Sparta and Athens
Build on What You Know You've read about Athens . Its main rival was Sparta, a large city-state in the Peloponnesus. Life there was quite different from life in Athens.
Sparta's Military State
ESSENTIAL QUESTION What did Spartan society emphasize the most?
About 715 B.C., Sparta conquered a neighboring area to gain land. This conquest changed Sparta. The Spartans forced the defeated people to become slaves called helots (HEHL•uhtz). They worked mostly on farms and had to give the Spartans half their crops. The helots rebelled many times. Although they greatly outnumbered the Spartans and fought hard, the Spartans put down the revolts. Fear of these revolts led Sparta to become a state that focused everything on building a strong army.
Government and Society Sparta had a government that was part monarchy, part oligarchy, and part democracy. Two kings ruled Sparta, and five elected supervisors ran the government. The Council of Elders, made up of 30 older citizens, proposed laws. All Spartan citizens were part of the Assembly. It elected officials and voted on the laws proposed by the Council.
Three social groups made up Spartan society. Citizens lived in the city and spent all their time training to be soldiers. Free noncitizens lived in nearby villages. They had no political rights. The lowest group was the helots. Their labor fed Sparta, making it possible for free Spartans to be full-time soldiers.
Three social groups made up Spartan society. Citizens lived in the city and spent all their time training to be soldiers. Free noncitizens lived in nearby villages. They had no political rights. The lowest group was the helots. Their labor fed Sparta, making it possible for free Spartans to be full-time soldiers.
Education The goal of Spartan society was to have a strong army. At age seven, boys moved into military houses called barracks. Their education stressed discipline, duty, strength, and military skill. (See Primary Source below.) The boys learned to read just enough to get by.
All male citizens entered the army at the age of 20 and served until they were 60. Even after men got married, they had to eat with their fellow soldiers.
All male citizens entered the army at the age of 20 and served until they were 60. Even after men got married, they had to eat with their fellow soldiers.
Women Spartan society expected its women to be tough, emotionally and physically. Mothers told their sons, "Bring back this shield yourself or be brought back on it." (Spartans carried dead warriors home on their shields.) Education for girls in Sparta focused on making them strong. They had athletic training and learned to defend themselves.
The emphasis on the army made family life less important in Sparta than in other Greek city-states. In Sparta husbands and wives spent much time apart. Women had more freedom. They were allowed to own property. A wife was expected to watch over her husband's property if he was at war.
The emphasis on the army made family life less important in Sparta than in other Greek city-states. In Sparta husbands and wives spent much time apart. Women had more freedom. They were allowed to own property. A wife was expected to watch over her husband's property if he was at war.
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Athens' Democratic Way of Life
ESSENTIAL QUESTION What was the government of Athens like?
Over time Athens developed a direct democracy. All of its citizens met to vote on laws. Only free men were citizens.
Government and Society Athens had two governing bodies. The Council of Four Hundred took care of day-to-day problems. The Assembly voted on policies proposed by the council.
Citizens had to serve in the army whenever they were needed. They also had to serve on juries. Juries usually had several hundred people to hear charges against a person. In Athens, all citizens were equal in the courts. There were no professional lawyers or judges. Citizens argued their case directly before the jury.
Solon's reforms had organized citizens into four classes based on income. Foreigners, women, children, and slaves were not citizens.
Slaves made up one-third of the population. They worked in homes, agriculture, industry, and mines. Some slaves worked alongside their masters. Some even earned wages and were able to buy their freedom.
Citizens had to serve in the army whenever they were needed. They also had to serve on juries. Juries usually had several hundred people to hear charges against a person. In Athens, all citizens were equal in the courts. There were no professional lawyers or judges. Citizens argued their case directly before the jury.
Solon's reforms had organized citizens into four classes based on income. Foreigners, women, children, and slaves were not citizens.
Slaves made up one-third of the population. They worked in homes, agriculture, industry, and mines. Some slaves worked alongside their masters. Some even earned wages and were able to buy their freedom.
Education Boys of wealthy families started school at age six or seven. Education prepared them to be good citizens. They studied logic and public speaking to help them debate as adults in the Assembly. They also studied reading, writing, poetry, arithmetic, and music. Athletic activities helped them develop strong bodies.
Women Athenians expected women to be good wives and mothers. These roles were respected because they helped to keep the family and society strong. In addition, some women fulfilled important religious roles as priestesses in temples. In spite of their importance to society, Athenian women had much less freedom than Spartan women.
Women could inherit property only if their fathers had no sons. Girls did not attend school. They learned household duties from their mothers. A few learned to read and write.
Women could inherit property only if their fathers had no sons. Girls did not attend school. They learned household duties from their mothers. A few learned to read and write.
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The Persian Wars
ESSENTIAL QUESTION What happened when Persia invaded Greece?
As you know, Persia conquered much of Southwest Asia. A king and a highly organized government ruled the resulting empire.
In the 500s B.C., Persia conquered Anatolia, a region with many Greek colonies. In 499 B.C., some Greeks in Anatolia revolted against Persian rule. Athens, which had a strong navy, sent ships and soldiers to help them. The revolt failed, but Persia decided to punish Athens for interfering. In 490 B.C., the Persians arrived near Athens on the plain of Marathon. The Athenians sent a runner to ask Sparta for help, but the Spartans came too late.
The Athenians were greatly outnumbered, so they had to use a clever plan. First they drew the Persians toward the center of the Greek line. Then the Greeks surrounded them and attacked. In close fighting, Greek spears were more effective than Persian arrows. The Persians lost 6,400 men. The Greeks lost only 192.
Legend says that a soldier ran from Marathon about 25 miles to Athens to tell of the victory. When he reached Athens, he collapsed and died. Modern marathons are based on his long run.
In the 500s B.C., Persia conquered Anatolia, a region with many Greek colonies. In 499 B.C., some Greeks in Anatolia revolted against Persian rule. Athens, which had a strong navy, sent ships and soldiers to help them. The revolt failed, but Persia decided to punish Athens for interfering. In 490 B.C., the Persians arrived near Athens on the plain of Marathon. The Athenians sent a runner to ask Sparta for help, but the Spartans came too late.
The Athenians were greatly outnumbered, so they had to use a clever plan. First they drew the Persians toward the center of the Greek line. Then the Greeks surrounded them and attacked. In close fighting, Greek spears were more effective than Persian arrows. The Persians lost 6,400 men. The Greeks lost only 192.
Legend says that a soldier ran from Marathon about 25 miles to Athens to tell of the victory. When he reached Athens, he collapsed and died. Modern marathons are based on his long run.
Greek Victory In 480 B.C., Persia again invaded Greece. In spite of past quarrels with each other, several Greek city-states united against Persia. An army of 300 Spartans guarded the narrow pass at Thermopylae (thuhr•MAHP•uh•lee) to stop a Persian army from reaching Athens. The Spartans held the pass for two days before the Persians killed them all. Their sacrifice gave the Athenians time to prepare for battle.
The Athenians left their city to fight a naval battle against the Persians. The battle took place in a narrow body of water where the large Persian fleet could barely move. Smaller, more mobile Greek ships sunk about 300 Persian ships, and the war ended. You will read more about Greece after the war in Chapter 12.
The Athenians left their city to fight a naval battle against the Persians. The battle took place in a narrow body of water where the large Persian fleet could barely move. Smaller, more mobile Greek ships sunk about 300 Persian ships, and the war ended. You will read more about Greece after the war in Chapter 12.
Summary
• Sparta organized its state around its strong army.
• Athens valued democratic government and culture.
• Some Greek city-states united to defeat the Persians.
Why It Matters Now . . .
Defeating the Persians allowed Greek democracy and culture to continue. This culture greatly influenced later world civilization.
Defeating the Persians allowed Greek democracy and culture to continue. This culture greatly influenced later world civilization.