Athens and Sparta

Athens and Sparta, in ancient Greece, had many differences and a few similarities. The education of children in these two city-states was very different from one another. However, the food that the ancient Greeks ate was pretty uniform throughout the country.  The government styles between Athens and Sparta varied greatly from each other.  Even though, these two city-states were in the same country, they were very different.

Education in Athens was primarily for the boys. At the age of six the boys started school. They studied math, writing, reading, music and spent a good portion of the day in the gymnasium learning sports.  The boys studied epic poems by Homer and learned to dance.  The arts were very important to the Athenians. The continued in this schooling until the age of sixteen. From the age of sixteen to twenty they attended a government sponsored gymnasium.

In Sparta, the boys were taken from their homes at the age of seven. They lived cruel lives in barracks. The boys were not allowed to go home. The boys were fed little and encouraged to steal food, cheat and lie.  Their education was to be trained as a soldier. The Spartans wanted to have war-like citizens, who were tough and cunning.

The people of Athens and Sparta ate similar foods.  Common foods for this time were, bread, olives, figs, cheese, fruit, vegetables, wheat, barley, cakes and porridge and dried fish. Beef was rarely eaten because it was expensive.

Athens became the most successful democracy in ancient Greece. Every male Athenian had the right to vote. The voters also elected Athenian generals.

Sparta was the most powerful oligarchy of ancient Greece. Most people were serfs who farmed. Citizens only made up ten percent of the population. Two kings headed the army of the Spartans.

Although, Athens and Sparta were both city-states in Greece they were very different from each other.  Their differences were so great that they did not get along. Those who lived in Athens thought their way of life was superior to the Spartans and the Spartans felt the same about Athens.  Their varied ways of life caused strife between the two cities.