This document provides a summary of the key differences between the governments, economies, education systems, and treatment of women and slaves in ancient Sparta and Athens. Sparta had an oligarchic government ruled by kings and elders, focused its economy on farming and the military, emphasized physical training and discipline for both boys and girls, and granted women greater freedoms than in Athens. Athens had a democratic government with participation from free adult males, an economy based on trade, placed greater emphasis on intellectual and cultural learning, and imposed greater restrictions on women. The document asks the reader to imagine traveling back in time and choosing whether to join the polis of Sparta or Athens based on these factors.

1. Warm Up:
IN YOUR PASSPORT
Did you set your new years
resolution for the rest of the
school year?
January 4, 2012
Sparta Vs. Athens Recap and Finishing!
Homework: Friday Quiz – Government &
Sparta V. Athens

2. Who am I?

3. Government
Sparta VS. Athena
hy • Democracy
• Oligarchy • Everyone takes
• 2 kings & 28 Only free
men part
others
Women • Council
• Assembly – Cannot don’t vote • 500 men over
debate only say Assembly the age of 30
yes or no to a law lots of
• Deal with day to
and picks the Elders men that
propose day issues
by shouting out
laws • Assembly debates
their names
issues

4. Economy
Sparta VS. Athens
• Depends on farming • Depended on trade
• To get more land • Land not good for
they take over their farming
neighbors • Slaves • Good Harbor
• Slaves (Helots) and • Trade • Olive oil, honey,
noncitizens produce (Sparta pottery, etc.
very
any goods needed • Agora = Marketplace
little)
• No trade b/c of • Slaves were bought
Xenophobia and sold here too
• No coins- iron bars • Gold Coins
= keep from trading

5. Education
Sparta VS. Athens
• Be a good citizen
• Protect the City
• Book & physical learning
• Girls & Boys learn to • Until 6 taught at home
fight • Until 14 go to school –
• Unhealthy babies die reading, writing, math,
Military
on hill literature, sports,
training
• Boys: for all singing, and playing
• Age 7 go to camp boys instruments
learn to be tough, • 18 – military training
steal & fight • Girls - how to read,
• Age 20 take a warrior write, cook, clean, make
test clothing, songs, and
• Live in barracks until dances
30 years old • Some rich women had a
better education

6. Women & Slaves
Sparta VS. Athens
• Women: • Women:
• Plain clothing & no jewelry • Cannot own property or
• Expected to fight vote
• Free to speak to men • Could not choose their
• Own land & Control husbands and no divorce
Property • Can’t go out without a
• Divorce their husbands man
• Slaves /Helots: • Manage the house & kids
• Conquered people or Slaves/Helots:
born there as slaves • Conquered & some born
• Government killed legally into it
• They could marry and • Variety of jobs, some bad
even buy their freedom (mines) but some were
teachers and doctors

7. Where would you rather live?
• In your passport….Imagine you were shipped
back in time and found yourself faced by a
person from Sparta and one from Athens.
They both ask you to join their polis. YOU
CHOOSE! Write two paragraph about the
place you would rather live, Sparta or
Athens….make sure to use at least two of the
topic settings you learned about (Education,
Women & Slaves, Government, Economy).

8. TRANSITIONAL PAGE

9. Template Provided By
www.animationfactory.com
500,000 Downloadable PowerPoint Templates, Animated
Clip Art, Backgrounds and Videos