Greek Studies

Athens and Sparta

Athens and Sparta existed during the same time in history, and did share some core social and cultural values, but for the most part, they were quite different. Perhaps the biggest difference between the two cultures was Sparta's almost exclusive reliance on a military culture. Afraid of slave uprisings (because one had already occurred), they began military training for their young boys at the tender age of seven, and instilled the belief that the ultimate act of bravery for a warrior was to fight and die in defense of their city.

Sparta dominated the land by warfare and with agriculture, while Athens was a better-blended society. They had a large sea force, and were a commercial and trade center for the area. They had more interests and influence in the ancient world, and because their society was more advanced, they began to develop a more democratic republic, while Sparta stayed mired in militarism and fear of revolt. Athenians could fight, they simply had more to do in their lives, and the military was not all encompassing. In fact, Athenians were interested in a variety of social and cultural activities, from drama and art to education and government. However, unlike Spartan women, Athenian women had few if any rights. Spartan women could inherit property, while Athenian women could not, and had to have a "protector" or guardian to "help" them with any work or property they might have.

Spartans were mainly concerned with warfare, and had few cultural pursuits. The Greeks not only developed democracy, they developed mathematics, science, philosophy, and many other societal pursuits that furthered their culture around the world. The Spartans were autonomous, and that is one reason their culture eventually died out. They relied too much on themselves and warfare, and did not branch out into other pursuits that would ensure the longevity of the culture and their way of life. The text calls them "culturally sterile," and this is an excellent way to illustrate why Sparta failed and Hellenistic civilization dominated the world for centuries. It takes more than warriors to make a culture.