It changed over time.
Basically in Athens adult males made up the citizen body and the army and navy; women were kept at home in virtual purdah running the family and household. There was a large number of public and privately owned slaves with no rights and provided a workforce to help run the city and farms. There were also resident aliens who had no rights but were expected to help defend the city.
In Sparta the citizens formed the army, and used serfs to farm the land. Women had a degree of equality, the serfs were bound to the land and used as light infantry.
athens was made up of four social classes. aristocrats,citizens,metics and slaves.
The citizens of both city-states were warriors - the Spartans full time, the Athenians full time. The Spartans had serfs to support them, the Athenians had slaves. Both had democracies, the Spartans a limited form, the Athenians moved to a radical form. Both were serious about the gods and religious festivals. Their differences lay in other areas - women a basic part of social life in Sparta, in Athens they were kept in virtual purdah; the serfs in Sparta were free, the slaves in Athens were chattels.
The citizens of both city-states were warriors - the Spartans full time, the Athenians full time. The Spartans had serfs to support them, the Athenians had slaves. Both had democracies, the Spartans a limited form, the Athenians moved to a radical form. Both were serious about the gods and religious festivals. Their differences lay in other areas - women a basic part of social life in Sparta, in Athens they were kept in virtual purdah; the serfs in Sparta were free, the slaves in Athens were chattels.
Spartan women lived a life of reasonable eqality with the men, however they did not serve in the army or political life. Athenian women were kept in virtual purdah - kept at home on domestic tasks and getting out for an occasional womens' religious festival.
Sparta was cooler... and they existed a longer time ago than did the united states. land mass is different so is religion and peoples as well as social orders and class. the terrain is also a bit different. take your pick
they both suck and are stupid
Athens, but it is a matter of opinion
The social status of women in Sparta were to produce healthy sons for the army. The social status of women in Athens women had no share in public life.
athens was made up of four social classes. aristocrats,citizens,metics and slaves.
The social status of women in Sparta were to produce healthy sons for the army. The social status of women in Athens women had no share in public life.
The thesis statement of a comparison between Sparta and Athens could be: "Sparta and Athens were two prominent city-states in ancient Greece with distinct political, social, and military structures. While Sparta focused on militarism and discipline, Athens valued democracy and intellectual pursuits, leading to contrasting societies that played key roles in shaping Greek civilization."
In Athens women were kept at home in virtual purdah, having and raising children and running the household, getting out only for the odd women's religious festival. In Sparta women had considerable freedom, participating in sports and social and cultural activities.
Both Athens and Sparta provided similar freedoms for their citizens (adult males). In Athens, females had little freedom, and slaves none. In Sparta, women had similar freedom to the males, and serfs had limited freedom, being bound to their land.
Solon; he was the one who created social mobility based on wealth for Athens
Athens offered a more diverse culture with a focus on arts, education, and democracy, while Sparta was more militaristic and regimented. Athens had a more open and inclusive society, while Sparta's strict social structure and focus on warfare may have limited personal freedoms for its citizens. Overall, the emphasis on intellectual and cultural pursuits in Athens could be seen as more appealing than the militaristic focus of Sparta.
"The Spartans are a disciplined and militaristic society, with a focus on physical training and warfare. Their strict social hierarchy and emphasis on duty to the state is drastically different from the more democratic and culturally vibrant society of Athens."
in my social studies class we have 5 city states, Corinth Athens Sparta Olympia and Megara.