Four rulers, Draco, Solon, Pisistratus, and Cleithenes, greatly influenced the political development of Athens. However, Athenian democracy cannot really be called a true democracy since there were several flaws in the government and the way in which it functioned. Upper class male citizens over the age of thirty were the only Athenians who held any right to vote. The democracy in Athens consisted of an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. Together, nine anchors, a Council of five hundred, an Assembly, and a court chosen by lot governed the city-state with limited power.

The Spartan Constitution called for all men to begin their military education at the age of seven, where they were trained to be tough and self-sufficient. Every man in the army fought with a great deal of passion for his country. Life in Sparta may have been rough, but the rest of the Greeks envied the Spartans for their simplicity, straight forwardness, and fanatical dedication. The beliefs of Sparta were oriented around the state. The individual lived and died for the state. The combination of this philosophy, the education of Spartan males, and the discipline of their army gave the Spartans the stability needed to survive in Ancient Greece.

Athens and Sparta can be compared to each other in many ways. However, in today’s culture, we can never completely achieve the military power of Sparta, nor the sense of individual well being exemplified in Athens. We mimic their beliefs, while at the same time improve their customs. America too is a great nation; however, just like Athens and Sparta, we are often shaped by our mistakes and defined by our flaws.

ssembly was made up of five hundred men who were chosen from a list of those who were eligible to serve on the council. All branches of the government were capable of vetoing one another. It was also customary to expel from the country any speaker who became too powerful. This rule could easily be abused and often infringed on the freedom of speech that most democracies have. However, as stated in the Athenian Constitution, male citizens were equal and the government’s focus was on the individual rather than the state as a whole. This form of government could have run smoothly if it had not existed in a time led my military empires.

The oligarchy in Sparta somewhat resembled the totalitarian culture of the twentieth century Nazis. Totalitarianism is a form of government in which one ruler dictates the behavior of an entire nation with absolute power. Like the Nazi’s, a central power had authority over the government and the state as a whole. Hitler was the Nazi’s central power, while the Spartans were headed by five Ephors. The unlimited power of the Ephors allowed them to dictate the thoughts and actions of the entire city-state of Sparta, much like Adolph Hitler ruled over his Nazi nation. However, the command of the Ephors was divided by three, rather than being held by an individual.

Social classes in Athens and Spart

Some topics in this essay:
Athens Sparta, Spartans’ Athenians’, Helots Aristotle, Athens Athenian, Ancient Greece, Athenian Constitution, Life Sparta, Assembly Male, Sea Spain, Funeral Oration, athens sparta, spartan women, form government, male citizens, ancient greece, upper class, male citizens age, oligarchy sparta, housework sewing, voting rights, five hundred, city-states athens sparta, nazi’s central power,