Differences And Similarities Between Sparta And Athens

Introduction
Sparta and Athens were two sides to a very powerful coin; on the one hand, the Spartan corporeal political system and on the other, the Athenian democratic prowess. Each culture chose to approach their legislative, judicial, and military systems differently. On the one hand was Sparta, which highlighted military service and sacrifice. On the other hand was Athens, which prioritized culture and established early democracy. While these city-states had many leadership styles, they differed in other ways, regardless of belonging to the same country.
Sparta
For Sparta, public life was based around stature and rank within a military setting. People involved in decision making were the greatest warriors. The Gerousia was a committee composed of 30 free

aristocratic men over the age of sixty. It was designed as a balance for the two kings, one of which always accompanied troops into battle (Brand, N.D.). While often conservative, they made decisions about war and policy.
Conversely within Sparta, the Ephors were elected by the common vote and responsible for "judicial affairs, military organization, and foreign relations"(Brand, N.D.), meaning that they set the legislative agenda. The assembly was composed of the non-aristocratic members of Spartan society. They met monthly, nominated Gerousia, and declare formal war on a yearly basis against the Helot (slave) population (Brand, N.D.). As a result of these two sects, Sparta was not considered a democracy; oligarchy ruled in what could have been a military dictatorship.
Athens
Athens, on the other hand, was a democracy – the first of its kind. Cleisthenes' Reforms changed the presiding political powers into ten tribes composed of members of each class (Brand, N.D.). Each tribe contributed 50 people towards an assembly which was composed of all free Athenian citizens (excluding slaves, women, and people born of non-Athenian parents) (Brand, N.D.). This assembly was responsible for laws and public opinion, as well as establishing the concept of "one man, one vote" (Brand, N.D.). While Athens had many leaders and demagogues, it never had a defined ruler.
Similarities and Differences
When it comes to similarities, Athens and Sparta were comparative in that they had a slave workforce.

Additionally, both cultures placed a premium on patriarchy, but demonstrated strong xenophobia unrelated to sex. Sparta believed in maintaining their history, as did Athens. Both cultures maintained a strained relationship with neighboring communities, specifically foreigners and (in Sparta's case) slaves.
Many of the differences between Sparta and Athens were related to their similarities. Sparta and Athens were slightly separated by geography, but their differences spanned much further. Slaves, for Athens were expected, but for Sparta, they were formally declared as enemies. The tradition common in both cultures was strongly encouraged, however Athens chose to preserve cultural elements, whereas Sparta chose to emphasize their milatiristic components. Even Spartan children were "drafted" at an early age, whereas Athenian children were expected to learn philosophy from some of the world's greatest thinkers. Athens eventually decided to establish their own military force as well, but instead of having an infantry, they developed a naval force which was unrivaled in their

era.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Sparta and Athens were very different, both politically and culturally, it took both cultures to establish Greece as a world power. Whether united or divided, it was easy to see how both city-states complemented each other. However, their similarities were not enough to reconcile before they went to war with one another to prove which ideology was the best, which was the ultimate end to the golden age of Greece.

Resources
Brand, P. J. (n.d.). Athens and Sparta: Democracy vs. Dictatorship. Retrieved from http://my.uopeople.edu/pluginfile.php/56750/mod_resource/content/2/Athens%20%20Sparta%20dictatorship%20%20democracy.pdf