History Lesson: Athens vs. Sparta

As I sit here researching the differences between the city-states of Athens and Sparta around 450 BC, I am reminded that I haven’t posted on my blog in a while. So why not give a you a sneak peak of the history lesson I am going to be teaching in class tomorrow? (You may not care, but hang with me for a little while. It gets interesting, I promise.)
So I posed the question “Which was a better city overall, Athens or Sparta” to a friend of mine. Surprising to me, he chose Athens. He explained that they were thinkers, philosophers, politicians, and writers. Many of the great authors of the time (Pericles, Aeschylus, Oedipus, and Antigone) lived in Athens which made it the center for all philosophical learning and training.

Also, because Athens was a sea city with a large port, they were highly involved in the trading industry. Its leading exports were manufactured goods and olive oil, and its main import was grain. Athens held a high standard of living for its citizens. Most people were very wealthy and enjoyed the finer things of life at that time.

But as you study Athens’ way of life, you can’t help but notice that while they employed a democracy form of government,  fewer than ten percent of the population enjoyed voting rights. Political decisions were made by a body of men called “The Assembly.” These men were chosen from the “elite” class of men in society (those men of great wealth and wisdom, who were over thirty years of age). Women were looked down upon and had little to no worth or value in life. They were the possession of their father until he “sold” them to their husband for a dowry. Their main purpose in life was to tend the house and teach the children.

On the other hand, Sparta couldn’t have been more different. The main focus of this city-state was that of war. At age seven, boys were taken from their homes and were trained in the art of warfare. They were only given a cloak and little food and were expected to steal to survive and develop their skills in fighting. The women were trained in reading, writing, gymnastics, and weaving. The woman was treated with respect and her main duty was to produce healthy children, manage her husbands affairs, and protect her property and her household while her husband was at war.

The political aspect to Sparta was also different. They used an oligarchy (rule by few) form of government, headed up by five men, called ephors, who were essentially the “elders” per se, of the city. They ran the day-to-day affairs of the city and had the right to veto anything the council or assembly decided.

Trade in Sparta was seemingly non-existent, not because their economy was weak (which is not true at all because they were self-supporting) but this was an act of military strategy. By not allowing any outside influence or foreign visitors, their enemies had no idea their military strength or tactics. This proved key in many of their victories over the years.

So in summary, we see Athens with more freedoms, more wealth, and more influence in the world through the arts. And Sparta had more military strength and independence, as far as their economy. So which one would you choose?  It may not be as easy as you think.

Most of us after looking at these facts would choose Athens. I mean, who doesn’t want freedom, wealth, and influence. But these were in fact the downfall of Athens. Rather than focusing on the good of the people, this city tried to develop itself into a political powerhouse. While Athens did have a larger city, Sparta was the one who flourished.

Athens was blinded to the times in which they lived. You see, the other countries surrounding Greece were building their armies and overtaking cities at that time. Athens didn’t need more thinkers but more fighters. They needed to focus on their military rather than their money. Which is where Sparta comes in. Sparta was more prepared for the dangers that surrounded them and the threats possible. They embraced the topics and culture relevant to the times. They were prepared.

Athens and Sparta eventually fought in what is known as the Peloponnesian Wars and in 405 BC Athens surrendered to Sparta after facing poverty and starvation. So in the end, Sparta was the stronger city-state.

Now you know. So whenever anyone asks you, Sparta or Athens, you can reply, “Sparta. And let me tell you why…”