Sparta and Athens
Agenda
• What do we know?
• Sparta and Athens
I. Sparta: The Military Ideal
A. Established by invaders from the north who
conquered the Peloponnesus.
1. Conquered people called helots.
2. Established Sparta – in a valley, not on a hill.
B. Spartan Society
1. Three social groups (classes)
a.
b.
c.
Equals – descended from invaders – controlled the citystate.
Half-citizens – free, but without political power – farmers,
traders, industry. They served in the army.
Helots – Slaves who made up the majority of the
population. Controlled by force.
I. Sparta: The Military Ideal
C. Government in Sparta
1. Two kings – one for the army and one for home.
2. Council of elders – 28 men who proposed laws and
acted as a criminal court.
3. Assembly
a. Voted on laws proposed by elders.
b. Elected 5 ephors to one-year terms to make sure the kings
obeyed the law.
I. Sparta: The Military Ideal
D. Life in Sparta’s military society
1. Controlled the life of all citizens – especially helots.
2. Unhealthy babies left to die.
3. At 7 – boys went to military school. Learned
reading/writing and trained for the military. From 1820 – trained exclusively for war.
4. At 20 – could marry, but could not live at home until
they were 30. Served in the military until 60.
5. Girls – received physical training and studied music
(for discipline and coordination).
6. Gave up individual freedom for an unbeatable army.
7. No art, literature, philosophy or science from Sparta.
II. Athens: The birth of democracy.
A. Unfertile land leads Athenians to become sea
traders.
B. Introduced coined money in 600s BCE
C. City built inland, but constructed port for
trading.
D. Athenian Society
1. Citizens – Athenian born men.
2. Metics – non-citizens - free – merchants and
artisans.
3. Slaves – conquered in war. Natural part of
society. Freed slaves become metics. Slaves/metics
= half of the population.
II. Athens: The birth of democracy.
E. Early government in Athens
1.
After monarchy – Aristocracy
a. Assembly – all adult male citizens participated.
b.
9 Archons elected as rulers.
2.
At first – laws not written – caused complaints by nonaristocrats.
3.
Draco – first written laws (circa 621 BCE) – harsh and severe –
“Draconian”
4.
Solon
a. Archon in 594 BCE – erased debts of the poor and outlawed
slavery as repayment of debt.
b.
Divided citizens in 4 groups based on wealth. Only top two
could hold office but all citizens elected leaders.
5.
Peisistratus – tyrant – improved economy, but did not have
support of nobles. Government returns to aristocracy after him.
II. Athens: The birth of democracy.
F. Athenian democracy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Cleisthenes – first leader to create democratic government
in Athens.
Athens divided into 10 tribes. Each tribe had 50
representatives (Council of Five Hundred). Served for 1 year
at a time – could only be re-elected once.
Assembly (all adult-male citizens) had final say on all laws
proposed by Council of Five Hundred.
Jurors chosen from citizens by lot – heard court cases –
voted in secret ballots.
Direct democracy – all citizens participate equally in
decision-making.
Representative democracy (U.S. today) – citizens elect
representatives to govern for them.