1. Compare the political systems of Athens and Sparta.
Answer:
Introduction: Athens and Sparta were two prominent Greek city-states with contrasting political systems that reflected their societal values.
- Athenian Democracy:
- Athens is renowned for establishing democracy, particularly under the leadership of Cleisthenes and Pericles.
- The government comprised the Ecclesia (Assembly), Boule (Council of 500), and various magistrates.
- Citizens (male Athenians) directly participated in decision-making.
- Spartan Oligarchy:
- Sparta had a mixed government with two kings, the Gerousia (Council of Elders), the Apella (Assembly), and the Ephors (magistrates overseeing kings and laws).
- Governance focused on maintaining military dominance.
Conclusion: While Athens championed citizen participation, Sparta prioritized order and stability through a rigid oligarchic system.
2. Discuss the role of women in Athens and Sparta.
Answer:
Role in Athens:
- Women in Athens had limited rights and were excluded from political life.
- Their roles were confined to managing households and raising children.
Role in Sparta:
- Spartan women enjoyed more freedom, including owning property and participating in athletic activities.
- They were expected to maintain physical fitness to bear strong children and support the state.
Conclusion: The contrast highlights Sparta’s pragmatic approach versus Athens’ patriarchal restrictions.
3. Explain the significance of the Delian League and its role in Athenian dominance.
Answer:
- Formed in 478 BCE, the Delian League was a naval alliance led by Athens to counter the Persian threat.
- Athens controlled the league’s treasury, using its resources to build its navy and fund cultural projects.
- Over time, Athens transformed the league into an empire, alienating other city-states and leading to conflicts like the Peloponnesian War.
Conclusion: The Delian League was pivotal in Athens’ rise to power but also contributed to its eventual downfall.
4. Analyze the impact of Spartan education and military training.
Answer:
- Spartan boys underwent rigorous training under the Agoge system, starting at age seven.
- They were taught discipline, endurance, and combat skills to serve as professional soldiers.
- Education for women also focused on physical fitness to ensure they bore strong offspring.
Conclusion: This militaristic system ensured Sparta’s military superiority but limited cultural and intellectual advancements.
5. How did Athens contribute to the cultural and intellectual development of ancient Greece?
Answer:
- Athens became the cultural hub of Greece during its Golden Age.
- Contributions included philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), drama (Sophocles, Euripides), and art (the Parthenon).
- Democratic ideals and advancements in science and literature influenced Western civilization.
Conclusion: Athens’ focus on education and creativity made it a beacon of cultural and intellectual progress.
6. Describe the causes and consequences of the Peloponnesian War.
Answer:
Causes:
- Growing tensions between Athens and Sparta over dominance in Greece.
- Athens’ exploitation of the Delian League and Spartan fears of Athenian expansion.
Consequences:
- Sparta defeated Athens, ending its Golden Age.
- Greek city-states weakened, paving the way for Macedonian conquest under Philip II and Alexander the Great.
7. Compare the economic systems of Athens and Sparta.
Answer:
- Athens:
- A maritime economy based on trade and commerce.
- Use of silver from mines like Laurium boosted its wealth.
- Sparta:
- Focused on agriculture, relying on helots (enslaved people) to produce food.
- Avoided trade, prioritizing self-sufficiency.
Conclusion: Athens’ economy was dynamic, while Sparta’s was static and reliant on forced labor.
8. Examine the roles of helots in Spartan society.
Answer:
- Helots were the enslaved agricultural laborers in Sparta, primarily from conquered regions like Messenia.
- They supported the Spartan economy by farming, allowing Spartan citizens to focus on military training.
- Harsh treatment and fear of revolts led to periodic purges to control their population.
Conclusion: The helots were essential to Sparta’s survival but represented its societal inequality.
9. Discuss the contributions of Pericles to Athens’ Golden Age.
Answer:
- Pericles promoted democracy, ensuring greater citizen participation.
- Under his leadership, Athens built architectural marvels like the Parthenon.
- He fostered cultural achievements and strengthened the Delian League.
Conclusion: Pericles’ leadership marked the pinnacle of Athenian culture and power.
10. How did geography influence the development of Athens and Sparta?
Answer:
- Athens’ location near the sea facilitated trade and a naval empire.
- Sparta’s inland location and fertile plains encouraged self-reliance and a militaristic society.
Conclusion: Geography shaped the contrasting identities of these two city-states.
11. Analyze the religious beliefs of Athens and Sparta.
Answer:
- Both city-states worshipped Greek gods, with patron deities like Athena in Athens and Artemis in Sparta.
- Religious practices included festivals, sacrifices, and oracles like Delphi.
Conclusion: Religion was integral to both, though Athens emphasized artistic expression while Sparta linked religion to militarism.
12. What were the effects of the Persian Wars on Athens and Sparta?
Answer:
- Victory in the Persian Wars boosted Athens’ prestige and led to the creation of the Delian League.
- Sparta gained recognition for its role at Thermopylae but avoided prolonged involvement in alliances.
Conclusion: The wars enhanced Athens’ power but exposed the rift between Greek city-states.
13. Compare the naval power of Athens and the land power of Sparta.
Answer:
- Athens’ strong navy dominated the Aegean Sea, using triremes for warfare and trade.
- Sparta excelled in land-based warfare, with the hoplite phalanx as its strength.
Conclusion: The military strategies reflected their geographic and societal priorities.
14. Discuss the role of education in Athens and Sparta.
Answer:
- Athens: Education emphasized philosophy, arts, and sciences for male citizens.
- Sparta: Focused on military training and discipline to create soldiers.
Conclusion: Education in both city-states reflected their core values: intellectual growth in Athens and military prowess in Sparta.
15. How did the Peloponnesian League contrast with the Delian League?
Answer:
- The Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, aimed at preserving oligarchic governance and countering Athenian influence.
- The Delian League, led by Athens, started as a defensive alliance against Persia but became a tool of Athenian domination.
16. Explain the significance of Spartan kingship.
Answer:
- Sparta had two kings from different royal families to balance power.
- Kings commanded armies and performed religious duties, supported by the Ephors and Gerousia.
Conclusion: Dual kingship symbolized Sparta’s blend of tradition and practicality.
17. What was the role of the Ephors in Spartan politics?
Answer:
- Ephors were elected officials who monitored the kings and enforced laws.
- They held significant power, even vetoing royal decisions.
Conclusion: The Ephors maintained checks and balances in Sparta’s oligarchic system.
18. How did Athens and Sparta influence Western civilization?
Answer:
- Athens’ democratic ideals inspired modern governance.
- Sparta’s discipline influenced military doctrines.
Conclusion: Their legacies continue to shape political and military institutions.
19. Discuss the significance of the Battle of Thermopylae.
Answer:
- Spartan King Leonidas and 300 Spartans made a heroic stand against Xerxes’ Persian army.
- Though a defeat, it inspired Greek unity against Persia.
20. Evaluate the decline of Athens and Sparta.
Answer:
- Athens fell after losing the Peloponnesian War, plagued by political instability.
- Sparta declined due to its rigid system and inability to adapt to changing dynamics.
Conclusion: Both city-states peaked during different periods but failed to sustain their dominance.
