Athens vs. Sparta

Athens: Agriculture

5th century Athens prospered because the city:
1) exploited the rich agriculture of Attica, and
2)exported huge quantities of wine and oil through the port Pireas.
In terms of social organization there were a few rich families at the top of the social pyramid. A very large middle class of prosperous farmers and/or businessmen who would pool resources to equip and man the ships involved in the tracks of olive oil and wine. A third category of people were Non-Athenians – Xenos (foreigners) who came to Athens because of the economic opportunities there. And finally, a very lowly class of slaves.

5th Century Athens: Political System

5th century Athens was a Direct Democracy: the citizens of Athens met in assembly to vote the following:
1. The laws by which they were to be governed.
2. Archons were elected: these administrators (12) enforced the laws, policed the agora (marketplace), and proclaimed festival days.
3.Elected magistrates (Judges) who presided over the law courts*.
To be a citizen meant the following:
-Adult males who had enough income to equip themselves with hoplite armor
-excluded from citizenship: children, women, slaves, foreigners, and those too poor to equip themselves with hoplite armor
*Pericles – a great Athenian leader establishes trial by jury.
The Cultural Achievements of 5th century B.C. Athens

Art

-Sculptures
-Bust
Architecture
-Use of Peristyle and columns
Literature
-Illiad
-Odyssey
-Dramen
-Characterization
Theater
Aeschylus, The Orestian Trilogy, Sophades, Oedipus the King
Aristophaces – comedies
Sports – the enjoyment of seeing what the Human body can do in competition
Democracy and Jury – Ruled by People
Thucydides – wrote about Pelophonesian war
Philosophy – Greek word – Phileo meaning to like or love
-Socrates
-Plato
Sopho – Wisdom

Sparta: Economy and Social Organization

The Spartans exploited the rich soil of lake domonian plain. Spartans export nothing. The goal of Spartan economy is autarky ( self – efficiency). They produce everything they need. Not interested in becoming rich like other city-states. Spartans conquer lake domonian plain around 750 B.C. and enslave conquered peoples. The enslaved are called “Helots”. The Helots do all the farming, tending of the olive trees and grapevines and the tending of goats and sheep.

Sparta-8%

Helots 90%

Craftsmen – 2%

Craftsmen: Weavers, Blacksmith, Pottery makers
Sparta- greatest warning states
When a boy is of the age of 7, he goes to the Barracks. They train everyday for war. At age 18, you become part of the army, only if you have strangled a Helot with your bare hands. From 18 – 60 men live in the Barracks.
Until a girl turns 7, They help their moms raise siblings and take care of the house. From 7 until marriage, they are taught to keep house, sports, and gymnastics. After 60 men leave the army and come live with their wives.

Spartan children are not to meet, however sneak out of barracks or house to meet the one they love during night.

A story tells of three Spartan boys who excape the barracks to get food. They find a baby wolf, but are caught coming back. The boy carrying the wolf sacrifices himself for his team by shoving the wolf up his shirt while the gaurd questioned them. His stomach was eaten, and he died later. This shows the strength of the Spartan Barracks.

Sparta: The Political System

Two kings – ( two royal families, two dynasties. When Sparta is at war one king leads the army while the other king remains in Sparta withy a portion of the army to prevent a helot rebellion.)
Five Ephors (Over Seer) – elected by the Gerousia to a 1 year term of office and they administer the Sparta State
Gerousia – 28 Men chosen by the Apella plus the 2 Kings. They will make policy for Sparta.
Apella- The assembly of all Spartan Citizens 30 or older, they make laws and choose members of the Gerousia. They voted by shouting YAY! Or NAY! To a proposed law.