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Was Athens more wealthy than Sparta?
While Spartans relied on agriculture for maintaining their economy, Athens became the foremost trading power of the Mediterranean by the 5th century BC and was thus, considerably richer. The two city-states that best represent each form of government were Sparta (oligarchy) and Athens (democracy).
Why was Athens wealthier than Sparta?
Athens grew vastly wealthier than Sparta essentially because its institutions were optimally adjusted to confront the basic scarcity of grains, whereas the institutions of Sparta were optimally adjusted to sustain its military supremacy.
Was the Athens rich?
In the fifth century B.C., Athens was one of the richest and most powerful city-states in Greece. Remarkably, ancient writers said the Athenian reserves could, at times, reach up to 10,000 talents (potentially 260 metric tons).
Did Athens and Sparta have the same economy?
While the Athenian economy depended on trade, Sparta’s economy relied on farming and on conquering other people. Sparta didn’t have enough land to feed all its people, so Spartans took the land they needed from their neighbors.
Did Sparta or Athens valued individual expression?
Unlike Athens, from around 600 until 371 B.C., Sparta had the most powerful army in Greece. All forms of individual expression were discouraged. Spartans valued duty, strength, and discipline over freedom, individuality, beauty, and learning.
Did Sparta or Athens have citizens as the upper class?
Upper classes had all power and privilege. Helots (slaves) did all nonmilitary work. All citizens were equal. Women and slaves were excluded from becoming citizens….
| Branch of Government | Sparta | Athens |
|---|---|---|
| Judicial | Kings acted as judges. | Court- very large juries chosen by lot who used secret ballots to reach a verdict. |
What are the similarities between Athens and Sparta?
One of the main ways they were similar was in their form of government. Both Athens and Sparta had an assembly, whose members were elected by the people. Sparta was ruled by two kings, who ruled until they died or were forced out of office. Athens was ruled by archons, who were elected annually.
Why did Sparta have a poor economy?
Spartan Economy Sparta didn’t have enough land to feed its entire population, so Spartans took the land they needed from their neighbors. Because Spartan men spent their lives as warriors, Sparta used slaves and noncitizens to produce needed goods.
Why was Athens rich?
Much of this income came from publicly owned farmland and silver mines that were leased to the highest bidders, but Athens also taxed imports and exports and collected fees from immigrants and prostitutes as well as fines imposed on losers in many court cases. In general, there were no direct taxes on income or wealth.
How were Sparta and Athens similar?
One of the main ways they were similar was in their form of government. Both Athens and Sparta had an assembly, whose members were elected by the people. Thus, because both parts of Athens’ government had leaders who were elected, Athens is said to have been the birthplace of democracy. Spartan life was simple.
What were the differences between the two city-states of Athens and Sparta?
The main difference between Athens and Sparta is that Athens was a form of democracy, whereas Sparta was a form of oligarchy. Athens and Sparta are two prominent Greek rival city-states. Athens was the centre for arts, learning and philosophy while Sparta was a warrior state.
How did the Spartan economy differ from Athens?
The Spartans, on the other hand, had no use for taxes. Helots, or slaves, who lived in the countryside surrounding Sparta, produced all of the food that the Spartans needed. Although Sparta never became as wealthy as Athens, it never relied trade to keep its people fed.
Did Athens and Sparta ever fight each other?
However, rarely did the two sides fight each other alone. Athens was part of the Delian League, an alliance of ancient Greek-city states led and funded mainly by Athens that eventually morphed into the Athenian Empire, and Sparta was a member of the Peloponnesian League.
Who was richer Sparta or Athens?
The Spartans lived a simpler life: kept to themselves and didn’t trade much. So you could say that Athens had more money, but Sparta didn’t care. How this 19-year-old earns an extra $3600 per week. His friends were in awe when they saw how much money he was making. Sparta was way poorer!
Which city has more freedom – Athens or Sparta?
Sparta had more freedom. Athens had freedom for reasonably well-to-do free males. Women, slaves, children and poor people had the shitty type of freedom. You know, the kind Americans have, freedom to die of a common cold or something that has been extinct in the civilised world for decades, or even centuries.