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Similarities Between Sparta And Athens

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Introduction

This essay is going to look at the differences and similarities in government structures, from Athens to Sparta. Sparta was sort of like an oligarchy, they had a state ruled by an elite class and they claimed to be the best warriors in Greece. On the contrary, Athens was a more democratic form of government, ruled by an upper class council. Its army, the hoplite army, stood for the people's army because anyone could claim to be a hoplite. Social status or wealth were irrelevant; all that mattered was which tribe and family you claimed ancestry from.

How did people in Athens and Sparta obtain the right to participate in public life and make decisions affecting the community?

In Athens and Sparta, people obtained the right to …show more content…

The first was that all citizens over the age of 30 could participate in the election of officials. The second was that all citizens over the age of 20 could vote on laws, and they could also run for office if they had been approved by a majority vote.

The first rule meant that even though only men could become citizens, they could still participate in selecting officials and laws. The second rule meant that women could not vote or hold office, but it also meant that they had some influence on what happened in Athens since their husbands could vote on laws and run for office.

How were the two city-states similar in their governmental structures? How did they differ?

Athens and Sparta were two city-states that were similar in their governmental structures. Both Athens and Sparta had a form of democracy, which meant that the citizens of each city-state had a say in how their government operated.

However, there were some differences between the two cities' democratic systems. Athens' government was based on direct democracy, meaning that all citizens had an equal say in making decisions about how the city was run. In contrast, Sparta's government was based on indirect democracy, meaning that citizens would elect representatives from among themselves to make decisions for them.

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