Athens and Sparta

1. Athens and Sparta Brains vs. Brawn

2. Athens • A port on the Aegean Sea • A major trade center • Traded goods such as olive oil and grapes for wheat • Developed a strong navy • Had a city wall 7 ft. thick and 23 ft. tall protecting the city • Developed the world’s first democracy • Every male citizen over age 18 took part in government

3. Athens • Boys age 7-12 learned reading, writing, math, history, and music • At age 18, males served 2 years in the military • Girls were not allowed to go to school • Attracted the best artists and scholars • Developed new ideas about architecture, art, literature, philosophy, politics, and science.

4. Sparta • Located in an inland valley 150 miles • High mountains formed a natural wall protecting the city-state • Disapproved of trade and contact with outsiders. • Male citizens received a plot of land to farm, but also had to be soldiers. • Had the strongest army in the ancient world

5. Sparta • The only city-state that did not develop its own democratic government • Had two kings, both army commanders, led the city-state. • Only men born in Sparta could be citizens. • Women were not citizens, but could own land. • Only boys were educated—at age 7 they learned reading and writing, but the emphasis was on military and physical training.

6. Sparta • Not famous for beautiful buildings or works of art. • Did not believe in luxuries • Sparta is remembered for its army.

7. Both • Women, slaves, and men born outside the city were not citizens and were excluded from governments. • Boys at age 7 went to school. • Girls learned household chores from their mothers. • Girls were often married at the age of 15.