Athens and Sparta The poleis or city-staes dominated Ancient Greece for more than 200 years. Among the many city states that emerged in about 500BC, Athens and Sparta are considered as the most important. Nevertheless, their lifestyles were quite different as Athenians were a group of open and free-thinking people while Spartans were a strong and military-focused group of people.
The differences between these two city-states are obvious even in children because of the education they receive. Starting at the age of 7, Athenian boys learnt reading, writing and arithmetic until the age of 12 when they also learnt music, poetry and debating. Only wealthy boys continued their education after the age of 14. Girls had a different education where they were taught household taks such as cooking, cleaning and sewing by their mothers and wealthy girls also had the chance to learn reading and writing. Sparta boys also learnt reading and writing at the age of 7, but they had to live in military barracks, learn to throw a javelin and fight with a sword. As they reached 12 years of age, they had to spend their next
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Athenian women were married off by the age of 13 or 14 to a husband who was 30 years old or more. They would stay isnide and spin, weave, make clothes, prepare food or care for children. An Anthenian woman was only allowed to go out of her house when she went to a well to draw water, went to a religious ceremony or a cemetery. On the other hand, Spartan women managed farms, supervised or directed helots and cared for children. They also became wealthy because the death rate among Spartan men was high. Spartan women are known to be outspoken and aggressive. Again, the lives of these women are completey different and unique. The reason why the lives of these two great city-states are very different are because of their system of