Sparta and Athens had very different societies. Sparta was a harsh, militaristic society focused on creating powerful warriors. Boys were taken from their families at age 7 for harsh military training. Girls also received physical training to be strong mothers. Sparta's population included both Spartan citizens and helot slaves who did manual labor. Athens was more democratic and focused on culture, but began to overreach by treating its allies unfairly, causing resentment. This led to the 27-year Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens, which ended in Athens' surrender after a plague killed 1/3 of its population and a Spartan blockade caused famine.

3. BoysGrowing up in Sparta Government control lifefromanearlyage. Examine newborninfants and thesickbabieswereleftto die. At theage of 7 boyslefttobarracksformilitary training. Age of 12 boyspracticedwithswords and spears. Miserable life, no food, onecloak and a thinmat. Stealingforleaving. Ifcaught, punishmentorkillingwasthepenalty.

5. GirlsGrowing up in Sparta Girlstrains and compete in wrestling and spearthrowing. Spartansbelievedthatgirlswhogrew up strong and healthywouldhavestrong and healthychildren. Women in Spartahad more freedomthan in Greece. Womenownland and takepart in business.

8. ThePersian Invade Mid 500s B.C. Cyrusthe Great foundedthePersianEmpire. 520 B.C. Persiangained control onGreekColoniesonthewestcoast of Asia Minor. 490 B.C. Persianslanded at the North of Athens. ThePersiansoutnumbered. Forseveraldaystheyfoughtacrosstheplain of Marathon. WithoutwarningtheAtheniansrushedthePersians and killed 6,400 and drovethePersiansaway.

9. Conflict and theAthenianEmpire AfterthePersiansweredefeated, Athens alliedwithothercity-states. Athens wasdemocraticsbutbegantotraetitsalliedinfairly. Alliespaid tribute to Athens forprotection. Athens usedthismoneyforbuildings and otherproyects. City-statesbegantoresent Athens power.

12. Allies of Sparta and Athens foughtfor 27 years in thePeloponnesianWar in thesouthernGreekpeninsula. Athens wasstruckby a plague and 1/3 of Athens populationdied. In 405 B.C. theSpartansstaged a blockadeclosingtheharborwhere Athens recievedfood and shipmentscausingthemtosurrenderedbecause of famine.

13. ClassworkActivity Whatwasthebasic rule thatgovernedSparta’scity-state? Compare life in Spartawithlife in Athens in a venndiagram. Whatwaslifelikeforthewomen of Sparta? Whowasthefounder of thePersianEmpire? Whathappenedduringthebattle of marathon? Whatconflictsdid Athens faced? HowdidtheSpartansfinallydefeattheAthenians?