Athens vs. Sparta The Two faces of Ancient Greece

The Athenians focused more on thinking and learning, while the Spartans were about training and their military. The Athenian people spent a lot of their time studying literature, art, and music. The Athenian motto was “know thyself,” showing the importance of individual thought. Learning and thinking were not a big part of the Spartan lifestyle. They focused more on physical training, obeying orders, and getting prepared for fight

The two city states had very different governments. Athens was governed with an open democracy. This meant that all male citizens were responsible for governing Athens. The Spartans, however, were ruled by five men called ephors, and a council of 28 elders. This was called an oligarchy. The ephors were elected each year by Spartan citizens over thirty years of age. In Athens, all men had the chance to be part of the government. They had to be educated, so they went to school and learned as much as they could about their city. Athens was broken down into divisions, and fifty people were randomly chosen from each unit to form the Council of 500. This council would meet to decide the laws. The ephors in charge of Sparta were in control of everyone, and made all of the decisions. In Athenian courts, men would plead their cases in front of their peers, who would decide their fates. Leaders would decide punishment in Sparta. The governments of Sparta and Athens were both very different.

ing. The Athenians stressed physical fitness for men as well, striving for a “sou

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