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Differences And Similarities Between The Government Structures Of Athens And Sparta

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Introduction

The ancient Greek civilization was home to two of the most prominent city-states of their time: Athens and Sparta. While they shared a common language and culture, these two city-states differed significantly in their political systems. Athenians practiced democracy, while Spartans had an oligarchic system of government. I will mention in this assignment the differences and similarities between the government structures of Athens and Sparta, focusing on how people obtained the right to participate in public life, who held public office, and what rules governed the selection of public office holders.

Participation in Public Life

In Athens, all male citizens over the age of 18 had the right to participate in the Assembly, which …show more content…

These citizens were trained from a young age to become soldiers and were expected to serve in the army until the age of 60. Non-Spartiate citizens, known as Perioeci, had limited rights and were not allowed to participate in the government. Slaves, known as Helots, made up the majority of the population and had no rights.

Public Office

In Athens, public office was open to all male citizens who were over the age of 30 and had completed their military service. Public officials were selected by lot, meaning that anyone who met the qualifications could be selected to hold public office. This system of selection ensured that all citizens had an equal chance of holding public office. The most important public office in Athens was that of the Strategos, or general, who was responsible for commanding the army and navy.

In Sparta, public office was limited to members of the warrior class who were over the age of 30. These citizens were elected to hold public office by the Ephors, a group of five magistrates who were elected annually. The most important public office in Sparta was that of the two kings, who were also members of the warrior class. The kings were responsible for commanding the army and navy and had significant political …show more content…

This system ensured that all eligible citizens had an equal chance of serving in public office. However, some important offices, such as generals, were elected through a voting process. Athenians held public office for a limited time, usually one year, and could not be re-elected to the same office twice.

In Sparta, public office holders were elected by the Council of Elders, which consisted of twenty-eight Spartiates over the age of sixty. The Council of Elders also had the power to veto decisions made by the popular assembly. Public office holders in Sparta held their positions for life and could not be removed from office except for criminal behavior.

Similarities and Differences

Despite their differences, Athens and Sparta shared some similarities in their governmental structures. Both city-states had a popular assembly, which met regularly to make decisions affecting the community. Both city-states also had a system of checks and balances, where the power of the government was divided among different branches. For example, in Athens, the Council of Five Hundred acted as an executive branch, while the popular assembly was the legislative branch. Similarly, in Sparta, the Council of Elders acted as a check on the power of the popular

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