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Sparta Vs Athens Essay

1149 Words5 Pages

Sparta and Athens

Introduction

The purpose of my paper is to compare and contrast the ancient peoples of Athens and Sparta with respect to how their citizens obtained the right to participate in public life, which of their citizens were able to hold public office, and what rules governed their selection. I will also touch on how the governmental structures of the two city-states were similar and how they were different.

Discussions

Who could participate

In both Athens and Sparta there were several qualities that were needed for one to be even considered for any kind of membership in any of the voting assemblies or as someone who held political office. The most basic requirements for both groups were the need to be a free adult male. …show more content…

This was an elite group that was dominated by the wealthier and more conservative elements of Spartan society. They were considered the most powerful because of the power they held over the kings and the fact that they had considerable sway over what matters went before the assembly to be voted on. This was a small group of 30 men at any given time who were over the age of 60. The kings were members of this group and they were the only ones that were under the age of 60 in this group. Next were the Ephors. The Ephors were five men selected every year. The Ephors and the two kings made up a kind of executive branch for the Spartans. The two kings were from the two royal tribes (the Agiads and the Eurypontid) who could trace their lineage back to the legendary founders of Sparta. These were not true kings in that they did not have absolute rule of the land and were often subject to the will of the Gerousia and the Ephors. Finally, the assembly was made up of all free male citizens of Sparta. The assembly met monthly and had the powers to choose the annual Ephors and the new members of the Gerousia as openings become available among the group of 30. The assembly was also responsible for passing laws and declaring war. The assembly was essentially weak because the Ephors and the Gerousia controlled what matters came before them and who could veto those decisions. (Brand,

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