Life in Two City-States: Athens and
Sparta
The Nature of Athenian Democracy
• The government was the world’s first democracy, a form of
government run by the people.
• Only free male Athenians over the age of 20 who had completed
military training were considered citizens and allowed to vote.
• Women, children, and immigrants had no role in the government;
nor did slaves.
Citizens’ Duties
Citizens were expected to:
• Vote in all elections
• Serve in office if elected
• Serve on juries
• Serve in the military during war.
Athenian Government
Athenian democracy consisted of three
main bodies.
• The first was an assembly that included
citizens. This assembly approved all of
the laws and important decisions for
Athens. It met on a particular hill within
the city. This type of system, in which all
people vote directly on an issue, is
called a direct democracy.
• The second was the Council of 500. The
500 met daily. The main role of the
Council, was to write laws. The
members were chosen randomly.
• The third was the courts that heard
trials and sentenced criminals. Members
of these courts, which could number up
to 6,000 people, were chosen from the
assembly.
Athenian Economy
Athenians got the goods they needed for everyday life
by
- trading with foreign lands and other city-states.
- buying and selling goods in the agora, or marketplace.
- using coins, which made trade easier.
Education in Athens
Athenian boys
• were taught to be good
citizens.
• went to school between
the ages of 6 and 14. They
learned reading, writing,
arithmetic, literature,
sports, and music.
• began military training at
age 18.
• sometimes continued their
education with a private
tutor if they were wealthy.
Women in Athens
Women in Athens
- were not citizens.
- could not choose their
husbands.
- could not own much
property.
- sometimes were
priestesses.
- managed their
households.
- didn’t go out alone.
Slaves in Athens
Slaves in Athens
- were either born slaves or had been captured in war.
- performed a variety of jobs, some of them highly
skilled.
- sometimes worked in silver mines.
Sparta
• Sparta was one of the
mightiest city-states in
Greece, if one of the
least typical.
• Located on the
Peloponnesus, the large
peninsula of southern
Greece, Sparta was at
first surrounded by
smaller towns.
• Over time, Sparta seized
control of the towns
around it.
Spartan Government
Sparta was an oligarchy where
- the real power was in the
hands of only a few people.
- the important decisions were
made by the Council of Elders.
- council members had to be at
least 60 and wealthy.
- council members served for
life.
- the Assembly had little power.
- the Assembly did not debate
issues.
Spartan Economy
Spartans got the goods they needed for everyday life by
- farming.
- carrying on some trade with other city-states.*
- forcing conquered people to become helots, or state slaves who
farmed for the Spartans.
*Sparta discouraged trade (even used heavy iron bars for money)
and feared outside ideas could hurt their polis.
Education in Sparta
• The Spartans demanded strength
and toughness from birth.
• Babies, boys and girls alike, were
examined for strength after birth.
If a child was found unhealthy, he
or she was left in the wild to die.
• At age seven, all children began
training for combat.
• At the end of their training,
groups of boys were sent into the
wilderness with no food or tools
and were expected to survive.
• At age 20, boys became hoplites,
or foot soldiers.
• They remained in the army for 10
years, after which time they were
allowed to leave and take their
place as citizens.
Women in Sparta
• Sparta was rather unusual
among Greek city-states in
that women played an
important role in society.
• Spartan women were
trained in gymnastics for
physical fitness.
• The Spartans thought
women had to be fit to
bear strong children.
• They had the right to own
property, a right forbidden
to women in most of
Greece.
Slaves in Sparta
Helots (slaves) were given to
Spartan citizens to work on
farms so that the citizens did
not have to perform manual
labor.
The helots outnumbered Spartan
citizens by about seven to one
and were always ready to
rebel against their rulers.
Consequently, helots
- were treated very harshly.
- were killed if it was thought
they might rebel.
However, helots
- could marry freely.
- could sell any extra crops they
had.
- could buy their freedom.