Much less evidence survives about sparta than athens, but we do know that it was a military state. Accordingly, the two cities used a polis system of government. Today the term classical is used to describe their enduring style of art and architecture. Their opposition led to the reinstitution of a democratic government in athens. Spartan system of government short history website. The main difference between athens and sparta is that athens had a formal democracy arrangement and rooted in the philosophy of arts and learning, whereas sparta had an organisation where a small group of people had control of the region with a military mindset. Spartas government was much different than athens, it was an oligarchy. Sparta and athens these two citystates have been credited for being the cradle of western civilization. Sparta, ancient capital of the laconia district of the southeastern peloponnese, southwestern greece. Persia was a tiny country compared to the size of its empire. Sparta the advantages of spartan education and marriage customs plutarch, life of lycurgus 1416 lycurgus was the legendary lawgiver of sparta, who established the tough, military nature of spartan.
The peloponnesian war marked a significant power shift in ancient greece. In the quoted passage on the government of sparta, aristotle disapproves of government run by poor people. Types of government there were three main types of government. The cities of athens and sparta were bitter rivals in ancient greece. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases. Exclusive difference between athens and sparta with table. Sparta was the principal enemy of athens during the peloponnesian war between 431 and 404 bc, from which it emerged victorious. The spartan government operated very differently than the athenian government.
Jan 21, 2018 the ancient greek and the ancient rome appeared to be the birthplace of modern western civilization. Athens had a unique government, a direct democracy. Contrasting philosophies of government divided the greek citystates of athens democracy and sparta oligarchy. We tend to look at the ancient greek citystate of sparta as being a warrior society, which it was, but also as less sophisticated than intellectual centers like athens. The government was headed by a dual monarchy with two kings who were drawn from the two most prominent families. While similar in some ways, athens and sparta had some key differences between them. Each state had its own laws, government and money but they shared the. The main difference between athens and sparta is that athens was a form of democracy, whereas sparta was a form of oligarchy athens and sparta are two prominent greek rival citystates. Athenians also enjoyed a democratic form of government in which some. Even most high government officials were decided by lottery. Ancient greek civilization sparta and athens britannica.
Difference between athens and sparta difference wiki. Athens was the first citystate to have a true and efficient form of democracy. Given its military preeminence, sparta was recognized as the leading force of the unified greek military during the grecopersian wars, in rivalry with the rising naval power of athens. Lycurgus had conceived also political institutions, established after consulting with the delphic oracle. Athens and sparta government comparisons by prezi user on. An oligarchy meant the ruling power was in the hands of only a few people. Athens was known as a peaceful city while sparta was referred to as a city filled with gangs who always created unrest among the citizens. Delian league with athens clearly the most powerful. It is a center for economic, political, financial and culture life in greece. Athens the athenian democratic government gave the citizens in greece more freedom. They have unique missions tailorfitted for their expansion. Strong army, best and most feared fighters on land. Jul 11, 2015 according to the legend, from period of the king lycurgus all existing spartan laws were grounded.
But sparta was very different from the other greek citystates. What are the differences between athens and sparta. The oligarchy structure in sparta enabled it to keep war as a top priority. Which characteristic of government describes athens, not sparta. Sparta was a militaristic state led by an oligarchic government headed by two kings elected only by the affluent members of society. Shortly after the end of the grecopersian war, a series of skirmishes broke out between athens and sparta, and historians often call this the first peloponnesian war. Ancient greek civilization ancient greek civilization sparta and athens. The council of elders, made up of 30 older citizens, proposed laws. Sparta and argos sign a peace treaty which endures for the next 30 years. The ancient greek and the ancient rome appeared to be the birthplace of modern western civilization. Study 24 terms athens vs sparta and athens government. The council of elders included two kings and 28 other men, the kings shared their power. Two kings ruled sparta, and five elected supervisors ran the government. Both athens and sparta hold historic value for greece and the world.
Sparta and athens had many differences and similarities in their government. Nov 08, 2019 athens and sparta are two prominent greek rival citystates. Government and society sparta had a government that was part monarchy, part oligarchy, and part democracy. Athens government ruled as a democracy they were the first to ever do. Athens only allowed men who were older than eighteen years of age to become a citizen. Athens was a democracy where officials were elected every year. Apr 25, 2019 while the main conflict fought between athens and sparta is known as the peloponnesian war, this was not the first time these two citystates fought. One of the main ways they were similar was in their form of government. The spartan government had 2 kings, 28 people in the council of elders, and 5 ephors.
However, the top rulers of athens were elected, while sparta s were not. The peloponnesian war athens vs sparta complete ancient history see u in history duration. After reading the information about sparta and athens, and looking at the chart above, tell students they should be prepared to tell in which citystate they would rather live and why. A look at the differences and similarities of the laws and rulers in ancient athens and sparta.
Athens and sparta were the two largest citystates and they had many wars and battles. Women had few rights, but were more independent in sparta than elsewhere in greece. Noncitizens outnumbered citizens, but they were kept in check by the strong military that the spartan government had created. Both sparta and athens were militarily strong, though in different ways.
Sparta was not a democracy, but there are some similarities between the spartan government and modern democracies. Rome shines the spotlight on three greek citystates. Similar to athens, sparta also had an assembly, but the important desicions were made by a group called the council of elders. Athens is recognized as the place where western civilization and democracy began. While the main conflict fought between athens and sparta is known as the peloponnesian war, this was not the first time these two citystates fought. Sparta was a warrior society of fierce, often unbeatable soldiers, and only warriors participated in political life. Aristotle on the mixed form of government in sparta. The two most powerful citystates in ancient greece, athens and sparta, went to war with each other from 431 to 405 b. Sparta was an oligarchy, unlike athens, which was a democracy. Athens and sparta were persias next target in growing its empire. The main difference between athens and sparta is their government, economy, and society. Sparta was a city in greece in which the form of the kingdom in the form of joint authority was. Athens and sparta government comparisons a little background on the two citystates spartas government athens and sparta were the two leading citystates in greece.
The council had 28 elders, who served for life, and two kings. Feb 22, 2019 the peloponnesian war athens vs sparta complete ancient history see u in history duration. In antiquity, the citystate was known as lacedaemon. Democracy in athens history of athens famous historians minoans and mycenaens sparta government time line of athens time line of ancient greece. Sparta was ruled by two kings and a 28 member council of elders. Sparta relied on its huge army to enforce their laws.
A citystate was a major city and the surrounding areas. A good wife should be the mistress of her home, having under her care all that is within it, according to. Mar 30, 2020 the magna graecia content pack for imperator. While the spartans has a strange government mixed between aristocracy oligarchy and monarchy, the athenians created democracy the. Every citizen would have a say in the government and a group called the council met every day to discuss what they could do to improve the lives of the people. The peloponnesian war 431404 bc was an ancient greek war fought by the delian league led by athens against the peloponnesian league led by sparta. Athens and sparta government athens and sparta similarities war between athens and sparta. Unlike athens s democracy, in which every citizen had a vote, sparta had an oligarchic government a government ruled by a few people. The two citystates that best represent each form of government were sparta oligarchy and athens democracy. Athens is the capital and the largest city of greece. Ancient greece for kids athens primary homework help.
Athens focused more on culture, while sparta focused more on war. It was exceptional in that and in many other respects, some of which have already been noted. Sparta the two rivalries of ancient greece that made the most racket and created many of the traditions were athens and sparta. These two were so close to each other on the map, yet they were so far apart in the way they valued and approached life. We are the spartans, the mighty warriors who live in sparta our government is ruled by nobles and royalty we begin military training at age 7 so we can.
What were the pros and cons of athenian and spartan. A key difference lay in their ambitions, with athens seeking to expand and sparta being content with what it had. Sparta and athens constitutional rights foundation. What were the differences between the governments in. Sparta during the times of ancient greece, two major forms of government existed, democracy and oligarchy. Sparta differed from athens in almost every single way. The spartan men were well known for being brave and fierce, and they spent their whole lives training and fighting.
Sparta was the only city state which had a full time army. Athens was the first ever city to introduce the democratic form of government while sparta was the first ever city that was ruled by two different kings as an oligarchy. Sparta did have an assembly but instead of the decisions being made by citizens, they were made by a group called the council of elders. What is the difference between athens and sparta pediaa. Athens democratic government and open culture stood in stark contrast to the government and society of its chief rival sparta. The athenian form of electing a government was called limited democracy while the spartan form was called oligarchy rule by a. Though these are not very far away from each other, there are many differences between these two states. Every citizen was a part of the government, no matter what their social standing.
Prominent among the states that never experienced tyranny was sparta, a fact remarked on even in antiquity. They had a few things in common, and throughout history, they were at war with each other for domination and supremacy. Sparta was surrounded by mountains which protected it from invaders. The sparsity of ruins from antiquity around the modern city reflects the austerity of the military oligarchy that ruled the spartan citystate from the 6th to the 2nd century bce. Both athens and sparta had an assembly, whose members were elected by the people. Athens and sparta government comparisons a little background on the two citystates sparta s government athens and sparta were the two leading citystates in greece. Athens and sparta government comparisons by prezi user on prezi. Like athens s government, sparta had three branches, but the roles of each branch was very different. Aug 11, 2018 in the quoted passage on the government of sparta, aristotle disapproves of government run by poor people. Compare and contrast athens and spartas government answers. Sparta was ruled by a small group of retired warriors.
The citystates of athens and sparta are the best representatives of democracy and oligarchy, respectively. The government of sparta consisted of a council of 30. While the spartans has a strange government mixed between aristocracy oligarchy and monarchy. Geographically they are very close to each other, but have sometimes had very different values, lifestyles, and cultures. Us government athenian government spartan government athenian government the spartan government was an oligarchy. This machine called a kleroterion was used to randomly pick citizens. Sparta s government was much different than athens, it was an oligarchy.
Apr 26, 2012 sparta differed from athens in almost every single way. In this lesson, we will learn about the government of sparta, how it was divided. What were the similarities between sparta and athens. Sparta, ancient greek citystate for kids and teachers. The council of elders consisted of two kings and 28 other men. It was governed by a system that comprised elements of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy. This meant that every athenian citizen voted on laws and legislation. The citystates of athens and sparta are the best representatives of democracy and.