Sparta and Athens: Two Rival City-States

    Guiding Question: What different systems of government did Sparta and Athens have?
  

Sparta vs Athens: Key Differences

Feature	Sparta	Athens
Government	Oligarchy (2 kings, ephors, elders)	Democracy (citizen assembly)
Society	Military state, helot serfs	Trade-focused, evolving democracy
Men	Barracks until 30, army to 60	Citizen assembly participation
Women	Household power, physical training	Limited public roles

Sparta conquered Laconians and Messenians, creating helots (serfs) who worked Spartan land. To control them, Sparta became a military state.

Athens moved from aristocracy through Draco, Solon, Peisistratus, to Cleisthenes' democratic council and assembly.

Concise Timeline (730-500 BCE)

c. 730 BCESparta conquers Messenia; helots created

c. 700 BCEAthens unified under aristocrats

620 BCEDraco's harsh laws (debt slavery)

594 BCESolon cancels debts, frees slaves

560 BCEPeisistratus seizes power as tyrant

510 BCEPeisistratid tyranny ends

508 BCECleisthenes creates Council of 500, democracy foundations

Key Figures: Brief Synopses

Draco

c. 620 BCE Athenian lawgiver

Codified harsh laws; debt slavery for default. First written Athenian code.

Solon

594 BCE Athenian reformer

Canceled land debts, freed debt slaves. Created property classes for offices. No land redistribution.

Peisistratus

560-527 BCE tyrant

Seized power, aided trade, gave land to poor. Sons overthrown 510 BCE.

Cleisthenes

508 BCE reformer

Created Council of 500, reorganized tribes. Assembly gained final law authority.

Spartan Ephors

5 men elected yearly

Controlled education, citizen conduct. Supervised kings and elders.

Lesson 2 Review

Vocabulary

Polis: Independent Greek city-state
Acropolis: Fortified hilltop in polis
Agora: Marketplace and public square
Helots: Spartan serfs from conquered regions
Ephors: 5 Spartan officials overseeing citizens

Guiding Questions

Sparta: Oligarchy (2 kings + ephors + elders + assembly vote)
Athens: Democracy (Council of 500 + citizen assembly)
Organization: Independent poleis with own governments, armies

Persuasive Essay Prompt

Compare/contrast Sparta vs Athens. Argue which political/social system was superior and why. Consider: military strength vs citizen participation, helot control vs trade prosperity, discipline vs innovation.