I N T E R A C T I V E S T U D E N T N O T E B O O K

Life in Two City-States:

Athens and Sparta
What were the major differences between
Athens and Sparta?

P R E V I E W

Examine the two illustrations of ancient Greek city-states your teacher will
show you. Then answer the questions below.

1. Describe the geography of the city-state in the top image. Do you think that
this city-state was a farming or a trading community?

2. Describe the geography of the city-state in the bottom image. Do you think
that this city-state was a farming or a trading community?

3. Using the details in the illustrations to help you, try to predict what other
differences might have existed between these two city-states.

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Life in Two City-States: Athens and Sparta  1

I N T E R A C T I V E S T U D E N T N O T E B O O K

R E A D I N G N O T E S

Social Studies Vocabulary

As you complete the Reading Notes, use these terms in your answers.
Athens Peloponnesus agora
Sparta Council of 500 Council of Elders

Section 1
Athens and Sparta
0 100 200 miles

0 100 200 kilometers

Lambert Conformal Conic Projection

Mt. Olympus
40°N
THESSALY
Iolcus
GRE E C E Aegean
Ionian Sea
Sea
Delphi
Thebes
Athens
Corinth
ATTICA
Argos
PELOPONNESUS
Sparta

N
36°N
W E

S
Crete

Mediterranean Sea
20°E

City-state
24°E

1. On the map, circle the AW_ISN_27_RN-1

city-state of Athens. 3. peninsula
Map of the Greek On the map, place a square around the
Third Proof city-state of Sparta.
2. Briefly describe Athens’s location.
TCI18 126
4. Briefly describe Sparta’s location.

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 I N T E R A C T I V E S T U D E N T N O T E B O O K

Section 2 to 9

If your class is doing the activity for this lesson, follow directions 1 through 3
below to complete your Reading Notes for Sections 2 to 9. (Note: If your class is
not doing the activity, follow only directions 1 and 2 below.)
1. For each topic below, read the appropriate sections in the lesson.
2. Write three or more key details to answer the section questions.
3. Answer the challenge questions and check the answer key.

Government

Athens  Section 2 Sparta  Section 6

Why was Athens called a Why was Sparta called an

democracy? oligarchy?
• Every citizen could • The people divided their work, in
participate in the city’s groups, instead of ruling
government, and were independently.
proud of their freedom.

• Permitted free men over • Was dedicated to military strength,

but also had an Assembly, where
the age of 18 were important decisions were made by
considered to be a smaller group (Council of Elders)
Athenian citizens

• The laws stated needed • The people shouts of the names of

approval from a large group
called the Assembly of
Athens. The assembly
debated issues and voted
on the laws that the council
proposed.
who they want the leader to be, so
they are dedicated, and support the
system. The Assembly in Sparta
consisted of only men, but unlike
Athens, it did not debate issues.

Answer to challenge Answer to challenge

question: question:

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I N T E R A C T I V E S T U D E N T
Economy
Athens  Section 3
How did Athenians get the
goods they needed for
everyday life?
• Athens was near the
ocean, and had an
affordable harbor. This
feature allowed them to
trade with other city-states,
and even foreign countries
• The Athenians also
exchanged goods at a
huge marketplace called
the agora (a place where
merchants sold goods in a
small place).
• Athens also developed its
own coins- made from
metals such as gold, silver,
and bronze, making trading
easier.
Answer to challenge
question:
4  Life in Two City-States: Athens and Sparta
N O T E B O O K
Sparta  Section 7
How did Spartans get the
goods they needed for
everyday life?
• Sparta’s economy relied on
farming and on conquests
of other people.
• The helots (conquered
villages that became slaves)
were permitted to live in
their own villages, but had
to give most of their food
out to the Spartans
• The non-citizens (free) were
responsible to make shoes,
and red cloaks for the
soldiers serving in the army
Answer to challenge
question:
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
 I N T E R A C T I V E
Education
Athens  Section 4
How did Athenians educate
their children?
• Book learning for an
intelligent mind, and
physical training for a
healthy body were equally
important
• Until Age 6 or 7- boys were
homeschooled
Until age 14- went to school
Books were rare, and
expensive, so students had to
read their subjects out loud, to
memorize.
• • About the age of 20, the men
Writing tablets helped
learn. Wrestling and
gymnastics helped behold
strength. Boys also learned
music (singing)
Answer to challenge
question:
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
S T U D E N T N O T E B O O K
Sparta  Section 8
How did Spartans educate
their children?
• Since the Spartans valued
discipline, and strength, they
trained children for battle
from age of 7, like wrestling,
boxing, foot racking, and
gymnastics
• Spartan boys were taught to
withstand any amount of
physical pain without
complaining, like marching
without shoes, and stealing
food without getting caught.
get tested in fitness, military
ability, and leadership skills.
If passed, they could become
full citizens, and soldiers
Answer to challenge
question:
Life in Two City-States: Athens and Sparta  5
I N T E R A C T I V E S T U D E N T
Treatment
of Women and Slaves
Athens  Section 5
How were women and
slaves treated in Athens?
• Athenian women could not
inherit or own property. They
also couldn’t vote or attend
Assemblies, and mostly cannot
even choose their own
husband.
• The women were like the
husbands’ slaves, educating her
children, doing housework,
managing the house, can only
step out of the house with
supervision, and didn’t have a
chance to have a job
• Some slaves taught children,
and ran household, were trained
as artisans, and some worked on
farms/as clerks. Some worked in
the mines, with little air to
breathe, and harshly punished if
stopped working.
Answer to challenge
question:
6  Life in Two City-States: Athens and Sparta
N O T E B O O K
Sparta  Section 9
How were women and
slaves treated in Sparta?
• Women wore plain clothing, and
did not wear cosmetics, or
accessories. They were expected
to be strong and healthy, and
ready to fight to protect the
husband’s property.
• Spartan women were free, like
they were free to speak to their
husbands’ friends, they could
own, and control a property, and
can even marry again, if their
husband had been at army for a
long time.
• The Spartans treated the helots
harshly, fearful that the helots would
fight back, but despite the harsh
treatment, they had some rights such
as marrying anyone, passing their
names to their children, and sell
leftover crops, and even purchase
their freedom.
Answer to challenge
question:
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P R O C E S S I N G

Compare and contrast the city-states of Athens and Sparta by completing the
chart below with sentences each face might say. Your statements should highlight
major similarities and differences between the two city-states, in the areas of
government, economy, education, and the treatment of women and slaves.
• For the Athenian citizen at the left, write four or more statements in the left
column that describe what life was like in Athens. For example, you might
write, “In Athens, all citizens participate in the government by voting on laws.”
• For the Spartan soldier at the right, write four or more statements in the right
column that describe what life was like in Sparta. For example, you might write,
“In Sparta, both boys and girls receive military training from the age of 7.”

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Life in Two City-States: Athens and Sparta  7