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1-2 pts.
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Evidence for A
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Analyze similarities and differences in methods of political control in Sparta and Athens.
Begin your essay here:
Sparta and Athens
With politics, one can rule the world. The infamous Adolf Hitler was a politician, which is how he rose to power. He used many techniques in the power struggle and in his rise to power, many of which were Greek and Roman; politics, can be used to control a population. In ancient Greece, Sparta (900-s B.C. – 464 B.C. though Argos survived and was later incorporated into the Achaean League under the Roman Republic) and Athens (1250–322 BC including the Mycenaean period, classical Athens starting in 508) (EV) had many forms with which to control the populous; differing in the majority. Sparta and Athens were different in so many aspects; similarities may as well not exist. Differing in the power held to rule by the government and in how the peasant classes were treated, and the smallest similarity in how money was acquired. (TH) Sparta is ruled by two kings simultaneously, neither having complete power or dominance. (TS) Power is kept even, the two kings balance each other’s power, and there are lower tiers of power to further the stability and management of the people. A council or elders, an assembly of citizens over thirty years of age, and the five Ephors complete the power circle.(EV) The Ephors are second only to the kings; elected annually by the assembly of citizens, immediately queued to the election the Ephor declared war upon the helots. This was done so as that if one needed to be killed, lest risk revolt, it could be done with no irregularity and on short notice. Theoretically Sparta was in a constant state of civil war due to this. (AN) Despite this “civil war” peace was present through all Sparta. Through this, Sparta maintained a well ordered and a strong system with which the people were controlled with laws and regulations. In Contrast, Athens government was kinder, and less punishing. (DC) Athens is most famous for its democracy, and having invented it, however it had an oligarch time period as well. (TS) A council would choose seven members of the noble class to serve as “Archons”. The role of an Archon is as a magistrate and they would conduct the government and law, controlling the people. (AN). The Archon Solon,(EV) elected in 594 B.C., (EV) his first legislation was making it illegal for anyone to be enslaved by a creditor; stabilizing the Athenian economy and keeping the people calm by keeping silver running through their palms. In 560(EV) B.C. a popular general, Peisistratus (EV) seizes power in Athens. His power falters for a time, but in 546 B.C. he is securely established and rules as a benevolent dictator, reserving position of Archon for himself and his immediate clan. Athens prospered; trade developed, and the first Parthenon is constructed in Acropolis. (EV) Upon his death in 527 B.C., (EV) Peisistratus is peacefully followed in rule by his son, Hippias (EV), though it was a short reign; he was overthrown in 510 B.C.(EV) by the nobles regaining the Archon council, after which began the democratic period. So while Sparta was stable and peaceful in controlling its people with discipline, Athens was unstable and power was rarely controlled despite the peace kept by trade and a flourishing economy. (DC)
Sparta was simple in dealing with their peasants, known as helots; the slaves of Sparta; the conquered enemies. (TS) The helots were owned by the state, and commanded by the state, no one Spartan commanded a helot. The helots would do all the manual work of the
