A public assembly of male citizens met 40 times a year to vote on state decisions. Law forbade all Spartan males from any occupation other than that of being a soldier. Athens was not a military dictatorship; Sparta was. Athens and Sparta. With this in mind though, the structures of Athenss and Spartas governments were not totally dissimilar. The Spartan equivalent of the senate was its “gerousia”, while Ephors and the Kings would regularly attend the “apella” (general assembly) to develop and try to pass “rhetrai”, or motions and decrees. With this in mind though, the structures of Athens’s and Sparta’s governments were not totally dissimilar. Other group of scholars promote the idea that patronage was the most essential part of the roman electoral system; hence campaigning is about mobilizing friends. As a whole, the five Ephors had the power to overrule the Kings, but tended to keep to religious and militaristic duties. As per the legends of Greece, after the death of his father and then elder brother, the political horizon of Sparta became clouded. Oligarchy refers to a small group of people who govern a nation together. Athens is seen as the birthplace of democracy – where a large number of the population had a say in state affairs and proceedings. Nevertheless, affinities between the Spartan and Athenian views and roles of women are evident, as Xenophon tells us. The first main difference between them was that Athens was more famous for its culture and civilization while Sparta was known for its warrior nature and had a fearsome reputation in those days. Athenians voted for their leaders who came from the upper class. Also, neither employed the fundamental idea of autocracy a sole, omnipote… Sparta, on the other hand, was ruled by five men with help from a council of elders. Neither could attend the “palaestra” to exercise. It is a center for economic, political, financial and culture life in Greece. Athens had strong adversaries. The most glaring difference is that Sparta did not have a democracy, while Athens did, though it was not total. ANCIENT GREECE CHAPTER 5 DRAFT. Sparta also had kings, and it appears that Athens did not. Word Count: In summary, Sparta and Athens may have been in great divergence to each other at their peaks during and around the Golden Age of Greece, but they possessed many parallel relationships in society. Question options: Athens didn't have hereditary kings; Sparta did. Athens is considered the birthplace of democracy because of the way they chose to run their city. Although very similar in structure, Athens and Sparta had their political differences. Rule by all the male citizens referred to as democracy, which is regarded as Greeks greatest contribution to modern day civilization (Democracy). The Spartan political mindset was war. Athens can be considered as the fountain of culture and philosophical knowledge. Each would take charge for about a month, and ten generals were automatically elected due to their experience. They did not always agree, and there was often discord within the Spartan governmental structure. The process by which this was undertaken was by a simple shouting of ‘yes’ or ‘no’. To begin with, Athens and Sparta were both famous in antiquity for their legend, cultures and the character of the people. Sparta’s governance was centered around warfare and warriors, while Athens was centered around … In those 1,430 years, one can conclude that politics and laws would have advanced since the time of Babylon. In Greece, they went through three different types of government: monarchy (having one king or queen that controls everything by themselves), oligarchy (a small group of people that decides on things together) and democracy. C: The mountainous topography resulted in the isolation of these city-states. In Athens, Greece, Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who wrote a book called Politics, describing the laws and the type of government the people of Athens lived under in 350 B.C. Commonly referred to as the “Spartans”, the warrior class, even caste, of Lacedaemon was but a small fraction of its total population. Sparta’s system of government was very exclusive and open to members of the only the highest social standing. Athens is seen as the birthplace of democracy where a large number of the population had a say in state affairs and proceedings. Athens is the capital and the largest city of Greece. The Pnyx was a hill where the Athenian Ekklesia would meet, with a speaker's platform called the "Bema", A Spartan phalanx at the Battle of Plataea. They were all technically Greeks and spoke the same language but they fought against each other and had their own coinage and government and often had wars with each other. The Greek civilization was an exciting period and also today people talk about it. Decisions that affect the citizens of the state do not have a say. Athens allowed all people to have a voice in the government; Sparta didn't. The differences are what set the two apart while the things that they shared in common are what united them as Greek city-states. 1. Government is Greece took extraordinary diverse forms across different city-States for centuries, political power could rest in the hand of one single individual which will be referred to as Monarchies or Tyranny, rule by small group of people referred to oligarchy or aristocracy. The reason women were scrutinized so heavily on their fitness and physical state relates to the Spartan’s equivalent of the “master race” concept. This was important in shaping their social status and even their life in some cases. Ares … In the Code of Hammurabi, used in Mesopotamia, almost every law that was broken was punishable by death. Ancient Greece is associated as the birthplace of democracy but it is fair to say that Greece was home to various forms of governments. (n.d)). Classical Mediterranean and Europe: The Greeks. Another example that ties this conflict together is the aspect that Athens a democracy could elect such ignorant leaders who only care about their own glory. The Ancient Greek “oligos” translates to “few”, while “archia” means “rule” – ‘rule by the few’. Women in Sparta are very typical of what one may have imagined a woman of Sparta to have been like. Both forms of government ensured that every person was within the law, none could escape. B. Athens was not a military dictatorship; Sparta was. Preview this quiz on Quizizz. Online Exam 4_04 Part 1 of 2 - 100.0/ 100.0 Points Question 1 of 40 5.0/ 5.0 Points How did the political systems in Athens and Sparta differ? Sparta and Athens Sparta The distinctiveness of Sparta. 3 years ago. In addition to this, the social gatherings of Athenians and Spartans both had affinities and contrasts. While they did kill people, they also were the first direct democracy. Other purposes of the general assembly were to vote on and pass legislation and make civil decisions. Also, neither employed the fundamental idea of autocracy – a sole, omnipotent ruler. This differed from Sparta, which did not allow its citizens any say in state matters (Knights, 2007). Hence, let’s look at how did their people obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community, and who held public office first. 17 times. Athens, being a democracy, used the masses as well as nobles, aristocrats and generals as a part of their government. A. Athens didn't have hereditary kings; Sparta did. Sources. D. Athens allowed all people to have a voice in the government; Sparta didn't. A group of scholars are of the opinion that Rome held a “democratic system, identical to the Athenian”, yet historians like Morstein dispute this theory. UoP HIST 1421 Answer: 3 question Discuss the political systems of Athens and Sparta. Athens citizens access to government offices and courts to enable the first city in the country. This differed from Spartas rule by the few, which allowed for much less say from the people next to none, in fact. History. However, at the same time, the two shared a myriad of characteristics in common. Which do you believe gave t - the answers to estudyassistant.com Athens had an empire, they stood up for values, they were the school of Greece, while Sparta were clinching onto their dear iron bars. Women in Sparta had designated arenas in which they would exercise and compete in athletic tournaments, usually secluded from the men who were out training. Both were centred around the concept of citizenry : a set of free men that have the right to have material possession, to defend their families and their land and to form the elite of the society. HIST 1421: GREEK AND ROMAN CIVILIZATION a series of five Ephors were elected by the people and exercised a substantial degree of political power.Women had no rights in either polis, although they enjoyed more freedom in Sparta than in Athens. Three men paved the way to democracy for Athens – firstly Solon, followed by Pisistratus, and then finally Cleisthenes. Overall, Athens, a democracy, would last longer, as evident by their ruins, and Sparta, an oligarchy, would not last long because as always, an oligarchy will always Read More Art And Democracy In Ancient Greece's Creative Revolutions Athens and Sparta were two city-states in the ancient Greece, which also had two different political systems or government. These were the descendants of the original Dorian conquerors who had subjugated the local Aecheans, forcing the latter to become helots and outdwellers in Laconia. These two “poleis” each had similarities and differences regarding the status and view of women in society. Even today, the achievements of Athenians in terms of architecture are much appreciated. Many of the governing styles found through out the world today have been inspired by Ancient Greek states. Athens vs. Sparta In Greece, Sparta and Athens society was very different in many ways. Other Greek city states had an almost all militia army. University of the People THE LAW CODE OF DRACO. Thus, one should not disregard the People, for they can be. The Spartan equivalent of the senate was its “gerousia”, while Ephors and the Kings would regularly attend the “apella” (general assembly) to develop and try to pass “rhetrai”, or motions and decrees. C. Athens allowed women to vote; Sparta didn't. Both forms of government ensured that every person was within the law, none could escape. The Ancient Greek “oligos” translates to “few”, while “archia” means “rule” – ‘rule by the few’. While Sparta and Athens both developed formidable land and sea forces at different stages in their history, each dominated in one particular arm of the military. Edit. Sparta was an “Oligarchy”. (Brand, P.J. Any male citizen of age 18 or above could speak and vote in the Assembly. The people of Athens and Sparta were different in many aspects of their political, government and society set up and this showed in the basic way that they conducted their everyday lives. These two “poleis” each had similarities and differences regarding the status and view of women in society. As various studies suggested, ancient Athens pursued permissiveness and democracy, which its form of government was the antecedent of nowadays 'rule by the people '. Political institutions of Sparta: Lycurgus: The founder of the political institution of Sparta is Lycurgus. On the other hand, Athens was seen as the birthplace of democracy, meaning that it was ruled by the people who had a say in state affairs (history.com, n.d.). This differed from Sparta’s rule by the few, which allowed for much less say from the people – next to none, in fact. Possibly the most characteristic divide between these two great powers of the Ancient Mediterranean is their differing systems of government. Also, we talk about who held the public office, what rules governed the selection of the public, and how the two cities were similar and different as government structure. However, in this essay, the author will discuss the life if Athenians and Spartans, moreover, we discuss how each group obtained their rights to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community. Authoritarian government to a person or a small group of people from the state government's decision is the type of system. Located in the southern part of Greece on the Peloponnisos peninsula, the city-state of Sparta developed a militaristic society ruled by two kings and an oligarchy, or small group that exercised political control. Democracy refers to a system of government in which every person has the right to participate. Life in Sparta was vastly different from life in Athens. Women were judged on their physique and physical and athletic prowess. The differences are what set the two apart, while the things they shared in common are what united them as Greek city-states. The Pnyx was a hill where the Athenian Ekklesia would meet, with a speaker's platform called the "Bema". 5000 to 6000 men were narrowed down to a group of 500, who would then be divided into groups of 50. Why was there such a wide difference between the two city-states? Most of the Ancient Greek city-states practice democracy as their system of government although only Athens is well-known for it democracy. This type of … The main difference being Sparta’s focus being on war and employing a two king system to oversee the army as well as policy at the same time. Greece developed many political tools that aimed to spread decision making to the collective whole or representatives of the collective whole. Athens was a bunch of panzies. Copyright © 2020 IPL.org All rights reserved. A: The Byzantine Empire dictated government policies. Democracy is what we have today, where one person is the main leader, but there are three branches that do different things with the law to decide if it is okay. The Greek civilization 68% average accuracy. On the other hand, Athens was a democracy, which meant “rule by the people” – “demos” (people, or the masses) and “kratis” (rule). How did the treatment of women d … iffer between Athens and Sparta? This enhanced the prestige of Sparta. I will talk about how these two city-states (Athens and Sparta) were similar in governmental structures and also address how they differed and in what ways. Sparta was cool. The Spartiates were the only full citizens and they owned the majority of the fertile land in Laconia and later Messenia which the helot… The after dinner parties and social events in Sparta and Athens both admitted only men, but their proceedings were rather different. Further, when it comes to what. In this paper I will discuss how the people in Athens and Sparta obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community. Cosmetics such as lead ‘foundation’ were common, but unbeknown to them, rather unhealthy. Sparta and Athens shared similarities and differences in their systems of government, militaristic focuses, judgment and views of women. Athens allowed women to vote; Sparta didn't. The Athenian assembly, known as the “ekklesia”, sat to discuss political, militaristic and social matters and agendas in the pnyx. Each kept the other under check, enabling no one to gain absolute power. Sparta vs. Athens Sparta was an “Oligarchy”. Such as Sparta which had a mix of Monarchy, Oligarchy, aristocracy, and tyranny. These two ancient civilizations were 1,430 years apart from each other. Sparta was led by an oligarchy, … The agenda was set and decrees carried out by a 500 strong council, chosen by lot to serve one year each"(Finley, 1983). (S) The Athenian City (polis) and the Spartan empire. Since about 2500 years ago in ancient Greece, and the city of Athens in the state that is different from the past authoritarian ways have developed a way to make decisions. Though these are not very far away from each other, there are many differences between these two states. Why did ancient city-states of Athens and Sparta develop different political systems? A. Athens didn't have hereditary kings; Sparta did C. Athens allowed women to vote; Sparta didn't D. Athens allowed all people to have a voice in the government; Sparta didn't. Athens took its name from the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge.Sparta, a town near the river Evrotas, is located in the center of t… Sparta took the leadership in war. In Athens, the Assembly could meet at least once a month or even two to three times a month. Of course, Spartan women did this to a far greater extent to Athenians. Key Difference – Athens vs Sparta Athens and Sparta refer to two of the greatest cities of Greece between which many differences can be identified in terms of the lifestyles and value systems. On the one hand, the two poleis share certain obvious affinities, such as language, geographical scope, a common Greek ancestry etc. Healthy and fit women would produce fit offspring, continuing the military tradition of Sparta. ATHENS AND SPARTA In Ancient Greece there were two different major forms of government, oligarchy and democracy. In addition, the people of Athens elected generals to lead the military. Elaborate and expensive jewelry, complemented by luscious clothing were worn for seductive, and other purposes. Why was there such a wide difference between the two city-states? Five Ephors were elected annually, accompanied by two kings, who passed on the crowns to their chosen sons. Athens is the symbol of freedom, art, and democracy in the conscience of the civilized world. Prominent among the states that never experienced tyranny was Sparta, a fact remarked on even in antiquity. This was an area close by to the markets and social centre of Athens, the “agora”. Spartan society and Athenian society had many difference and similarities in terms of various aspects of everyday life, military, women and other aspects. Sparta countered the idea of a autocrat by putting two kings in place, and an overseeing body of five Ephors. How did the political systems in Athens and Sparta differ? Other purposes of the general assembly were to vote on and pass legislation and make civil decisions. On the other hand, they were polar opposites in many aspects, from social spheres, political structures, to military might, which I believe there are some hidden depths in these city-states. Several thousand men were narrowed down You've reached the end of your free preview. Five Ephors were elected annually, accompanied by two kings, who passed on the crowns to their chosen sons. Athens vs. Sparta AthensSparta Throughout the ancient world there were two dominating empires. Why did the ancient city-states of Athens and Sparta develop different political systems? There are many examples and references are taken from their way of life and traditions. Jewelry was another big ‘no-no’ for Spartan women. The Life and Governmental Structures of the People of Athens and Sparta Then, the people (only male citizens back then) voted and had a huge impact on the resulting laws. By the time of Aristotle, the Greek laws were far less harsher than those of Babylon. Athens and Sparta are two prominent Greek rival city-states. Because of this, Sparta had the only full time army in all of Greece. Two Cities.Athens and Sparta came up with different solutions to the challenges facing the early Greek poleis.In the eighth century b.c.e. Furthermore, historians argue whether the people’s assemblies had a “voice” of after a certain period the elite outweighed the comitia centuriata with its power and influence. These two cities were both powerful and famous but significantly different. By contrast, the Athenians had a democratic system that was not nearly as dependent on slavery. ^^ Not entirely helpful, but sadly true. Abstract 1447 On the contrary, Athenian women were judged heavily on their artificial beauty. mspamelalev. Athens and Sparta: Life in the cities Greek and Roman Civilization University of the People July, 2017 Abstract Life in the ancient world was not that different from todays, the political life was managed by a minority as well as the majority of the people was on the side following directions from the leading class. The main difference between Athens and Sparta is that Athens was a form of democracy, whereas Sparta was a form of oligarchy. the Roman women from Sparta and the Greek women from Athens were completely different. On the contrary, there are historians who defend the theory that a nominee should follow several political traditions, namely establishing fruitful friendships with people of all classes, offering banquets, festivals and games and even handing out money to the people. An excellent question indeed ! Spartan and Athenian society were very different in many aspects. Their voting system was simply a show of hands. In my view, the authority was no longer centralized in the hands of one administrator, more ordinary people got a say in running the governmental affairs through suffrage, and obtained their official posts as well as participated in policy-making, though the majority of them were still upper-class populace. B: Foreign travelers introduced new philosophies . 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