ATHENS SPARTA Geography History Near sea with good

ATHENS SPARTA Geography & History • Near sea with good port • Never conquered by Dorians • In valley not so close to sea • Dorians conquered it and enslaved the local people Government • Council of 500: proposes laws; chosen by lottery; any one can participate • Assembly: passes laws; all male citizens; only body that can declare war • Jury: 5000 citizens chosen at random • Council members and jury get paid! • Anyone can talk at Assembly meetings • Practice of ostracism • Annual decision – should we have? • Pot shard: if >6 K then highest # wins • Exiled for 10 yrs. but can return • Safety valve • Two kings (each from old tribal family) • Council of Elders (Senate) of 28 + 2 kings • Council elected by land owners • Had to be 60 yrs. old; served for life • Assembly – all citizens but not powerful, can only vote yes/no on laws; often ignored; little debate • Ephors: 5 chosen annually; can bring charges against king and have him exiled • Real power in hands of rich families Military • All 18 year old male citizens serve for 2 years; then go into reserves • All male citizens in military for life; not allowed to have any other job! • Soldiers has helots to farm their land’ had to give some to state and could keep the rest Citizenship • Males over 18 • Father had to a citizen • Citizens = 15% of population (families of citizens = 48%, metics = 12%; slaves = 25%) • Males age 30 • If deemed a coward, you are stripped of citizenship; sisters can’t marry; must yield to citizens on street, etc. – very shameful Life of Children • Boys more prized than girls • Wealthy boys get private education: reading/writing, arithmetic, art, athletics • Girls stay home and learn crafts & poetry from mothers • Girls marry at around 15 yrs. old • Baby boys given to state for life/death decision • 7 yrs. old => barracks; overseen by older boys, one cloak, no shoes, sleep on floor, little food (can steal if not caught); military training + reading/writing • Age 20 => can marry but not live w/wife • Age 30 => can live at home but still eat with troop • Intended to breed toughness, uniformity Life of Women/Girls • Not allowed to leave home except for festivals • Didn’t get any education • Strong physical education – running, dancing, wrestling (all nude), chorus • Marry at 15 • More legal rights than elsewhere but can’t be in politics • Important because they produce fighters Slavery • 25% of population were slaved • They could work & get paid • They could buy their freedom • • Culture and Other • Trading based economy • Not as many slaves so average citizens needed to do own farming and trading • Fames for art, music, literature, drama, architecture, philosophy; welcomed foreigners to live • Farming based society • Didn’t welcome outsiders • Never liked to fight far from home Slaves = 25: 1 ratio with citizens Many slave rebellions Slaves owned by state (helots) Assigned to work on farms