Question

Compare and contrast the values, institutions, and actions of the city-states of Sparta and Athens. Give specific examples.

Answer 1

Answer: Sparta: It is the city in Laconia, which is located in Greece. It was very prominent city in ancient Greece. It was famous for its military and recognized as the leading force of the unified greek military. Sparta used to be the enemy of Athens. Their every grown male was a soldier.

Values: Their greatest virtue was the bravery and the greatest honour was to fight in battle. For Spartans retreating from battle is a serious crime. As per historians, it is a novel thing for a good man to die in battle. Spartan mother's used to give shield to their sons and their sons used to shield their mothers.

• Institutions: If I talk about their social institutions, their society was an agricultural society. They also had a strong military. basically they are a warrior class, people.
• family institutions: they lived in a nuclear family. whenever there is a baby boy born, they used to join military camps and if the child is weak they leave that child to die.
• Religious institutions: polytheistic i.e. hierarchy of gods and goddesses. people used to believe that gods lived on Mount Olympus.
• Education Institutions: Both girl and boy used to go school. girls used to give the education to make her strong mother and for boys, the purpose was to make him a warrior.
• Political institutions: they used to follow oligarchy ( Rule by a few.)

Actions of the city: They defeated their rival Athens in the Peloponnesian war and created a spartan culture which was centred royalty to the state and military service. The simple lifestyle of Spartans

Athens: It is the capital of Greece. It used to be a powerful civilisation. Right now it is a global city and one of the biggest market for European countries. It was the city which is considered the birthplace of western civilisation. It was geographically close to Sparta. It was located in the region of Attica.

Values: Athens is the symbol of freedom, art and democracy in the civilised world. Athens used to be powerful in naval units.

Institutions: Their economy is dependent on trade and agriculture. They are not military-based people for the military used to be optional, unlike Spartan.  

Political institutions: Athenian used to follow democracy.

Family institutions: Family ties are stronger in Athens but their women used to depend on husband or father unlike Spartans women used to be strong.

Religious institution: They used to worship the goddess of wisdom, Athena.

educational: they won't give education to girls, unlike Spartans.

Actions of the city: Athenians had a very modern and open outlook. Their city people can go for a good education and could pursue arts and sciences.