Sparta and Athens were different in their values, politics, and societies. Lets look at two of them. Apart from many smaller changes, it was mainly based on the opportunity for all citizens over 20 to take part in governing the country. Overall, I think Athens is better and safer to live in then Sparta. In America today, democracy is something we take pride in. Even girls were trained to become soldiers because for the Spartans there is no such thing as inequality; women can do the job of mem. When women were forced to produce offspring, many of the weak babies were left to die. The two biggest city-states have always had issues. The Athenian democracy, while it did give more power to the people, still left a lot of citizens out. While Athens is widely regarded as the first historical example of a democratic system, some scholars believe that the Roman Empires republic system was more democratic than that of the Greek. Use this knowledge to correct the spelling errors below. In Athens, all men born to Athenian parents were citizens, in Sparta, only the wealthy were citizens. Not everyone gets to participate. Athenian democracy also was cumbersome and operated slowly. Sparta, on the other hand, was recognized for its military strength. Democracy Cons: Cons: Only citizens got to vote. Democracy (disadvantage) Few people were considered citizens and had a voice in government. They are also carful with who can be a citizen rather then "stingy". Representative democracy is a government in which citizens vote for representatives who create and change laws that govern the people rather than getting to vote directly on the laws themselves. The assembly met on the hill of the Pnyx to make these important decisions. The ancient Greeks believed that each city-state had one or two gods keeping a special eye on that city-state. Webdirect democracy; indirect democracy; Pericles : Assignment #6 : Sources: reading #1: "The Religion of the Ancient Greeks." 3 What were the strengths and weaknesses of ancient Greece? Be developed in ancient Greece, Direct Democracy helped ancient Greece make tons of achievements in different fields; also laid the fundamental of western political system of modern time. The council (men over sixty years elected for life) and kings acted as judges and proposed laws (PBS 1). Sparta, it appears, had fewer changes to government over time as compared to Athens. Spartan. Athens also had much more trading power, and controlled more land than Sparta. While it has been stated that Athens is the cradle of democracy, and that it was better than any of the other governments in the world, it was still a work in progress. Spartas government was said to have a mixture of the major types of government which is oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy. The rigidity of the Constitution makes it difficult to amend easily. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state. First, all true democracies limit majority rule in order to protect the rights of minorities. It was possible to prolong the rule for the next term but in case of any abnormalities a quick change of government took place. Limits of Greek Democracy Socrates (469-399 BCE) and Aristotle (384-322 BCE), two of the most influential of the ancient Greek philosophers, were suspicious of the idea of equality. What are the advantages and disadvantages of ancient Greece? After Pericles died Athens could not defeat Sparta in the Peloponnesian War and also couldnt hold the truce that was signed in 421 BC which allowed Sparta to gain overall victory in the, The Democracy of Athens meant that the people rule themselves. What were the advantages and disadvantages of the city-state model of government in Greece? The Athenian democracy was not equitable, and it did not consider slaves and foreigners. Sparta and Athens had differences and similarities in the way they governed their city states, in how they established their military forces, how they treated women, their marriage customs and social gatherings. Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. Sea travel connected Greece to other societies. The Athenians were stronger because they had a better geography, government, cultural achievements, and I would rather live in the Athens. Each polis differ particular on economically, politically, and military, When in doubt, however, the city-states did not get along. This limits the majoritys right to rule. Unlike the Romans, Athenians had a strict but fair schedule that allowed them to enjoy citizenship equally. Being the birthplace of democracy gives Ancient Greece a very important reputation. Possibly could make faster decisions. WebThe ancient civilization of greece was different from many of the civilizations in its time. For instance the way that these cities were governed and their political procedures and functions were quite different from each other. Women were forced to go through training to become strong, to male healthy babies, it was tough. What else does he accomplish at the same time? In ancient Athens only the men were able to vote. By 508 BCE, Cleisthenes came to power in Athens and creates a democratic constitution of all people. Spartan women are better than Athenian women because they have more rights, these rights coclude of being able to marry anyone they wish to. 6 What were the advantages and disadvantages of the city-state form of government? So there are some representatives want to use the direct democracy like some old country such as ancient Greek. Athens is the symbol of freedom, art, and democracy in the conscience of the civilized world. This form of government is called direct democracy. Athens on the other hand had a democracy as stated in Document 3, an excerpt from Funeral Orations by Pericles a quotes from this excerpt states it is true that our government is a democracy, because its administration is in the hands, not of the few, but of many.. This quote clearly states that the type of government Athens has is a, Athens is superior towards Sparta throughout ancient Greek history. While Athens is widely regarded as the first historical example of a democratic system, some scholars believe that the Roman Empires republic system was more democratic than that of the Greek. Sparta lacked in education, they were too harsh on the children in military training, and the Spartans didnt allow traveling. The most important city-states of Ancient Greece was Sparta and Athens. Both Athens and Sparta had a similar government system. Democracy in Athens the government officials are chosen by sweepstakes and worked for 1 year for proposing and enforcing decrees but didnt have much individual power. Because Athens (back then it was called Athenai), was where the concept of democratic society was first formed. Athens offered many activities for all men, women, and children. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 8 What are the advantages and disadvantages of ancient Greece? Pros. Women, children, and slaves were not considered citizens and therefore could not vote. The first inhabitants of Attica (the wider area of Athens), of who we are aware, lived during the Neolithic Period (6,000-2,800 BC). Athens government is a democracy which means all citizens get to take part. During the Archaic Age, Sparta was solely focused on fighting wars and training their children for these wars. In Document 2, an excerpt from The Spartan Constitution by Aristotle theres a quote that states they praise Lacedaemon because it is made up of oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy.. This quote tells exactly what type of government Sparta had. What was the government like in ancient Greece? Sea travel connected Greece to other societies. To begin with Sparta completely discarded all advanced education. A belief in shared power: based on a suspicion of concentrated power (whether by individuals, groups or governments). When the two words are put together it forms , meaning rule of the people. The focus of the times was directed towards military capabilities, while the Athenians were more interested in comfort and culture. 8 What was the government like in ancient Greece? Sparta and Athens were different in their values, politics, and societies. Sparta was focused on their military, discipline, and to have a strong state. After investigating the given evidence, it can be determined Ancient Athens did not always vote on important matters and only a small majority of the population could vote. The Athens also got to abolish politicians they did not like. How does Coyote kill the giant? Two of the biggest city-states were Athens and Sparta. 5 What are the disadvantages of Constitution? Sparta was focused on their military, discipline, and to have a strong state. Undoubtedly it helped the citizens of Athens to broaden their minds, their cultural awareness and, what was probably most important, to develop. And they only let men vote which means that only 12% in ancient Athens can vote.In Athens no one had freedom of thought and expression either. Unfortunately, the government makes the people feel powerless to the point where theyre forced to elect a candidate whos not impotent. Government failure. Athens was full of life and the people living there appreciated all of what others had to offer: arts, music, life, and new cultures. Together it means rule by the people. Person who pays rent, either in money or crops, to grow crops on another person's land. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. The people of ancient Greece took advantage of all this saltwater and coastline and became outstanding fishermen and sailors. The Athenians created a new kind of government where the people chose their leaders. What were the advantages and disadvantages of the city-state form of government? However up until 500 BCE, the concept of Democracy was a foreign concept, and the great civilizations of that era were run by monarchs, aristocrats, and religious leaders of sorts. WebI think Athens had a better government because they created a democracy. Cons. The government was also corrupted and dominated by the elite of the city-state. Great economy. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. First of all, the economy was very strong in Athens. This completely contradicts the all-inclusive concept of direct democracy that the Athenian government preached so frequently. In Document 2, an excerpt from The Spartan Constitution by Aristotle theres a quote that states they praise Lacedaemon because it is made up of oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy.. This quote tells exactly what type of government Sparta had. In many scientific or philosophical words derived from Greek, the letter kkk is used to spell the kkk sound, as in skeptical and kleptomania. 6 What is the original meaning of democracy? What are the advantages and disadvantages of Athens? When looking at this definition and trying to decide whether the Athenian democratic system was truly democratic, one would have to go with the answer no. While there were opportunities for public officials to be reelected, this did mean that implementing policies became difficult, as there was not enough time to execute them. Logically enough, the English word itself is derived from older Middle French or Middle Latin equivalents. The Aetolians settled while the Dorians divided into two forces and continued on where one force took over Messenia and the other moved into Laconia and Sparta. I do not believe that in the 4th to 5th century BCE ancient Athen were democratic for many reasons. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Democracy, a noun that means the society is governed by the people, a system of voting, and majority rules. The word democracy is greek, the word demos means people and kratos means power. (Section 2.3) 2 As the culture center of Greek, Athens had many advantages during the Gold Age. Differences : Advantages And Disadvantages Of Athens And Sparta, Athens and Sparta are the two famous city-states in Ancient Greece. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a government? It does not store any personal data. The United States has a representative democracy. What was the limits of democracy in ancient Greece? Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. Press ESC to cancel. How do these two city-states differ? Disadvantages: Not a lot of flat land to farm, Diffcult to travel over land, Diffcult to unite under a single government, limited natural resources. Also, the so called Ostrakismos made it possible to ban corrupt politicians from athens. One of the earliest known democracies was in Athens, a city-state in southern, ancient Greece. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Along with the Aetolians, they invaded the Peloponnesus from across the Corinthian Gulf (Halsall, 1999). Times change and with it human desires, but not many people challenge it or seem to think outside the box. This caused some to view them with hostility which sparked the conflicts between Athens and Sparta that lead to the Peloponnesian War. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. It also represents the control of an organization or group by the majority of its members. Athens was a democratic state that was peaceful and where women were open to culture and democracy. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, democracy can simply be defined as the government of the people, but lately it seems as if that definition has become invalid. Athens is more superior than Sparta through, government, economy, and culture. Draco organized laws by putting them in a written code, letting everyone know what the laws were and, In historical Europe, many of the countries were ruled by tyrants who dictated the citizens daily lives. WebCompare the advantages and disadvantages for settlers of Greece's physical geography. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. WebDemocracy (advantage) Allowed more points of view to make decisions because a small group was in chargenot a single person. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. While Athens was a democracy, Sparta was an oligarchy, which means ruled by few powerful and wealthy people. This basically means that if you are not wetly than they won't treat us the same as wealthy people. As we look back upon the two significant differences in the governmental systems of Sparta and Athens, there are also many other characteristics that distinguish the differences and similarities of these two city states. The biggest advantage of democracy in polis was the general possibility of taking part in public life for all free citizens. Each city-state had its own form of government and its own army, and even sometimes its own navy. I believe that ancient Athens was not a true democracy. Democracy is the modern day standard for governmental systems. What is the formula for calculating solute potential? A Monarchy is a political system ruled by one individual It showed him that his taxicab driver lacked knowledge of past history and basically judged a book by its cover. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Athenian Values. The god in charge of Athens was Athena, goddess of wisdom. Advantages: Made it hard for enemies to get to Greece, Greeks developed very small, close kit communities, hill top lookouts for invaders. It is a powerful word. Athens on the contrary, was a city that focused heavily on the arts and was a very relaxed and peaceful city to live in. Oligarchy (advantage) If the leader is strong/effective, the civilization is in good shape. Due to the geographical disadvantages of grease The civilization was divided into many city-states instead of having one main government. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The Athenians were stronger because they had a better geography, government, cultural achievements, and I would rather live in the Athens. But they were loyal to their city-state. Therefore, they could easily make decisions. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. However, they choose the candidates based on the (1)facades they create, which causes the people to become (2)distorted by their seemingly noble intentions. This new city and surrounding area were not dominant or influential. Athens was renowned as a center of wisdom and learning. While it has been stated that Athens is the cradle of democracy, and that it was better than any of the other governments in the world, it was still a work in progress. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In ancient Athens, democracy was about aggregating, aligning and codifying useful knowledge. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Tyranny (disadvantage) Not a guarantee that the people chosen by lottery would make effective government decisions. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The current American democracy may have steamed from Athens, but they do not really have that much in common. What are the disadvantages of Constitution? All city-states differed from each other in some ways but all shared some characteristics too. By our understanding it was an oligarchy, not democracy. The word democracy has its origins in the Greek language. They had two kings who controlled the army and religions of Sparta. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This society came to be known as one of the largest nations in Eurasia. Metic. Sea travel connected Greece to other societies. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? They also had five overseers who were elected to do regular every-day operations of Sparta. The community showed little cohesion as a group. The idea of liberalism first began in the 1600s with John Locke as he believed that the people should be allowed to remove the government currently ruling when they have misused their power for ulterior motives. Mainland Greeks moved to Ionia. Compare the advantages and disadvantages for settlers of Greece's physical geography. Advantages: They could raise goats and sheep, could grow olives and grapes for oil and wine, which could favorable trade. Disadvantages: Good farming soil was limited, mountains isolated people. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. The assembly passed laws and made policy decisions (PBS 1). The weaknesses weighed Sparta down, so here are some of those weaknesses. Why was logical and public speaking emphasized more in Athens than any other city-state? What were the limitations of the ancient Greeks? All rights reserved. Children were tortured to become strongerand all men would be fighting and stealing things just to survive. In the year 507 B.C., the Athenian leader Cleisthenes introduced a system of political reforms that he called demokratia, or rule by the people. The Athenians established a direct democracy where the people voted directly on the matter at hand. (Ancient Greek Democracy, History.com) The Romans then created their own type of democracy, where the citizens elected leaders to represent the peoples opinion. (Crabill, Ancient Rome) While neither the Athenian nor the Roman democracies were perfect by any means, they both, Whats more, Democracy was rising in Athens. Disadvantages: controlled little territory, many rivals/more conflict. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Each polis differ particular on economically, politically, and military, When in doubt, however, the city-states did not get along. 1 What are the pros and cons of Athenian society? 1 What were the disadvantages of democracy in ancient Greece? Their government was Demokratia, and this excluded the women, the children, the metics, and the slaves. Questions/ Activities: Do reading #1 and answer these questions: * Make a list of the major characteristics/beliefs of the religion of the ancient Greeks. But those attitudes shifted in the course of the 5th century under the influence of the Persian invasions of Greece in 480479 bce. What are the pros and cons of democracy in ancient Greece? This meant that they may not have represented mass opinion, whereas getting all males over the age of 18 involved in politics increased the likelihood of policies representing what people wanted. Athens organized a group of Greek city states into the Delian League and eventually lead and dominated all of the city states in the League. Its population was over five times as great as the other small city-states. Some of the major issues with government are the political lies and schemes it takes to get to the top and remain there. Every city-state had their own coins, government, and laws. In addition to simply being a peninsula, Greeces coastline has many accessible harbor locations. Those 500 citizens had to actively serve in the government for one year. During 750-500 B.C.E, Ancient Greece is a place that is known for some city-states, called poleis. Athenians were the most scholarly types while the Spartans were more of the military type. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Advantage: They had access to trade, transportation, fish, and water. According to the Athens and Sparta Document Set, a democracy means rule by the people. Establishing government is one of the most important inventions develop human beings. However up until 500 BCE, the concept of Democracy was a foreign concept, and the great civilizations of that era were run by monarchs, aristocrats, and religious leaders of sorts. WebThe word democracy or demoskratos in Greek, is a form of government where the (ruling) power is in the hands of the people. When you look at the literal definition of democracy in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, there is a decently large explanation. While Athens seems to only have a democracy. What was the disadvantage of democracy in ancient Greece? Geography had an enormous impact on the ancient Greek civilization. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. But, since foreigners, women, and slaves were not allowed to become citizens, democracy meant equality among those whousually by birthwere entitled to be citizens of a particular place. 1031 Words5 Pages. In fact, it adhered to a military oligarchy most of its existence. This form of government had to start somewhere, however, and ideas of democracy can be shown in many early documents written by some of the first peoples to colonize the Americas. Additionally, the reliability affected by the emotive language being employed in this article as the author utilises this language it demonstrates that bias is present. 9 What was the disadvantage of tyranny in ancient Greece? He found its concepts to have unique strengths and weaknesses that he believed could be the inspiration for the new government of post-revolution France. The Greeks never unified, Sparta is a better place to have an exciting or joyful life because you would be isolated by mountains and oceans. What does checks and balances refer to quizlet? A democracy is a form of government that is ruled by the people and controlled by the people. One that originates from ancient Greece, at the cradle of civilisation.The word democracy comes from the Greek meaning the people and meaning power or rule. Athens and Sparta were two of the most powerful and well known cities among all the Greek nations. 8 Who was not allowed to become a citizen of Greece? The reason I say this is because, in economic terms, reduction in government spending and increasing tax collection at the same time is like hitting someone with two hammers together. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. Disadvantages: Not a lot of flat land to farm, Diffcult to travel over land, Diffcult to unite under a single government, limited natural resources. Oligarchy (disadvantage) Over time, middle/lower classes realized they still had little to no say in government Tyranny (disadvantage) What was the government like in ancient Greece? This is the great story of Ancient Greece and how individualism changed the view Greece had on certain issues. In blues, certain "flattened" notes create the (allusion, illusion) of a human voice. She or he will best know the preferred format. Some farmers in archaic and classic Greece werent choosing which crops to plant based on local nutritional needs. As records were made available for public examination, there was a means of holding public officials to account. Aristotle once said, The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. Athens was established in 3000 BC, while Sparta was respectively established in 431 BC. Women could own property. This means that the people of the said community can either rule directly or indirectly by electing officials to make decisions for the betterment of the people. A body of land that has water on three sides, A narrow strip of land that connects two bodies of land, A peninsula; the southern portion of Greece, The Balkan peninsula, connected to other parts of Europe to the north, Elements of a Story and Plot : Base Literary, advantages and disadvantages of government in, Unit 2: Renaissance and Reformation Vocabulary, Of Mice and Men: Chapter 5 & 6 Review Project, Disadvantages and Advantages of Japan's Locat, Dahia Ibo Shabaka, Larry S. Krieger, Linda Black, Phillip C. Naylor, Roger B. Beck, PT600 - SysPath - Pathologies of Endocrine Sy. During the late Archaic Greek and Classical periods, two particular city-states were in existence with significant similarities as well as differences. Some people believe they were more democratic than us today, but I think they were never a true democratic government. The term, Democracy, stems from the Greek word demokratia which means rule by the people and it wasnt until around 500 BCE in Athens where the first examples of democracy originated. Disadvantages: controlled little territory, many rivals/more conflict. The Spartans changed their society to remove all social distinction and became the greatest soldiers in Greece. In Homeric Age, the regime of Athens is citizens can go into politics directly, just like governor who wield the supreme power, this kind of regime called Direct Democracy. Each year 500 names were chosen from all the citizens of ancient Athens. Although the seed was planted in the 1600s, liberal democracy only properly took form in the 1840s in Canada. While this advancement occurred. WebThe Sea shaped the Greek civilizations as rivers did in the other ancient civilizations. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Sparta is far better than Athens on the grounds that their armed force was strong and defensive. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? The Spartan men get more and children become great warriors because they at war and war training for 23 years. Democracy (disadvantage) Only the elite or upper class had a role in government, lower class not represented. WebThe common man, woman and children were considered subjects, who had no say in how the land was governed or any of the policies that were implemented. They took politics very seriously and made sure that everyone had a voiced opinion.