Athens Their Slaves example essay topic

Compare and contrast society in Athens and Sparta. Which was the stronger society? One of the greatest city states of all time was the city state of Athens from which we take many of our modern ways. Their government was a full democracy in which they had an assembly made of all male citizens over 25 years old, a council of five hundred who proposed laws to the assembly, a court, where there were no judges and the juries were very large, and archon's, which were nine people with the most power.

They believed in participation in government as a civic responsibility. They believed that everyone was entitled to education, not just the elite. They were concerned with money and they had unproductive soil, which meant they would have to find other ways to make money, so they became sea traders. Because they owned slaves, they had a lot of time to pursue cultural interests, so they began performing dramatic plays for their entertainment and enjoyment. There were several areas of classes of people in Athens. Free men were all male citizens: divided into numerous classes: at the top were aristocrats who had large estates and made up the cavalry or captained triremes; middle ranks were small farmers; lowest class was the the tes.

The Metics were those who came from outside the city; they were not allowed to own land, but could run industries and businesses. Slaves were lowest class, but less harshly treated than in most other Greek cities. Slaves had no rights, and an owner could kill a slave. Slaves varied in status: some were given important roles in Athens, like policemen. Women were rarely seen outside the home and had no rights in the Athenian democracy. Athens had a strong military navy.

The Spartan government was different, in many ways, from the Athenian government; their government was Totalitarian. They had the five ephor's, which were overseers and were the real rulers of Sparta, a council of Elders, which was made up of 28 men over 60 and they proposed laws to the assembly, and kings who were elected by the assembly and served as high priests, judges, and army commanders. Their Assembly, which was made up of citizens over 30, elected officials and voted on major policies. Children of citizens were raised to be "Spartan", taught to get along with almost nothing. Spartiate citizens were not permitted to own gold or silver or luxuries. Spartan children were taught to respect elderly, women, and warriors.

Sparta prided themselves in a strong army, best and most feared fighters on land. Their city was built in a valley and had no walls because they said they could defend from invaders. Unlike the Athenians, their soil supported farming. The Helots, which were their slaves, compared to Athens their slaves were treated worse than dirt. The smart and strong slaves were put to death in fear that they may rebel, because slaves outnumbered citizens there. Was Athens Stronger than Sparta?

Was Sparta stronger than Athens? It is not secret that Sparta had a stronger army, their army was the strongest. Furthermore, we know that Athens had the stronger navy. We know that in the end, Athens lost. Literally speaking, Sparta was stronger, they beat Athens. But each civilization, in their own ways was stronger than the other.

Each had it's strengths and weaknesses alike..