Athens and Athens and SpartaSpartaCoach ParrishCoach Parrish

OMSOMS

Chapter 7, Section 2Chapter 7, Section 2

Living in SpartaLiving in Sparta Unlike Athens, life in Sparta was harsh and Unlike Athens, life in Sparta was harsh and

even cruel. The Spartans were a very tough even cruel. The Spartans were a very tough group. The only similarity between Athens group. The only similarity between Athens and Sparta during the 400s BC was the size and Sparta during the 400s BC was the size of the military.of the military.

Sparta became different from other Greek Sparta became different from other Greek city-states in the 600s BC when a new city-states in the 600s BC when a new government was formed out of external and government was formed out of external and internal wars.internal wars.

From these wars came the Spartan Rule: From these wars came the Spartan Rule: Always put the city’s needs above your own.Always put the city’s needs above your own.

Living in Sparta, cont.Living in Sparta, cont.

Early in its history, the Spartans Early in its history, the Spartans conquered the land around their conquered the land around their city. They turned the conquered city. They turned the conquered people into people into helotshelots – slaves owned by – slaves owned by Sparta.Sparta.

Since there was more helots than Since there was more helots than Spartans, they treated them harshly Spartans, they treated them harshly in fear of a revolt.in fear of a revolt.

Growing up in SpartaGrowing up in Sparta

The life of every Spartan was in the The life of every Spartan was in the hands of the government from birth. hands of the government from birth. Only the healthiest children were Only the healthiest children were allowed to live because the Spartans allowed to live because the Spartans wanted only the healthiest people in wanted only the healthiest people in the city.the city.

The First TestThe First Test

Soon after birth, a child would be placed Soon after birth, a child would be placed in a wine bath. The thought in Sparta in a wine bath. The thought in Sparta was that a child placed in these was that a child placed in these conditions could only survive if they conditions could only survive if they were tough. were tough.

If a child passed, they was brought If a child passed, they was brought before a council where the elders before a council where the elders checked the baby for defects. Passing checked the baby for defects. Passing this test = life.this test = life.

Growing Up MaleGrowing Up Male

For boys, training began early. At age For boys, training began early. At age seven, a Spartan boy left home to live in seven, a Spartan boy left home to live in the barracks with other boys. Training the barracks with other boys. Training lasted 13 years.lasted 13 years.

By age 12, a boy had spent many hours By age 12, a boy had spent many hours using swords and spears. He had only using swords and spears. He had only one cloak and a thin mat to sleep on. one cloak and a thin mat to sleep on. Because they gave the boys so little to Because they gave the boys so little to eat, they had to steal enough food to eat, they had to steal enough food to survive.survive.

Growing Up MaleGrowing Up Male

If the boys were caught stealing, they If the boys were caught stealing, they were severely punished. They were were severely punished. They were expected to take their punishments in expected to take their punishments in silence to show toughness.silence to show toughness.

When a Spartan turned 20 years old, they When a Spartan turned 20 years old, they became a soldier. Men remained soldiers became a soldier. Men remained soldiers until they were 60 years old.until they were 60 years old.

At age 30, they were allowed to join the At age 30, they were allowed to join the council, where government decisions were council, where government decisions were made.made.

Growing Up FemaleGrowing Up Female

Like the boys, the girls also trained in Like the boys, the girls also trained in wrestling and spear throwing. wrestling and spear throwing. Spartan women were expected to be Spartan women were expected to be fit because it was thought they would fit because it was thought they would have fit children.have fit children.

Spartan women were allowed to own Spartan women were allowed to own land and take part in business. They land and take part in business. They also typically oversaw the home also typically oversaw the home because the men were gone to battle.because the men were gone to battle.

Expanding Persian Expanding Persian EmpireEmpire

Cyrus the Great founded the Persian Cyrus the Great founded the Persian Empire in the mid 500s BC. By 520 Empire in the mid 500s BC. By 520 BC, the Persians had gained control BC, the Persians had gained control of the Greek Colonies on the west of the Greek Colonies on the west coast of Asia Minor.coast of Asia Minor.

Battle at MarathonBattle at Marathon In the fall of 490 BC, thousands of Persians In the fall of 490 BC, thousands of Persians

landed in Greece. The Persians gathered at landed in Greece. The Persians gathered at Marathon, a city 25 miles north of Athens.Marathon, a city 25 miles north of Athens.

The Athenians put together a small army that The Athenians put together a small army that was outnumbered 2 to 1 by the Persians. was outnumbered 2 to 1 by the Persians. The two armies stared at each other for 2 The two armies stared at each other for 2 days before fighting began.days before fighting began.

Suddenly, the Athenians rushed and attacked Suddenly, the Athenians rushed and attacked the Persians killing 6400 while only losing the Persians killing 6400 while only losing 192 soldiers themselves. Athens won the 192 soldiers themselves. Athens won the battle. Once the battle was over, a runner battle. Once the battle was over, a runner ran back to Athens to proclaim victory. He ran back to Athens to proclaim victory. He ran into Athens, yelled “Nike,” and dropped ran into Athens, yelled “Nike,” and dropped dead!!dead!!

Conflict and the Conflict and the Athenian EmpireAthenian Empire

More battles between Greece and More battles between Greece and Persia followed. With each win, the Persia followed. With each win, the Greeks assumed they had pleased the Greeks assumed they had pleased the gods.gods.

Athens emerged from the Persian wars Athens emerged from the Persian wars the most powerful city-state in Greece. the most powerful city-state in Greece. They formed the Delian League where They formed the Delian League where other city-states bowed to them. other city-states bowed to them. This This time in Athens was the Golden Age time in Athens was the Golden Age mentioned in Chapter 6.mentioned in Chapter 6.

Sparta and Athens at Sparta and Athens at WarWar

Athens had a democratic government, Athens had a democratic government, but it began to treat other city-states but it began to treat other city-states unfairly, especially those in the Delian unfairly, especially those in the Delian League. Those city-states were League. Those city-states were making tribute payments to Athens making tribute payments to Athens for protection from the Persians.for protection from the Persians.

Athens moved the treasury from Delos Athens moved the treasury from Delos to Athens and used the money to build to Athens and used the money to build the Parthenon and other projects.the Parthenon and other projects.

Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian War

The Greeks began to resent Athenian The Greeks began to resent Athenian power. They looked to Sparta to help power. They looked to Sparta to help protect them. Sparta formed the protect them. Sparta formed the Peloponnesian League with city-states Peloponnesian League with city-states in southern Greece. in southern Greece.

In 431 BC, Sparta and its allies fought In 431 BC, Sparta and its allies fought against Athens and its allies. This was against Athens and its allies. This was called the called the Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian War – conflict – conflict between Sparta and Athens that lasted between Sparta and Athens that lasted for 27 years.for 27 years.

Peloponnesian War, cont.Peloponnesian War, cont.

When Sparta attacked Athens, When Sparta attacked Athens, Pericles (leader of Athens) allowed Pericles (leader of Athens) allowed people to move inside the city walls. people to move inside the city walls. The overcrowded conditions led to a The overcrowded conditions led to a plagueplague – widespread disease. – widespread disease.

When the plague ended 5 years When the plague ended 5 years later, almost 1/3later, almost 1/3rdrd of the Athenians of the Athenians had died, including Pericles.had died, including Pericles.

Fall of AthensFall of Athens Athens never recovered from its losses during Athens never recovered from its losses during

the plague. To make matters worse, Sparta the plague. To make matters worse, Sparta allied itself with the Persians to use its mighty allied itself with the Persians to use its mighty Navy. Navy.

In 405 BC, the Spartans and Persians staged a In 405 BC, the Spartans and Persians staged a blockadeblockade – action taken to isolate the enemy – action taken to isolate the enemy and cut off its supplies. The Spartans and cut off its supplies. The Spartans surrounded the harbor where Athens received surrounded the harbor where Athens received supplies. supplies.

Starving and beaten, Athens surrendered in Starving and beaten, Athens surrendered in 404 BC. The Spartans knocked down the city 404 BC. The Spartans knocked down the city walls and decimated Athens. Athens never walls and decimated Athens. Athens never again dominated the Greek world.again dominated the Greek world.