Athens and Sparta Lesson 7-2

• ​To explain life in Sparta

• ​To describe the Athenian way of thinking

• ​To talk about democracy in Athens

• ​To name two Greek gods or goddesses

​Spartans lived in a military society. Spartan children belonged to the state.

​Boys start their military training at the age of 7. They were raised to be a soldier. Spartan has little use for girls.

​They were great warriors.

​

​The Spartans like most of the Mediterranean peoples, kept slaves.

Athens was a wealthy city. The Athenians decided that their welth gave them more time to enjoy the beauties of life. The Athenians put on plays in huge outdoor theaters. Some of these plays are still performed today. Athenains had slaves but some Greeks questioned slavery.

​

​Athenians wanted to be citizens. They rose up against their government. Under the new government all men were free, this is democracy. However, women and slaves did not have the rights of citizenship. All citizens had the right to vote.

​The Greeks worshiped many gods and goddesses. They gave each one a name and a humanlike personality.

​

​Zeus was the king of the Greek gods. his wife was Hera queen of the gods. the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis was built to honor Athena. She was the goddess of wisdom and learning.