Athens vs Sparta

1. If you were a young teenage girl of the citizen class, in which city-state would you rather live? Why?
I would rather live in Sparta. In Sparta, women were the most independent out of all the Greek city-states. Girls received education in reading and writing, athletics, gymnastics, and survival skills, no matter how much money their parents had.

2. If you were a slave, in which city-state would you rather live? Why?
I’d rather live in Sparta if I were a slave. In Sparta, instead of having slaves, they had serfs (helots). Helots did mostly agricultural work and, while the land belonged to the Spartans, could keep ½ of their produce. In Athens, slaves belonged to a particular owner, who was in almost total control of them. An owner could even kill them.
3. If you were a boy of the citizen class, in which would you rather live? Why?
I’d rather live in Athens. In Sparta, boys were taken away from their parents at age 7. They were given only a cloak for clothes, and not enough food, meaning they had to steal (to learn survival skills). The emphasis was put on military training. In Athens however, boys stayed with their parents and had more opportunities for varied education.
4. If you were a young soldier, in which would you rather live? Why?
I’d rather live in Sparta. In Sparta, soldiers had higher status. Every young person was a soldier in Sparta; no one was better than you. In Athens, while you were following orders, other people were out studying, trading, traveling, or making money.
5. If you were a very wealthy person of the citizen class, in which would you rather live? Why?
I’d rather live in Athens. In Athens, you could buy many things with money. With money, you could have more influence and slaves. Also there were more education opportunities and flexibility. In Sparta the influence of wealth was limited; it was literally difficult to carry money.
6. Finally, decide to represent either Athens or Sparta and debate which is the best place to live. Use the chart from class to find criticisms of the other city-state while praising your own.
Sparta is a great place to live. In Sparta, we are all equal (except serfs); everyone receives the same education and opportunities, no matter how much money our parents have. Education and careers aren’t privileges for the wealthy (like they are in Athens). In Sparta our women also get education; they learn writing and reading, survival skills, gymnastics, and athletics. Your Athenian women sit around and learn domestic art. Why do they even need it if you have slaves? Spartans are all raised to be brave, honorable, and patriotic. Each citizen gets what he or she deserves while in Athens, all are corrupt because money can buy everything. We are a more just society even in the way we treat slaves. While Athenian slaves can be killed by owners and have no rights, our helots do necessary agricultural work and can keep ½ of their produce. In your democracy, misinformed, lower class citizens get as much say in decisions as those that have ample and correct information and education.