Describe the Social, Cultural and Political Features of Classical Athens and Ancient Sparta
Greece in ancient times had many social, political and cultural features, including: religion, society, government and warfare. Two powerhouses of Ancient Greece were the cities of Athens and Sparta, who led Greece in many of their endevours.
Early Sparta and Athens was a building process with many ups and down of which they learnt how to run their cities. Early Sparta did not have enough land to support it's growing population, so they conquered the neighbouring state of Messinia and doubled the amount of land that they had control of. Sparta then experienced a period of great wealth and power in the Greek region until, the Messinian people who had been enslaved by the Spartans revolted wanting their freedom and land back. It took Sparta twenty years to conquer the revolt and it became clear that the Spartans had to change their way of life. So, they turned themselves into a military state, establishing their military power across Greece. Unlike Sparta, Athens was not a military-based state but rather an aristocracy, led by noble families, and it's from here their early problems stemmed. Athens problems were cause by the greed and power of their noble positions and they constant bickering between themselves over control of the city. On the other end of the spectrum, the poor faced many problems and hardships as the nobles forced them into slavery and into debt, taking their land.
Religion was a cultural aspect that all Greeks had in common. They worshipped the same family of Gods and Goddesses and built temples, carried out sacrifices and celebrated festivals in the God's name. In return, the Greeks believed that the Gods would protect them, make their crops grow and grant them favours. The Gods and Goddesses each had particular powers and responsibilities and each was responsible for an aspect of Greek society. The Greeks also worshipped heroes, some of who were sons of gods and goddesses. Each city-state was also under the protection of a patron deity;
Early Sparta and Athens was a building process with many ups and down of which they learnt how to run their cities. Early Sparta did not have enough land to support it's growing population, so they conquered the neighbouring state of Messinia and doubled the amount of land that they had control of. Sparta then experienced a period of great wealth and power in the Greek region until, the Messinian people who had been enslaved by the Spartans revolted wanting their freedom and land back. It took Sparta twenty years to conquer the revolt and it became clear that the Spartans had to change their way of life. So, they turned themselves into a military state, establishing their military power across Greece. Unlike Sparta, Athens was not a military-based state but rather an aristocracy, led by noble families, and it's from here their early problems stemmed. Athens problems were cause by the greed and power of their noble positions and they constant bickering between themselves over control of the city. On the other end of the spectrum, the poor faced many problems and hardships as the nobles forced them into slavery and into debt, taking their land.
Religion was a cultural aspect that all Greeks had in common. They worshipped the same family of Gods and Goddesses and built temples, carried out sacrifices and celebrated festivals in the God's name. In return, the Greeks believed that the Gods would protect them, make their crops grow and grant them favours. The Gods and Goddesses each had particular powers and responsibilities and each was responsible for an aspect of Greek society. The Greeks also worshipped heroes, some of who were sons of gods and goddesses. Each city-state was also under the protection of a patron deity;