Athens Vs Sparta

11-8–14

The cities of Athens and and Sparta differed in many important ways. Athenian boys learned more academic subjects than Spartan boys did. In Sparta, the government was an oligarchy whereas in Athens, they were a democracy. Spartan women had more freedom than Athenian women. This essay will discuss these differences.

Athens taught more academics to their young boys than Spartans did. At the age of seven, Athenian boys went to school to learn. They were taught history, arithmetic, geometry, drawing, music, gymnastics, and public speaking.(p. 119; “Athenian Education”, para. 3-4.) When a Spartan boy turned seven, he was sent to military school and there, learned reading, writing, and the use of weapons until he was the age of twenty and then he went into the army for twenty years(p. 115-116; “A Military Society”, para. 1-2.) Athens was raising citizens and Sparta was raising soldiers.

Athens was a democracy while Sparta was an oligarchy. The legislative branch in Athens consisted of all male citizens(p. 118-119; “Athenian Democracy”, para. 2-4)and Sparta’s legislative branch was made up of all male citizens over the age of thirty(p. 116; “Sparta’s Government”, para. 1.) In Athens, the executive branch was council of five hundred containing any citizen; the Spartan executive branch however, had five ephors(p. 118-119; “Athenian Democracy”, para. 2-4.) The judicial branch in Athens had two hundred and one to one thousand and one members in it, whereas Sparta had twenty eight men over the age of sixty(Ibid.) Athens had more people participate in government because they were a democracy(Ibid.)

Women in Sparta had more freedom than Athenian women did. When infants, Spartan girls got as much food as boys; Spartan girls were trained in gymnastics and wrestling(p.116; “The Role of Women”, para. 1.)The women in Sparta married at age nineteen and were allowed to be seen in public and attend festivals(Ibid.. para.2.) On the other hand, Athenian women were only taught to bake and weave(pg. 119; “Athenian Education”, para. 1.) In conclusion, Spartan women had more freedom than Athenian women; Spartan women also had more responsibility.

The differences discussed above resulted differences in development. Athens focused on educating their citizens so they could be highly intelligent(p. 119; “Athenian Education”, para. 1.) Since Sparta was an oligarchy,