Athens and Sparta: Their Cultures and Their Differences
During the early centuries prior to the birth of Christ, Athens and Sparta were the two most well-known Greek city-states. Since both Athens and Sparta resided in Greece, one could come to the conclusion that their societies and the culture of their city-states might be largely similar. Surprisingly enough, this is not the case. Though certain aspects of their cultures were alike, on the whole their cultures were unexpectedly unalike. Before the Spartan culture can be discussed it is essential for one to have a basic understanding of the history that made the culture what it was following sixth-century BC. The eighth-century Mycenaean War was a large determining factor in the way the Spartans ran their city-state. Prior to the Mycenaean War, Sparta was a monarchy just like all of it's neighboring city-states. Their population was growing at such an alarming rate that they no longer occupied the land necessary to support their people. As a result they formed an army to annex the particularly fertile bordering city-state of the Mycenaean's. The annexation was a success, and the Spartans found themselves content with their newly-conquered territory. Just as the Spartans began to feel comfortable, the Mycenaean's got the c
The Athenians and the Spartans lived peacefully for a period of time, ranging from the eighth century until the fifth century. They viewed themselves as the true inheritors of the Greek tradition, and saw the Athenians as their rival. Trade, democracy, foreigners, individualism, thought, and the arts were all a part of Athens. After careful consideration one could conclude that the previous quotation is saying that the Athenians did not take pride in themselves, and did not attempt to impose their culture on other states. This revolt was nearly successful, but the Spartans managed to come out on top. Thucydides, the greatest Athenian historian who lived in Athens during the Golden Age, commented on the openness of Athens and said, "Our city is thrown open to the world, and we never expel a foreigner or prevent him from seeing or learning anything of which the secret if revealed to an enemy might profit him" [Sherman 59]. Geographically they were so close that they could not ignore one another but fought for the top position among the Greek city-states. For in the end, it was their differences drove them apart. Every Spartan male was taken away from his parents at the impressionable age of seven to live in the barracks where he would be trained to be in the military. As a result Sparta attacked Athens and the fighting escalated into the Peloponnesian War. In conclusion Athens and Sparta were both very different Greek city-states, so different in fact that they could not get along. Although the Spartan's focus was on strengthening their state so they could be better equipped to defend themselves against other states, they became very "inward- looking and conservative" [Sherman 44]. They had a fantastic navy that had established quite a name for itself, and was known all over Greece.
Common topics in this essay:
Golden Age,
Sparta Spartans,
War Sparta,
Unlike Athens,
Athens Sparta,
Sparta Officially,
Mycenaean's Spartans,
Contrasting Sparta,
Peloponnesian War,
Lacedaemonians Spartans,
greek city-states,
peloponnesian war,
athens sparta,
sherman 34,
neighboring city-states,
mycenaean war,
sherman 59,
sherman 44,
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Acceptance Essays
