Athens and Sparta had very different cultures and society. Both of them were the most powerful city states in ancient Greece and had fought together in the Persian wars against the Persian empire. So what were the similarities and differences between Athens and Sparta?
Athens and Sparta were similar in many ways. Athens and Sparta were both city states located on the Greek peninsula. In both city states, Women couldn't participate in government. Both of them were located in the Peloponnisos peninsula in Greece. Both citizens in Athens and Sparta could vote and both governments were run by men.
Athens and Sparta were also different in many ways. The Athenians valued art, music, and deep thinking. The Spartans on the other hand valued military strength. Athens had a direct democracy where citizens ruled. Only males over the age of 18 and born to Athenian parents could be citizens. Citizens had freedom of speech and opportunities to participate directly in government. Athens had 4 social classes which were citizens, metics, women, and slaves. Citizens had to join the military, serve on juries, and participate in government. Metics are people who are non citizen free people. Woman had few rights and could not have an education. A woman could own property only if her father had no sons. Girls were taught spinning, weaving, and household duties. Wealthy families taught girls to read, write, and to play music. Enslaved people could not become citizens and had to do hard labor. Enslaved people would also be sent to round up people who had missed voting. boys were taught reading, writing, math, music, art, and sports. The sports that boys learned included wrestling, boxing, running, and jumping events, as well as discus throwing. At age 18, males received two years of military training. The Spartan government on the other hand was an oligarchy. An oligarchy is ruled by a small group of powerful people which included 2 kings and a council of elders. The council of elders were 28 men over the age of 60 who served the council until they died. Sparta also let citizens attend assemblies let by the council of elders to vote on issues. Sparta had 3 social classes; citizens, free noncitizens which included women, and enslaved people, farmers, and helots. Women in Sparta had more rights than women in Athens. Women in Sparta could own a lot of property and be educated in athletics and defense. Women also couldn't participate in government. Sparta was a military society so education was focused on military training. Boys were taken from their families at the age of 7 to start military training and join the army at 20. Men stayed in the army till the age of 60.
In conclusion, Athens and Sparta had a lot of differences and similarities in culture.