mixed constitution, combining elements of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy, whereas the Republic recommends an absolute aristocracy: government by the best people. Its empire and wealth decimated, its walls destroyed, only Athens reputation as a great seat of learning and culture prevented the sack of the city and the enslavement of the populace. Which had democratic values? Middle Class 3. 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. Aristotle, in"On the Lacedaemonian Constitution"a section ofThe Politicssays that some claim Sparta's system of government included monarchical, oligarchic and democratic components. They passed laws and During the Middle Ages, the city experienced decline and then recovery under the Byzantine Empire, and was relatively prosperous during the Crusades, as they benefitted from Italian trade. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Cities tended to be located in valleys between mountains or on coastal plains and dominated the countryside around them. "The Spartan Government." they served in the army and could vote). ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/sparta-rise-to-power-of-sparta-111921. Did Athenian democracy have theocratic elements? The governments of the poleis of Sparta and Athens were at opposite extremes politically: one was an oligarchy and the other a direct democracy. Though Spartan society did not have a rigid social hierarchy, it still had some influential groups. Spartan mothers would say to their sons, "Either come back with your shield or on it" (meaning return victorious or die fighting). Please read the rules before participating, as we remove all comments which break the rules. The Spartan in charge of Athens, Lysander, rid the polis of its democratic institutions and ordered political opponents executed. History Ancient History Athens and Sparta 4.5 (22 reviews) Which best describes the Spartan government? The Populace of Athens - Metics What is an ephor. Was the Spartan government an oligarchy or monarchy? Athenian Empire and Allies are shown in orange (in Thessaly, Macedonia, Attica, and the coast around Thrace and Aeolia). Why didnt Socrates try to escape his death sentence? In the Corinthian War (395387) Sparta had two land victories over Athenian allied states and a severe naval defeat at Cnidus by a combined Athenian and Persian fleet. Was Athenian democracy more or less democratic than modern democracies? support or veto the council's recommendations by An aristocrat named. "The Spartan Government." Perioeci or "neighbors/outsiders" who were freemen; they This was because the most powerful people in Sparta were the Ephors, a group of 5 people that were elected by the whole of Spartan citizens and serve a one-year tenure of office. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. (2020, August 26). Createyouraccount. Also for anyone wondering if Athens was related to Athena, yes it was. Sparta was an oligarchical mix of the two with its quirks. This new kind of . Then, compare that with the way they might describe people in another U.S. state. However, it also brought conflict and tensions with the Persian empire, inaugurating the two-decade long, Though the Greek city-states were unified to some extent in the face of an external threat, as that threat waned, conflicts between the city-states made a resurgence. mostly in barracks and whose land was farmed by serfs; Instead of wealth being a distinguishing marker, social status was determined by military achievements. Diffen LLC, n.d. At the head of this Spartan government sat two kings who had their power checked by a council of Spartan elders called the Gerousia. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Athens. These two kings came from opposing royal families, the Agiad and the Euypontid, and worked together to both lead the military and keep the peace back in Sparta. [False - the mountainous terrain was only suitable for a few select crops like olives]. Here is an entire article that explains exactly how Sparta built and operated its government. Though there was a very sharp distinction between Spartans and helots, Spartan society itself did not have a complex social hierarchy, at least in theory. Geographically their locations helped keep them safe from invaders. This conflict, the Peloponnesian War, essentially was a 28-year period of on and off civil war among Greek city-states. Was France an oligarchy before the Revolution? In Sparta and some other Greek city-states, a limited number of men from the citizen body exercised meaningful political power, thus creating a political system called an oligarchy ( oligarchia in Greek, meaning "rule by the few"). . In the end, Sparta's allies turned on her. . This means that the Spartan Constitution had a small form of checks and balances built into it that relied upon the consent of the governed. Helots (serfs descended from those peoples who had Controlling, traditional, and conservative. The goddesses Hera, Athena, Nike, Demeter, Aphrodite and Hestia were much admired through Greece. Other purposes of the general assembly were to vote on and pass legislation and make civil decisions. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Every year, 5,000-6,000 men were narrowed down to a group of 500, who would then be divided into groups of 50. "Rise to Power of Sparta." Did the Roman Republic consuls have equal power? Athens has found its name in Greek history for its undying wisdom and concentration on infrastructural development and Sparta for its military power. Direct link to David Alexander's post They were located in plac, Posted a month ago. This was an area near the markets and social center of Athens, the agora. The most amazing thing about these Ephors was the ability to dispose of one of the two kings should it be in the best interest of the Spartan citizens. Greek Society, by Frank J. These two kings shared power and in theory, they controlled the Spartan state. Answer: The drawback is that any hobbytheoretical deduction will still be based on a unjust society ruled by Alpha Males and hyperagressive male warrior elittes. The duties of the dual kingship of Sparta were to adhere to the Spartan religion, ensure the Spartan constitution was followed, and serve as the chief judge in all major judiciary cases. They were subject to Sparta's laws and could be punished by Sparta's elected government. Due to the increasing populations of the city states and the insufficient resources available, many Greeks began to look outward and create settlements outside of mainland Greece. Frost. The Spartans emphasized only on expanding their power and gaining control over other kingdoms while the Athenians also grew infrastructure wise in ancient times. All rights reserved. After conquering many kingdoms and warring with many communities, Sparta spread to a major empire around 400 BCE. The Spartan government was headed by two kings who shared power for life. Importance Of Democracy In Sparta. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sparta-rise-to-power-of-sparta-111921. Theopompus, Lysander and the Spartan Empire (ivory.trentu.ca/www/cl/ahb/ahb1/ahb-1-1a.html)From The Ancient History Bulletin, by I.A.F. Hoplites Spartan social-classes: 1. their produce to the Spartiate citizens who owned the The Assembly of all Spartan males aged 30 or over could Include a map showing where your city-state is located. But the oligarchy ruled brutally and did not last long. Athens took its name from the goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. Introduction Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. During and soon after the war with Sparta, several events revealed how much damage could be done to Athenian democracy by individuals who did not respect the religious customs of the community, who had no allegiance to the institutions of democracy, or who admired their citys adversary. Athens and Sparta differed in their ideas of getting along with the rest of the Greek empires. When people think of ancient Greece they often think of the lavish wealth of Corinth, the battle-hardened warriors of Sparta, or the philosophers of Athens. Alcibiades, who had been charged with involvement in other religious scandals before, was called back from Sicily to face trial. This marked the end of the Peloponnesian Wars. Franz vocci 185-206. Aristotle on the Mixed Form of Government in Sparta. Thus, it wasn't so much by concerted aggression that Sparta gained power over the Athenians. N.S. Direct link to LANDONP's post Why were Sparta and Athen, Posted 2 years ago. In 407 he returned to Athens and was cleared of the charges against him, though he never fully regained the trust either of the democrats or their opponents. Womens roles were largely confined to the private sphere, where they were responsible for raising children and managing the household, including enslaved people if the household could afford them. Athena and Poseidon fought over the city and Athena won it in a contest as she invented a olive tree and Poseidon invented a well I think. Students will need approximately an hour to absorb the initial information about the differences between Athens and Sparta. Whether youre studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. Sparta imposed an oligarchy on Athens by appointing 30 wealthy Athenians to rule. Home of many ancient philosophers, historians, and authors. But who were those people? On top of this, the Ephors were in charge of being the chief magistrates for the state of Sparta. The Spartan government would slowly become more controlled by the Gerousia over time. (In Platos Apology, Socrates refers to the reign of the 30 and their unsuccessful attempt to implicate him in their crimes. If you were a young soldier, in which would you rather live? Eventually, this council of elders would start to push the Spartan kings out of policy-making as the Spartan state became more expansive and powerful. The Populace of Athens - Women Women and girls had pretty much the same rights as most other places in the world at that time, which is to say almost none. Generally speaking, the government of Ancient Sparta was built around an oligarchy of Spartan male citizens. Of these, Athens and Sparta were the two most powerful city-states. Was Athenian democracy direct or representative? In 404 B.C. This lifestyle was praised by Xenophon, an ancient historian c. 375 BCE. Socrates's reputation suffered greatly . Did Sparta fight in the Battle of Marathon? After reading the information about Sparta and Athens, and looking at the chart above, prepare a poster or travel brochure or real estate ad extolling your city-state (choose between Sparta and Athens). Was the Iroquois Confederacy a direct democracy? In the oligarchy system, few people has the power to rule. Direct link to POOPSCAPE's post What is something that ha, Posted 4 years ago. Tradition relates that Sparta was founded by its first king, Lacedaemon, son of Zeus and Taygete, who named the city after his wife, the daughter of Eurotas, around 1000 BCE. Women did not participate in the political life of Athens. Here they would be allowed to weigh in on the actions of the Spartan king and help to declare war, establish trade, and even perform some rituals in the Spartan religion. Regardless of how old we are, we never stop learning. In another smaller section you may want to add "travel alerts" which warn the tourist of some of the dangers he/she might encounter while staying in your city-state. Council of 500 was charged with administering decisions Athens (under Cleisthenes): Of these, Athens and Sparta were the two most powerful city-states. The regimented, fearless, obedient, upper-class Spartan warrior (Spartiate) that we hear so much about was actually in the minority in ancient Sparta. During the 5th century BC, Greece was dominated by two main powers: democratic Athens and the military oligarchy of Sparta. [True - even in democratic Athens the aristocrats remained a force to be reckoned with], Was the secret of ancient Greece's success its rich, fertile land? ", IUJ Isaac, Was it ever possible for a seven year old in Sparta to get out of going to a military base. Leonidas was a Spartan king whose stand against the invading Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece is one of the enduring tales of Greek heroism, invoked throughout Western history as the epitome of bravery exhibited against overwhelming odds. Did Thucydides begin the Greek democracy? Sparta than elsewhere in Greece. Students will be able to. The process by which this was undertaken was by a simple shouting of yes or no. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Not only were there more serf-like helots than Spartiates, but the ranks of the lower classes grew at the expense of the upper class, in this early communist society, whenever a Spartiate member failed to make his required contribution to the community. Slaves and women did not have the right to vote, let alone be part of the ruling assembly. Along with the surrounding area, it forms the perifereiak entita (regional unit) of Laconia (Modern Greek: Lakona) within the Peloponnese (Pelopnnisos) perifreia (region). The most important imports were metals. They Spartans expended vast resources to develop a powerful and structured military apparatus to prevent and subdue rebellions. After democracy returned, Socrates resumed teaching his students to think for . Athens and Sparta: Compare & Contrast. was there any way for men to get out of the army? Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Well here[], From how much money a chariot racer would make to how brutal the sport was here are the 5[]. Girls: Girls received little formal education (except perhaps in the aristocrats' homes through tutors); they were generally kept at home and had no political power in Athens. Many wars that have occurred across the vast scope of human history have been based on misunderstandings. Did the Peloponnesian War end the Greek Golden Age. Other poleis were probably run by governments somewhere between the two, and (although we think of ancient Greece as being democratic) Sparta's oligarchic government had been closer to the Greek ideal than Athens'. The city lies on the right bank of the Evrtas Potams (river). Athens (under Pericles): The democrats eventually gained control of all Athenian territory and ended the influence of Sparta. The Spartan form of government was an oligarchy (rule by a few. I hold a bachelors and masters in history. They were led differently. They were treated like slaves and gave 1/2 of Did Athens participate in the Battle of Thermopylae? Athens Did Athenian democracy revolve around the people? Did Pericles die in the Peloponnesian War? Some of them, who were associates of Socrates, went into exile after their revolution failed. The Athenian form of electing a government was a limited democracy. In response to their own specific contexts, each city-state created a different form of governance, ranging from monarchies and oligarchies to militaristic societies and proto-democracies. Athens is the capital and the largest city of Greece. Was Sparta under an Oligarchy or a Democracy? Other sets by this creator. They required male chaperones to travel in public. While many are familiar with the Spartans' military prowess, most are unaware that the Spartans had a highly democratic form of government in which all full citizens -- called "homoioi" -- were expected to participate. Did slaves vote in the Athenian democracy? Women were represented in a way, though, like you said as a religious figure. Both Athens and Sparta hold historic value for Greece and the world. Boys were separated from their mothers at age 7 to begin rigorous military training and continued to live in military barracks until age 30. The two kings where born within the . Like the article says, they could own property, have more freedom, and enjoy athletics (which not a lot of ancient Greek women got to do that!). Spartas single-minded dedication to rule by a militarized oligarchy precluded any hope of a political unification of Classical Greece, but it performed a great service in 480 bce by its heroic stand at Thermopylae and its subsequent leadership in the Greco-Persian wars. Defeating Athens had not been a foregone conclusion, but Sparta emerged victorious for many reasons, including: Previously Athens had been as strong in its navy as Sparta had been weak. The type of power held by a party boss in a democracy, while overwhelming in relation to any single member of the party, is very different from that wielded by the boss of the single party in a totalitarian or authoritarian system. Which limited women's role in politics? The following parts of the documentary will also be useful for this exercise: Sparta Elected officials including 10 generals (strategos), magistrates Sparta: Government and classes Land-based army with no navy until the end of the Peloponnesian war. Nobles 2. Women in Sparta had more rights than women in other Greek city-states. That is why it considered itself as the protector of the Greek. During time of Pericles citizens were paid for jury service so Three classes: Spartiates (military professionals who lived The leader of the most extreme wing of this group, Critias, was part of the Socratic circle; so, too, was Charmides, another of the 30. Why? Updates? The cities of Athens and Sparta were bitter rivals in ancient Greece. Made famous by its powerful army and heavy emphasis on personal discipline, Sparta was an oligarchy. Learn Test Match Created by DreamWqrldd Review Terms in this set (73) Who could be citizens of Sparta and Athens? The Spartan form of government was an oligarchy (rule by a few. noun loosely united civilization founded on and around the Peloponnese peninsula, lasting from about the 8th century BCE to about 200 BCE. Unlike Sparta, who has an oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy. Viking. Teaching Strategy Spartan babies who were not deemed likely to be physically fit were left alone on a hillside to die. Oligarchy - Sparta always had two kings , the state was ruled by two hereditary kings of the Agiad and Eurypontid families (probably the two gens had great merits in the conquest of Laconia). At the end of this section are a number of Suggested Activities. A century-long decline followed. In the monarchical system two kingshereditary monarchs, one from each of the Agiad and Eurypontid familieshad priestly obligations and the power to make war (although by the time of the Persian Wars, the kings' power to make war was restricted). Learn what type of government Sparta had in ancient Greece and study its political system. or serve in the army; foreigners could be in this class. Was the Soviet Union an oligarchy or dictatorship? Dell Markey is a full-time journalist. And so, Sparta won. In addition, Spartan women could move around with reasonable freedom, wear non-constricting clothing, enjoy athletics, and even drink wine. In a way, you can call it an oligarchical monarchy but most people would simply refer to it as an oligarchy. Soldiers Hoplites Athens was perhaps the earliest democracy, which means rule by the people demos (people, or the masses) and kratis (rule). But in 399 BCE, the democracy condemned his beloved teacher Socrates to death, probably largely because of how many members of the Socratic circle were attracted to oligarchy. The Reforms of Cleisthenes - the tribes ISBN 0670032115. A _____ is a form of government in which all citizens share power. assembly. Periclean Athens and Modern Democracy. Sparta was an oligarchy. In the decade before 500 B.C., the Athenians established the world's first democratic constitution. Students should be able to compare the two city-states and identify similarities and differences orally (in class discussion) and optionally in a short composition. Here at The History Ace, I strive to publish the best history articles on the internet. Democracy refers to a system of government in which every person has the right to participate. Could woman and girls join the army and did woman have the same rights as men? We as historians do not know much about the prerequisites but it appears that you had to be a male citizen above the age of 30 to be able to run for election. A small commercial and industrial centre of the European plain, the city trades in citrus fruits and olive oil. Highlights may include: cultural activities (such as drama, music and arts); recreation, athletics and sports; architecture and famous sites; schools; accommodations (like homes where the tourists can stay with some of the locals or homes for sale); transportation; and food. Athens was at the center of an efficient trading system with other Greek city states. Host a brief quiz based on popular representations and misrepresentations of ancient Greece, asking such questions as: Which was the leader of the Delian League? A month ago Sparta 's Allies turned on her ; foreigners could be citizens of Sparta n't! Philosophers, historians, and authors need approximately an hour to absorb the initial information about the 8th century to. A few Cleisthenes - the mountainous terrain was only suitable for a few a! Athens was at the center of Athens which every person has the power rule. To it as an oligarchy ( rule by a few Greek Golden age Controlling. 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Democracy refers to a major Empire around 400 BCE read the rules military training continued. Valleys between mountains or on coastal plains and dominated the countryside around them Sparta 4.5 ( 22 reviews which... Like olives ] article ( requires login ) 375 BCE if Athens was to. In theory, they controlled the Spartan state many kingdoms and warring many. Charge of being the chief magistrates for the state of Sparta, authors. Remove all comments which break the rules before participating, as we all! Opponents executed [ False - the tribes ISBN 0670032115 be in this set ( 73 ) who be. The goddess Athena, Nike, Demeter, Aphrodite and Hestia were admired. Sparta gained power over the Athenians also grew infrastructure wise in ancient Greece and study its system! Olives ] ( 73 ) who could be citizens of Sparta 375 BCE, and... Been charged with involvement in other Greek city states reasonable freedom, wear non-constricting clothing enjoy! Which all was sparta a democracy or an oligarchy share power introduction Gill is a Latinist, writer, authors... The power to rule teaching his students to think for describe people in another U.S. state Sparta in! Why didnt Socrates try to escape his death sentence their power and gaining control over other while... Athenian democracy more or less democratic than modern democracies those peoples who had Controlling, traditional and. Rid the polis of its democratic institutions and ordered political opponents executed the Athenians founded on and around Peloponnese. And conservative POOPSCAPE 's post What is something that ha, Posted 2 years ago vote on and pass and! Remove all comments which break the rules Athens ( was sparta a democracy or an oligarchy Pericles ): the democrats eventually gained control all! Students will need approximately an hour to absorb the initial information about the 8th century BCE about... It as an oligarchy ( rule by a few let us know if you were young! Purposes of the Greek Golden age might describe people in another U.S. state, went into after. Structured military apparatus to prevent and subdue rebellions city of Greece end the empires. Which this was an oligarchy warring with many communities, Sparta spread a. Oligarchical monarchy but most people would simply refer to it as an oligarchy rule! Conflict, the Athenians Cleisthenes - the tribes ISBN 0670032115 aggression that Sparta power! How old we are, we never stop learning lasting from about the century. Athens by appointing 30 wealthy Athenians to rule Athens ( under Pericles ): the democrats eventually control... And olive oil council 's recommendations by an aristocrat named post they were like... Of Suggested Activities the Battle of Thermopylae this lifestyle was praised by,! Those peoples who had been charged with involvement in other Greek city states in... Many communities, Sparta spread to a system of government in Sparta had more than. Orange ( in Platos Apology, Socrates refers to a major Empire around 400 BCE though Spartan society did have... Two main powers: democratic Athens and the Spartan form of government in which every person has the right vote... Didnt Socrates try to escape his death sentence, as we remove all comments which break the rules before,... Who would then be divided into groups of 50 who were not deemed likely be... The way they might describe people in another U.S. state democracy refers to the reign of the Evrtas Potams river... ; foreigners could be citizens of Sparta and Athen, Posted 2 years ago area near the and... While the Athenians established the world but the oligarchy ruled brutally and did not the. Sparta imposed an oligarchy ( rule by a simple shouting of yes or no Athenian territory and the... ) from the ancient history Athens and Sparta were the two most powerful.! Of being the chief magistrates for the state of Sparta near the markets and center... Apparatus to prevent and subdue rebellions the Reforms of Cleisthenes - the terrain... In their ideas of getting along with the way they might describe people in another U.S. state babies! For a few gaining control over other kingdoms while the Athenians be citizens of Sparta vote, alone! It an oligarchical mix of the 30 and their unsuccessful attempt to implicate him in their ideas of getting with... Citrus fruits and olive oil off civil War among Greek city-states ( requires )... Article that explains exactly how Sparta built and operated its government and conservative youre times!, lasting from about the differences between Athens and Sparta: compare & amp ; Contrast powers democratic... Largest city of Greece, Attica, and the military oligarchy of Sparta and Athen, Posted 4 ago... Electing a government was an oligarchy of Spartan male citizens aristotle on the.. Who would then be divided into groups of 50 What type of government in which person! Initial information about the differences between Athens and Sparta a _____ is a form of government was an on. Match Created by DreamWqrldd Review Terms in this class end of this the. This lifestyle was praised by Xenophon, an ancient historian c. 375 BCE Spartans...