Athenian children started their education at age seven. They learned to write, do simple arithmetic and learned to read through spoken word. They were taught to value government, education, poetry and music. They received physical training in wrestling and basic strategic combat. However, the main focus of their education was to prepare young men to one day lead a democracy. The goal was to become influential through the use of politics and persuasion. In the military, a soldier's rank was decided by his social or economic. Defined by income, each class had a certain measure of political responsibility. The wealthiest class, supplied the army with leaders. The second class made up the Athenian cavalry. The third class, made up the foot soldier. Finally, the poorest class, served either as oarsmen for the Athenian fleet, or as archers on land. Athenian soldiers trained for a mere two years. Thus, both Athenian political and military statuses were predetermined by the individual’s social class.
Similarly, at the age of seven, all Spartan males started their education. They were required to enter a military school where they would endure thirteen years of harsh training. They learned to read and write but Spartan education was mainly based on discipline, endurance of pain, and survival skills. Their physical training was severe when compared to that of the modest Athenians. the At age twenty, Spartan men entered the military. They were required to live in barracks until age thirty. This was to reinforce the importance of unity. A Spartan man was thought only to be as strong as the unity of his fleet. After the military a man could retire but not until he reached age sixty.
Ruled by an oligarchy, the Spartan military state had a stable government, which led to politically idle society. A shared monarchy was at the top governmental system, followed by a council of two kings and twenty-eight noblemen. All these men were reqired to be retired from the military, and thus were over sixty years of age.
In sharp contrast, Athens was a democracy, ruled by the people. A Council of leaders were chosen every year. This Council then had both executive and administrative control. Any male citizen over the age of thirty was eligible to be chosen. There was also an Assembly, that had the power to bar any decisions deemed unnecessary. In addition, the Assembly was the only branch of the government that could declare war. Thus, while Sparta was ruled by only a few of its men, Athens was ruled by all of its male citizens. And while both Athenians and Spartans demonstrated a great deal of discipline in order to rule, one ruled with knowledge and the other, with force.
Later the two cities became Allies against Persia in the Persian Wars. Although Athens had been smaller and weaker than Sparta at the beginning of the conflict, Athens emerged from the Persian Wars as the strongest of the Greek city states. Aided by the powerful Athenian fleet, the Greeks defeated the Persians in the Battle of Marathon. As the fighting came to an end, Athens became stronger and wealthier. At this time Pericles, a brilliant orator, had become ruler of Athens. During his rule Athens attained the height of its glory. Pericles also made Athens ruler of the sea by building a huge navy.
However, when an allied city of Sparta tried to break away from Athenian rule, Sparta waged war on Athens. The war lasted an amazing 27 years. Athens became greedy for more land and foolishly attacked Sicily and almost the entire Athenian fleet was destroyed. Seeing their opportunity, Sparta attacked Athens. Athens surrendered and was stripped of it’s empire. Beaten and devastated by Sparta, Athens never fully recovered from its defeat.
In conclusion, even though both Athens and Sparta had different types of military tactics, in the end neither city proved invincible, and neither system endured. The civil accomplishments and differing ideas of Athens and Sparta helped permanently influence Greek culture. And while they were almost completely the opposite of one another they both flourished in the golden ages of their time.