Similarities & Differences

• Objective: Compare and contrast the governments and cultures

of Sparta and Athens.

Warm Up:
If a nation only had one option, to either
train all of its citizens to become great
warriors, or educate all of its citizens to
become great learners, which do you think it
should choose & why?
Athens and Sparta were
probably the two most
famous and powerful
city states in Ancient
Greece.
However, they were both very different.
 Athens v Sparta-
Government
• Athens’ Government ruled as a
democracy. A democracy is when
citizens vote. They were the 1st to ever
do this. This began in 508 B.C.

• Sparta’s Government ruled as an

oligarchy by 2 Kings. An oligarchy is
when a small group of people make
decisions for all

• Both Athens’ and Sparta’s governments

were elected by the people.
 Athens- Government
• 3 classes of people: Citizens (men born in Athens- they ran everything), Non citizens
(Metics) (women & people born somewhere else- COULD NOT own land, just not
make decisions), and Slaves (treated as property and had no rights)

Consisted of:
• Leaders chosen by “citizens” vote (remember, not ALL are citizens)
– everyone had an equal chance
• Direct Democracy
– All citizens participate directly in making decisions
• Representative Democracy
– Citizens elect representatives to govern for them
– Video
 Sparta- Government
• 3 classes of people: Citizens (men born in Sparta- they ran everything), Non
citizens (women & people born somewhere else- COULD own land, just not make
decisions), and Slaves (called Helots, hated and terrorized by most Spartans)

• Consisted of:
– 2 kings
• One king in charge of army
• One king in charge of matters at home
– Council of Elders
• 28 male citizens over age 60
– Citizen Assembly
• approved all major decisions
 Athens v Sparta
Layout
• Athens is built below the
acropolis which stands on a hill
above all of Athens.

• Sparta is surrounded by
mountains, which makes it
difficult for it to be invaded.
 ATHENS
Culture
• Athens was a very creative city state.
• They believed in a good education. (for
boys) They are very well known for how
smart they were and for their famous
philosophers.
• Boys went to school to learn to read, write, and play
sports. Girls had to stay home and learn to run the
household.
• You could go into the army or navy if you
wanted to. (if you were a boy)
 ATHENS
Women’s Role
• Girls were not regarded as
important by the Athenians.
• Girls could be taught at home. (if
they had rich parents)
• Girls were not allowed to take
part in anything to do with war,
business or education.
• Video
 SPARTA
Culture
• Sparta was very focused on obedience and war
and the people did not have any luxuries.
• Education was not important, but being
physically strong was important for girls & boys
– Boys HAD to join the Spartan army.
– babies were examined for health
• if they weren’t healthy they were left in the hills to die
• Boys: at the age of 7 were sent away for military training
– constant exercise & discipline whippings for punishment
– soldiers could marry at the age of 20, & had to live in the barracks until the age of 30
• Girls: could not be in the military
– but were expected to learn sports and stay strong so that one day they could produce healthy
babies to add to the army!
– Women in Sparta were resented by other Greek women because they were allowed to do
more things like own land or make decisions while husbands were at war.
 SPARTA
Women’s Role
• Girls in Sparta were to grow up
to be the mothers of warriors.
• Although they were not allowed
to fight, girls took part in all the
training because fit ladies
produced fit babies, who would
fight!
• Video
 Athens v Sparta
• Athens and Sparta had very different
ways of living their lives.
• Athens wanted to control as much
land as possible and this led to much
war between Greek lands.
• Sparta, although more powerful kept
itself to itself unless their army was
needed.
However when it came to Athens and
Sparta against each other…
Sparta won!
But, they did not take over Athens
they said they would not burn it as
long as Athens promised not to keep
trying to take over.

Athens was therefore left as it was

and even now is one of the most
famous cities in the world.
 Quick Comparison…
Sparta: Athens:
Politicians
Warriors Democratic
Authoritarian Scholars
Not a lot of Great Navy
education
Great Army
As we go through, highlight
facts when you hear them.
Greece
Greece Today – Santorini
Athens – Capital of Greece
 Activities
• Create a diagram & compare the two city
states Athens & Sparta.

• Watch the Ed-puzzle video code: vatjone

• Word wall game:

https://wordwall.net/resource/33368094/history/athe
ns-vs-sparta-ancient-greece