Ch. 27Life in Two City-States:

Athens and Sparta

27.2

Athens• central Greece• Only 4 miles

from the Aegean Sea

• Strong navy

Sparta•Narrow plain in the Peloponnesus•Surrounded on three sides by mountains•25 miles from the sea•Strong army

27.3 Athenian Government•Democracy

– Every citizen could participate in the city’s gov’t (Direct Democracy)

– Citizen = free Athenian men, 18 years +– Council of 500

•Chosen randomly from all citizens 30 yrs+•Day-to-day business•Met everyday

– Assembly •debated and voted on all laws•Approved laws • Included every citizen•Met every 10 days•6,000 citizens must be present

27.4 Athenian Economy•Trade with foreign land & other city-states

•Buy & sell in the agora

•Coins to facilitate trade

27.5 Education in Athens•Boys taught at home by mother until 6 or 7

•School 6 – 14–Reading, writing, arithmetic, literature, sports, music

•Military training at 18•Private tutor for wealthy•Purpose – to make good citizens

27.6 Women & slaves in Athens

Women•Not citizens•Couldn’t choose husband

•Couldn’t own property

•Some priestesses•Managed household•Didn’t go out alone

27.6 Women & slaves in Athens

Slaves•Born slaves or captured in war

•Variety of jobs, some highly skilled

•Some in silver mines

27.7 Spartan Government

Oligarchy•Real power in hands of a

few•Council of Elders–2 kings & 28 others– Important decisions–60 years+, wealthy–Served for life

•Assembly–Little power–Didn’t debate issues

27.8 Spartan Economy•Limited trading•Farming•Slaves (helots) & noncitizens produced goods

•Conquered other people•Iron bars used for money

27.9 Education in Sparta

•Age 7 - Trained to fight •Boys taught to suffer pain without complaining

•Age 20 - Fitness & military test–Must pass to be soldier & full citizen

•Live with family at age 30•Purpose – to make good soldiers

27.10 Women & Slaves in SpartaWomen

•Same simple life as men

•Strong & ready to fight

•Looked after husband’s property while gone

•Could own and control property

27.10 Women & Slaves in Sparta

Slaves•Treated very harshly•Killed if thought to rebel•Could marry freely•Sell extra crops•Buy freedom