Athens & Sparta

A Tale of

Two City-States

Athens

Became a democracy c. 500 BCE Council of 500 ( no women and slaves)

Gather and debate issues - water cup timer

Education Boys attended school till age of 14 – train

for citizenship Girls helped mothers around house –

usually married by age of 15 (wealthy = less choice)

Economy – depended on trade Slavery

Captured in wars or born into slavery Skilled craftsmen, clerks, tutored children

Socrates

During the golden age of freedom and education in Athens, many teachers traveled around Greece educating the young. One of the most famous of these teachers was a man named Socrates. 

Socrates also taught his students to think for themselves. He created a teaching method known today as the Socratic Method, which helped students think clearly, and question their currently accepted way of thinking.

Socrates was eventually accused of corrupting the young. After being convicted by a jury he was sentenced to death. 

School of Athens

Plato and Aristotle are central figures Pythagoras is in lower left working on a theorem

Socratic Method

Socrates taught people by asking questions to stimulate thinking.

Plato A young student of

Socrates. Plato opened a school

called The Academy to teach people men to become better statesmen. 

Plato authored a book which he titled ‘The Republic’, which outlined what he believed was the perfect government. Plato felt that a

democracy was not the most effective form of government, because the lower classes of people could not be trusted.

He felt that the higher classes which were more educated aught to be in charge of the government.

Aristotle After studying with Plato for

nearly 20 years, Aristotle set out on his own as a teacher. He opened a school in Athens, where he taught on everything from science, to politics, to critical thinking. 

Aristotle wrote over 200 books during his life. These books would remain long after his death, and would effect western thinking for centuries to come. 

S.P.A.A. Socrates taught Plato Plato taught Aristotle Aristotle taught Alexander the

Great

Acropolis overlooking Athens

Sparta Government - Oligarchy

Council of Elders – Real power in Sparta Two Kings and 28 men over age

of 60 Assembly of male citizens – little

power Economy – farming and war

Discouraged trade and new ideas

Slavery – conquered neighbors called helots Paid Sparta with food

Agoge System Produce men to defend Sparta

Boys enter army at age of 7 Reading and writing not considered important Experience pain without complaining Difficult tests of fitness Could not live with wife and family until 30 – military service

continued till age of 60

Girls - more rights than other Greek women Received some military training

Protect house at times of war Simple life (plain clothes, no jewelry, make-up) Free to speak Marry another man if husband at war too long