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What were the major differences between Athens and Sparta?
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The major differences between Athens and Sparta included their ethnicity, governance, and cultural values. Sparta, descended from Dorian invaders, was insular, ruled by kings, and focused on military achievements. Athens, of Ionian descent, was democratic, open to trade and alliances, and valued arts and education. While Sparta emphasized lifelong military service, Athens prioritized voluntary military service, science, and art.
Sparta was monarchal, while the government of Athens more closely represented our republic today in that they held special elections to decide who would be in charge and in what capacity. The style of governance in Sparta, on the other hand, would more closely resemble pre-modern England, an important difference being that Sparta had two kings instead of one. In relation to Athens, Sparta could be characterized as more warlike, while Athens relied upon publicly held elections and as such could be considered more closely related to our republic today, as stated. A reason that could account for this difference is that Sparta held strategic importance in terms of trade and even for war as a type of entry point to the rest of Greece.
So while Athens could be considered more important politically, Sparta was more important militarily.
The two rival city-states of Athens and Sparta were both different...
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in many ways.
One of the main differences was their form of government. Although both city-states had elected assemblies, Sparta was ruled by two kings while Athens was rules by annually-elected archons.
Spartan life focused around martial prowess and obedience. Slavery was put into place, which allowed young men to focus on military training. Young boys were training to be warriors while young women were trained to become mothers to warriors.
Athenians were much more creative. Education was the primary focus, which led to great achievements in both the arts and sciences. Military service was optional, and young women, while having more options than in Sparta, were stilled restricted in their freedoms.
They also had different ideas of the world around them. Sparta kept to itself, but did lend assistance when it was needed, such as during the Persian Wars. Athens wanted to become a major player in Greek politics, and tried creating vast alliances. The Deliean League was an alliance both military and trade which was the closest that Athens ever came to a unified Greece. This would eventually led to conflict between the two city-states.
How did Athens and Sparta differ in ancient Greece?
While Athens and Sparta were both Greek city states with some similarities, many differences existed between the two societies. Sparta was a militaristic society that believed in strength over comfort. In a way, their military training began at birth, as newborns were inspected for problems or birth defects. If any problems were discovered, that child would be killed. A spartan family raised their sons until age seven, when all boys entered the agoge to prepare for life as a spartan warrior. While the agoge did contain some academic study, its focus was on building warriors with methods that would be considered barbaric by modern standards. The government of Sparta was an oligarchy ruled by two kings, and women had more rights than most societies in ancient times since the men were often gone in battle.
Conversely, the Athenian society was based on knowledge and education. While their hoplite soldiers were known for their skill throughout Greece, their military training was secondary to their personal careers. While the Spartans were known for their army, the Athenians developed a formidable navy. Athens was much more relaxed than Sparta, and its citizens took pride in luxury and excess versus the regimented and restricted ways of the Spartans. The Athenian education system was not focused on the military, and instead took pride in philosophy, literature, mathematics, and the arts. Athens was a democracy, with councils and leaders directly elected by the citizens.
Another ironic difference between the two cultures was in their views to the rest of Greece. While Sparta was known for its military superiority, it was content to remain reclusive. Democratic, artistic Athens had an imperialistic lean and wanted to extend their influence over the other Greek city states. This philosophical difference caused Sparta to be paranoid of Athens, and was one of the contributing factors to the Peloponnesian War.
What were the differences between Athens and Sparta's soldiers?
While some similarities existed between the warriors of Sparta and Athens, such as the hoplite foot soldier and the phalynx formation, there were great differences between the soldiers of the two societies.
The main differences were born out as an extension of the focus of each polis. Athens was a cultural and creative haven while Sparta was a militaristic society. In Sparta practically every man was a member of the Spartan military. Taken from their parents at age seven to undergo the agoge (an intense military academy of sorts), they would continue to live in military barracks until age thirty. While educated in matters other than war, their focus in life was on the military.
While Athens did have a strong military, its soldiers were more militia than regular army. They had careers as craftsmen or artists and served in times of need, and did not perpetually live in military barracks like their Spartan counterparts. In addition, there was a good chance a member of the Athenian military would be a sailor as the polis had an excellent navy.