The people of Athens and Sparta participated in public life in very different ways due to the differences in their social structures. Each had very different histories and events that led to two distinct versions of democracy within Greece in which different classes of people were able to participate at certain levels.
“Sparta was a warrior society…and only warriors participated in political life” (Brand, 1). Their was certainly a strict social order with the Helots, or slaves and serfs, serving as the lowest rung and largest demographic, the spartan soldiers, the aristocracy, the Ephors, and finally the kings being the most powerful. Spartan soldiers were trained from the age of seven to the age of 20, when they entered active military service. The aristocracy was born out of the end of the Messenian wars, when veterans were given parcels of land with Helots that farmed it (Brand, 4). The Ephors were elected officials who “served as a balance to the power of the kings” (Brand, 5). “Sparta’s unique dual kingship came from two separate royal tribes who traced their line back to legendary founders” (Brand, 5). …show more content…
The Gerousia was made up entirely of Spartan aristocrats that were the age of 60 and above (Brand, 10). This council was composed of 30 members, 2 of which were automatically the two Spartan kings. The Gerousia held much of the power with regards to making decisions involving the Spartan community, as the decided which laws and issues could be brought before the popular assembly (Brand, 10). The popular assembly was made up of all free Spartan males that had not lost their citizenship to the
“Sparta was a warrior society…and only warriors participated in political life” (Brand, 1). Their was certainly a strict social order with the Helots, or slaves and serfs, serving as the lowest rung and largest demographic, the spartan soldiers, the aristocracy, the Ephors, and finally the kings being the most powerful. Spartan soldiers were trained from the age of seven to the age of 20, when they entered active military service. The aristocracy was born out of the end of the Messenian wars, when veterans were given parcels of land with Helots that farmed it (Brand, 4). The Ephors were elected officials who “served as a balance to the power of the kings” (Brand, 5). “Sparta’s unique dual kingship came from two separate royal tribes who traced their line back to legendary founders” (Brand, 5). …show more content…
The Gerousia was made up entirely of Spartan aristocrats that were the age of 60 and above (Brand, 10). This council was composed of 30 members, 2 of which were automatically the two Spartan kings. The Gerousia held much of the power with regards to making decisions involving the Spartan community, as the decided which laws and issues could be brought before the popular assembly (Brand, 10). The popular assembly was made up of all free Spartan males that had not lost their citizenship to the