Greek Review and Introduction to Sparta and Athens

Sparta and AthensActivityRead pages 297-301 of your textbook. Create a Venn Diagram to compare Sparta and Athens

Things to compare:LocationAttitude towards tradeRole of boys, men, and womenGovernment typeProgression of government in Athens (Who ruled/what laws or decisions they made) - Page 300

Sparta and Athens

SpartaLocated on a fertile plain on the Peloponnesus.

Sparta

AthensLocated near a harbor of the Aegean Sea between Asia Minor, Africa, and Europe.

Sparta and Athens

SpartaTrade and travel were discouraged.

AthensTrade with other regions made them wealthy.

SpartaBoys went to training camps to prepare them to be strong and disciplined.

ActivityTurn to page 298 of your textbooks to read about Spartan Children.

AthensBoys attended school in order to be well rounded citizens. (Most boys learned their fathers trade)

SpartaGirls trained to be strong but did not serve in the military.

AthensGirls studied reading, writing, arithmetic, and music at home.

SpartaWomen were highly respected and made their own decisions about their homes and families.

AthensWomen were in charge of home life.

SpartaForced conquered people to be helots; slavelike workers owned by the Spartan city-state.

Athens1/3 of people were slaves.

SpartaIn times of peace, the government was ruled by an oligarchy of elders whose laws were approved by an assembly of citizens.

SpartaIn times of war, 2 kings ruled; each from a different royal family.

AthensAn oligarchy replaced the monarchy.At first, there were no recorded laws.

SpartaNew laws were proposed to an assembly, which was a lawmaking group.

The assembly elected 5 wealthy landowners, called ephors, to handle day-to-day governing.AthensDraco made the first recorded laws (They were very harsh, and people fell into debt)

AthensSolon replaced Draco, cancelled debts and freed all people who had sold themselves into slavery

AthensHe set up a system that based political rights on wealth, not birth

All citizens could attend assembly with a council. Decisions were made by a majority rule.

BothWomen managed households and family matters

Education was important to producing good citizens

Spartan GovernmentUp to four or more helots for every citizen.

Spartan GovernmentOutnumbered, the Spartans constantly feared that the helots would rebel.

To stay prepared to fight against the helots and Spartas enemies, they lived a military life.

Spartan GovernmentThe oligarchy was made up of 30 elders over the age of 60.

The assembly approved laws made by the elders and elected the ephors.

Although the assembly was important, the elders and the ephors had the real power.

Spartan Daily LifeBoys lived in training camps and learned gymnastics, wrestling, and military exercises.

They learned to accept hardship without complaint and obey orders without question.

Spartan Daily LifeMen could marry between the ages of 20 and 30, but continued to live in the barracks until becoming citizens at age 30. They served as soldiers until age 60.

Spartan Daily LifeGirls also trained to be strong, but did not serve in the military.

Raising children would be their main role, but they had more freedom than women in other Greek city-states.

Because men were often away on military duty, women managed household and family matters.

Spartan Daily LifeSpartan leaders feared that new ideas would bring unwanted changes to their society.

Because of this, citizens were rarely allowed to travel beyond Sparta and trade with outsiders was discouraged.

Spartan Daily LifeThey followed a strict way of life, dressed plainly, and ate simple meals.

They also had a strong sense of honor and were trained to never give up in battle.

They believed there was no greater act than to die defending their city-state.

Athenian GovernmentDraco had formed tough laws, but a crisis emerged in 600 B.C. when the farmers who supplied Athens with food fell into debt, and many had to sell themselves into slavery to survive. (This led to anger and distrust among the poor people of Athens.)

Athenian GovernmentSolon made reforms by cancelling all debts and freeing all Athenians who had sold themselves into slavery. He also replaced Dracos harsher laws with fairer ones.

Athenian GovernmentHe laid the foundation on which Athenian democracy was built by allowing more people to participate in government.

His system was based political rights on wealth, not birth.

Athenian GovernmentMale citizens were divided into four classes according to their agricultural wealth. (This included ownership of land, grain, and olive oil.) The greater your wealth, the higher the government position you could hold.

Athenian GovernmentMen without property made up the lowest class and could only attend the assembly and serve on juries. However, citizens could rise to a higher class by acquiring more wealth.

Athenian GovernmentAll male citizens were allowed to attend the assembly in Athens. They passed laws, elected leaders, and helped decide court cases.

Athenian GovernmentDecisions were made by majority rule everyone got 1 vote and the idea that got the most votes passed.

Athenian GovernmentA council was established to support the assembly. They decided what topics to discuss.

The council was made up of 400 citizens who served one-year terms. Every year, council members were selected in a random drawing.

Athenian Daily LifeEducation was just as important to producing good citizens as it was in Sparta.

Young Athenians learned about good behavior from the fables of Aesop.

ActivityTurn to page 301 of your textbook to learn about Aesops Fables.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

The Tortoise and the Hare

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Athenian Daily LifeBoys studied arithmetic, reading, writing, physical education, and the arts painting, poetry, and music.

Most began learning their fathers trade bronze workers, blacksmiths, carpenters, or potters.

Athenian Daily LifeGirls studied reading, writing, arithmetic, and music at home. They also learned spinning, weaving, sewing, cooking, and childcare.

Athenian Daily LifeAbout one third of people were slaves. Many were educated, and some became doctors and teachers. Others cleaned, cooked, farmed, and mined for silver.

Athenian Daily LifeNeither slaves not women could participate in the Athenian assembly, vote, or serve on juries.

Wrap UpName some key differences between Athens and Sparta.