Comparative Essay: Athens vs. Sparta

📌Category: Ancient Greece, History
📌Words: 615
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 20 April 2022

Athens and Sparta were two very crucial city-states of Greece. They were two allies when they fought against the Persians during the Persian War, but during the Peloponnesian War they turned against each other. Since then the two city-states were enemies who battled about who is better and were trying to win each other's territory. However, Athens is superior to Sparta. One reason why Athens was superior to Sparta was because of their government. Another reason why Athens was superior to Sparta was because of their Quality of life.

My first reason why Athens is better than Sparta is their government.The Athenians had a Democratic government while Sparta had an Oligarchical government. I debate that democracy is better than oligarchy because in a democracy the people have more say. Though both the governments were only open to male citizens, in Athens the men were allowed to vote starting at the age of 18 while the men in Sparta were full citizens at the age of 30. The oligarchy has a group of old rich men who rule over the people maybe sometimes unfairly. The democracy of Athens was a direct democracy which means that the people not only just got to vote for who they want but also they were allowed to suggest ideas of what they wanted. The voted leaders consisted of 10 generals who were to lead the Navy and the Army and were expected to judge the opinions of the people. The Athenians had an Assembly where they would pass laws, they also had a Council of 500. The Council of 500 was for where the laws were proposed and passed to the Assembly to be voted on. Any man rich or poor could vote but the women weren’t allowed and so weren’t the foreigners and slaves.The evidence that Athens had a democracy while Sparta had an oligarchy made the biggest difference. Democracy is better than the oligarchy because people get more say in their government, supporting the claim that Athens is supreme Sparta, because most can agree that the Athenians treated their people fairly no matter their wealth.

Another reason why Athens is superior to Sparta is Athens’s Quality of Life. The Athenians had a very good life. The way they beautified their city-state and how they valued and respected their gods was spectacular. Though the Athenians use money from the Delian League's revenue they had done it for the uprisings of the League. Because Athens used the Delian League's money to rebuild their demolished temples which were destroyed by the Persians who tried to invade only attracted more foreigners to visit the city-state bringing pride to the Delian League. The Athenians inspired the other city-states to make their own place better and beautiful. The Spartans took all this for granted saying that it was a waste of money. The trade of the Athenians was a major part of their wealth. And as traders were coming into Athens they would also visit the beautiful city. The evidence that the usage of money in Athens is very beneficial to both Athens and their allies they are saying that the Delian league was recognized by other city-states bringing pride to the Delian league, supports the claim that the way of life in Athens was more special and grand which proves that Athens is worthier than Sparta. Most can agree that people want a grand life and a life where their hometown is well known and recognized by its excelling beauty.

Athens is superior to Sparta. Athens had a strong democracy, where all the male citizens of age 18 could have a say in their government. The Athenians had great wealth and beauty in their city which attracted many people from all over Greece to visit. The fact that the Spartans were all about war and training they never interacted with other city-states. Athens was well known for its awesome and fair government and their great wealth and the astonishing pride of the Delian league.

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