Athens and Sparta were prominent city-states of Ancient Greece with many differences in their social structures. The social life of Athens and Sparta was influenced by various factors such as their geography, culture, and political systems (Cartwright, 2018). This discussion will elaborate on the social differences between Athens and Sparta, focusing on the position of slaves in Athens and helots in Sparta, the education system, and the position of women.
In Athens, slaves were an essential part of society and the economy, and they were owned by citizens. Slaves in Athens were mainly foreigners or prisoners of war who were bought and sold in the market. They were used as household servants, farm laborers, and skilled workers (Life in two city-states: Athens and Sparta, n.d.). In contrast, Sparta had a large population of helots who were the descendants of the conquered people of the Messenian region. Helots were treated as property and were forced to work on the farms owned by Spartan citizens. They were not allowed to own property, marry, or leave Sparta without permission (Culture in classical Sparta, n.d.).
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Education in Athens was only available to boys, and it included reading, writing, music, physical education, and philosophy (The Education System in Ancient Greece, n.d.). On the other hand, the education system in Sparta was focused on developing soldiers who were physically and mentally tough. Education in Sparta was mandatory for both boys and girls, and it included physical training, combat skills, and survival skills (Culture in classical Sparta,