Essay Compare And Contrast Sparta And Athens

Athens and Sparta were two Greek poleis that coexisted between 750-c. 500 B.C.E. (Duiker 119). Even though these two city-states were similar in a few ways, they were different in many more ways, so they didn’t particularly get along very well. Almost every aspect of their lives was different, from their government systems, to their views on men and women, and finally to their lasting effects on Greek history and culture. Despite their differences, they both influenced Greece and the Mediterranean areas. Athens was a democracy city-state that elected archons annually (124). Whereas Sparta was ruled by two kings that ruled for life or were forced out of office, and were advised by a Council of Elders (123). Sparta was a war centered society, but Athens focused more on academics and philosophy. Spartan values were centered around being brave, self-disciplined, and honoring and fighting for Sparta, even if it meant death. Trade and agriculture were very important to the Athenian economy (137). Both government styles had elections and voting involved, but it was limited to some based on gender and
social status. Both societies allowed slavery as well. The treatment of men and especially women varied between Athens and Sparta.
In Athens, life revolved around men. The women were just wives, meant to bare children and tend to home issues (137). Women could not vote or take part in government in either society, but women could own and inherit property in Sparta (122). Overall women had the same responsibilities and household duties in both cultures, but they were permitted more rights in Sparta. In Sparta, men were taken away from home at a very young age and put into government custody, where they would be placed in barracks and trained for the military with very harsh disciplinary acts (122). At the age of 20, they were enlisted into the military, and could marry, but remained living in the barracks until they turned 30. Family was the main focus in Athens, and women were expected to have many children, especially
boys. It is true to say Athens and Sparta were very different, but they both managed to influence Grecian culture and history. Athens, along with some other Greek poleis, brought many great intellectuals who developed philosophy and modern thought. Sparta changed the military styles techniques, and were essential in holding off the Persians when Xerxes started invading Greece (125). The idea of democracy came from Athens, which later spread through most of Greece, and much of the world today. During the Classical Greek era, Athens was the center of culture. In fact, many Greek ideas changed not only Grecian culture, but the entire world’s culture. The ancient Greeks created drama as the western world knows it today (128). Athens and Sparta might have been very different cities in ancient Greece, but they were both fundamental players in forming Grecian culture and history and influencing the world. Athens broadened the horizons for philosophical and many other academic advances and cultural advances, yet Sparta influenced society with their military styles and techniques, and possibly even helped change the views on women and their independence from men. Just because two places differ, doesn’t mean that they can’t help advance the world for the better when both of their ideals are combined and balanced out intelligently.