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INTRODUCTIONThe political and social institutions of Sparta and Athens, two well-known Greek
cities, were both remarkable. Though they were both Greek cities, they had many
variations, as well as parallels in their political and social systems.
RESPONSE BREAKDOWN
Sparta was a male-dominated society. That is to say, they were governed by might,
and warriors commanded respect. You had to be a soldier to be considered a
Spartan worthy of the title. For any Spartan man or woman, bravery and combat
skills became a way of life. The crowds, known as Helots, were a perpetual source of
terror for them. Non-Spartans made up the bulk of the population, whose job it was
to till the fields and feed their masters. Because of their numbers and the fact that
they sometimes revolted against the warrior Spartans and their unjust living
standards, Spartans were adamant to keep them under their law and influence, so
they enlisted young boys in the military at a young age, while Spartan women were
responsible for bearing healthy children. You had to be a lifetime warrior to hold
office in Sparta. Only warriors were allowed to engage in civic life, implying that
elected service was reserved for free-born Spartans.
That being said, in Athens, which was more of a docile and architectural society, the
story was very different. Athens was more democratic and had a more transparent
society than Athens. Power was centralized in the hands of the rich aristocratic
class, as it was in many other Greek cities. To hold public office, you had to be a
member of the aristocracy and a free born. The richest lands belonged to the
aristocracy, and serfs were forced to work their lands to support themselves, and
they were often forced to sell themselves or their lands to pay off their debts. It's
worth noting that Athens was the birthplace of democracy. The unsatisfied majority
of non-aristocratic people wanted more just laws, while the aristocratic elite
struggled between themselves for more influence and control. Due to the constant
unrest, something had to be done quickly, which eventually led to democracy.
Aside their differences, the two cities shared a few characteristics, especially in
terms of government structure. Both governments have a number of mechanisms in
place to assist with governance. No one entity had the absolute authority to enact
laws or confer degrees. The Magistrates, who enforced the law and led the militia,
the Boule, whose job it was to set the legislative agenda, which was then debated
and passed by the Ekklesia, or people's court, and the Helliaea, whose job it was to
judge lawbreakers.
There had been two kings in Sparta, who didn't have much influence, magistrates or
Ephors, and the Gerousia or Elder Council, in whose hands true power rested. There
was also the Assembly, which was made up of all Spartan men born free. The
Assembly was tasked with selecting those who would enter the Ephors and
Gerousia. They were also in charge of making war assessments and enacting
legislation.
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