Daily Life of
Ancient Greeks
Athenians and
Spartans
Athens and Sparta
H-SS 6.4.6
C.O.: IWBAT compare and contrast the daily life of
Athens and Sparta by completing a thinking map.
L.O.: IWBAT distinguish the Athenian lifestyle form
the Spartan lifestyle.
Do Now: Create a bubble map in order to describe the
city-state of Athens based on the information you have
learned so far.
HW:
Greek Society
Divided into Social
Classes
Aristocrats-wealthy/rich
Small Farmers- owned
land/rented land to
farm
Artisans/Merchantsforeigners who lived in
city-state
Slaves- POW’s, bought
in trade, or adopted
babies who were
abandoned.
Greek Family
Typical Family: Husband,
Wife, and children (preferably
boys)
Women at home
Raise children
Kept track of money and
spending
Managed Slaves
Made Clothes
Men at war or involved in
public life
Children are VERY
IMPORTANT
Clothes, Food and
More…
Typical Clothing: Chitons
Women wore long Cloth to their
feet
Children wore short chitons
Men wore combo of two chitons
Some barefoot some wore leather
sandal shoes
Loved jewelry
Food:
Breakfast-bread dipped in wine
Lunch-bread and cheese
Dinner- meat if rich otherwise
porridge
Olives used for cooking, lamps,
cosmetics
Essential
Question # 4
A) How did Athenians and Spartans differ?
B) How did the difference between Athens
and Sparta influence the Persian and
Peloponnesian Wars?
Differences in CityStates
Athens
Sparta
Government
Athens
Direct Democracy
Citizens 18 or
older
Assembly
Council
Courts
Strong Navy
Formed Allies and
traded for food to feed
people
Sparta
Oligarchy-ruled by few
(older & more experienced
rulers)
Citizens 30 or older
2 kings- one stays, other goes
during battles
Assmebly
Ephors- five elected to
oversee kings, education, and
slaves
Strong Army
Took land to grow food for
rising population
Social Structure
Athens
Sparta
All male citizens were
equal
Upper classes had all
powers & privileges
Women were only allowed
on jury
Helots (slaves) did all nonmilitary work
Taught children and
stayed home
Metics (resident aliens)
Women were free
Earn education
Managed estates and
slaves
Bear healthy children
Lifestyle & Value
Athens
Thinkers
Always invited other
thinkers from other citystates to come and share
thoughts
Culture (art, music, etc. )
OlympicsFestivals
Sparta
Warriors
Not permitted to own
luxuries-more worried
about being the best
military
Education
Athens
Boys taught at home until
6/7 then off to school as
well as girls
Schools separate
Boys taught reading,
writing, math, music,
poetry, and sports
Girls taught homemaking
skills
Sparta
Babies -if born strong then
taken home for a slave to
nurse them so they don’t get
attached, if not then thrown
over cliff to die
Boys taken at 7 to Agoge
(barracks) to train in the art
of war
Allowed to lie, cheat, and
steal, but if caught then
beaten
Girls taken at age 7 to train
in reading, writing, sports
and survival
Role of Women
Athens
Women not citizens
Only allowed on jury
Stayed home to take
care of household
duties
Rarely allowed in
public unless
accompanied by a
slave
Sparta
Enjoyed more
freedom
Athletic
Expected to protect
land while husband
was at war
Must bare strong
healthy babies to
become warriors
Cultural Achievements
Athens
Arts & Architecture
Mosaics & Pottery
Parthenon
Philosophy
Plato
Aristotle
Socrates
Literature/Poetry
Epic Poems
Drama/Festivals
Sparta
Simple Lifestyle
Stories of courage and
discipline
Phalanx- infantry with
long spears, drawn up in
close order with shields
overlapping.
Never gave up