequality is something people would dislike today.
5 Things that Strengthened Athens
Athens was strong because of its democracy, strong navy, trade, education, and focus on growth. Athens focused on expanding its territory. Athenian navy fought and was responsible for trade, but over all military service was optional. Democracy in Athens meant adult males who completed military training could vote in an assembly (Ecclesia) (Ober). The people were not representatives like republican democracy, so people were actually able to see their voting. Besides voting, males in Athens were able to attend school. School taught reading, drama, public speaking, government, art, writing, math, and musical instruments. After males were 18, they received another 2 years of military school.
5 Things the Weakened Athens
Athens was weak because of its weak military, gender inequality, lack of rights for slaves, and its lack of rights for foreigners. Unlike Sparta, Athens military was much weaker. Athens was beat by Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. Women were not allowed to vote, hold land, or even leave their homes. Women were property of their families, kin, and husbands. Athenian women married and bore children younger than Spartans. In addition, slaves had no rights and were unable to vote, own land, or even gain citizenship. Athenian citizens had full rights, but slaves and metics (foreigners) had very little rights.
Conclusion
By 146 BCE, the city-states of Greece become part of the Roman Empire. Nevertheless, from 800 BCE to 146 BCE, two powerful city-states, Athens and Sparta ruled. Sparta’s strength was in its government system, treatment of elders, education system, gender equality, and strong military, while Athens’s strength its democracy, strong navy, trade, education, and focus on growth. They brought foundations of modern military, government, and culture to the Romans, who used both of their strengths to rule,and today we still use some of their ideas.
Work Sited o Adams, John Paul. “Sparta” John Paul Adams, January 26, 2010 Web. 07 Nov. 2013. o Hallsall, Paul “Sparta.” Ancient History Sourcebook: 11th Brittanica: Sparta. January 1999 Web. 07 Nov. 2013.
Ober, Josiah. Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens: Rhetoric, Ideology and the Power of the People. Princeton. 1989. Print o Primary. “Facts About Sparta-An Ancient Greek City State.” Primary Facts. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.