People In Athens Vs Sparta

How did people in Athens and Sparta obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community? People in Athens and Sparta obtained the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community in much different ways. Athens people participated in a democratic government with an open culture, whereas Sparta was a society of warriors that lead a life dedicated to the art or war. Spartan men were soldiers and woman had many children that would become soldiers. Spartans community decisions were made by an assembly. According to Peter J. Brand (2010:1-36)) "All recognized free male citizens of Sparta were members of the popular assembly". Athens public life consisted of 3 groups, the

wealthy

Typically those in public office at the highest levels were the wealthy aristocrats, while the poorer men would hold a minor office. Sparta on the other hand had a much different "Public office" including 2 kings who really did not have the typical power that you would expect from a king, they were often powerless against the Gerousia and Ephors. True power was in the hands of an “elder council” of men over 60 called the Gerousia and five magistrates called Ephors who were elected annually and served for one-year terms in office. (Brand, Peter J. (2010:1-36))

These two city-states were similar in that in order for one to be a part of the government, they would need to be a free Man who was a citizen of that city-state, though in the end it came to be that Athens would in fact have a large number of non-citizens part of their democracy. Brand goes on to say "The “dirty little secret” of Athenian democracy was the large numbers of non-citizens, who had no political rights but whose labor and talents made Athenian democracy possible" (Brand, Peter J. (2010:1-36)).

People of Athens and