What were the differences between the ancient Athenians and the ancient Spartans?
While both Athens & Sparta were ancient Greek city-states inhabited by people who shared a similar language, religion and a pride in being “Greek,” there were distinct differences. The Athenians placed a premium upon having a “sound mind & body,” emphasizing a well rounded education to develop a population of analytical thinkers. The Spartans established a totalitarian oligarchy, creating a society which taught obedience & discipline. Athens was a complete democracy, where the entire citizen body voted on all governmental decisions (even though those who qualified as “citizens” actually were a minority of the entire population). Economically, the Athenians were a merchant people who had the largest fleet in all of Greece and their city was a cosmopolitan metropolis & center of culture in the ancient world. Sparta was an agricultural society which deterred outside contact & influence as much as possible, making outsiders feel unwelcome in an effort to preserve their rigid, structured so
