Spartan Culture Vs Athenian Culture

Ancient Greece was a land of warring clan-like city-states dispersed throughout the nation, filled with people who spoke many different dialects of a core language. Although life in ancient Greece appears similar throughout, the fundamental differences between the cultures themselves are very apparent through their tumultuous history of warfare and disunity. Contrary to popular belief, not all Greeks originated from the same common ancestral people. Spartans, renowned for their warlike spirit and formidable armies, are descended from Dorian invaders of the mainland. Athenians, however, who are celebrated for being patrons of art, architecture and democracy, are descended from the Ionian tribe. The two city-states most notably shared similar governments and political rationales, while the greatest differences between them lay within their beliefs on the principles and purpose of life. Athenians are an indulgent people who have been known to immerse themselves in food, art, creative expression, and brilliant architectural feats. Contrastingly, Spartans were an abstemious culture focused on strength, durability, and success in warfare who prided themselves on their lack of materialistic …show more content…
Not only is the economy in shambles, but there is no real government to reign in the people from looting, and defacing the beautiful history of their country. Many of these contemporary issues developed because of the great disunity among the various inhabitants in Greece. Each culture had different ideals, such as the Spartans and Athenians, and were never able to unify as an all-powerful nation. Because of their individual success for so many centuries the Greeks evolved into a braggadocious people who did not want to conform to a central government for fear of losing the local influence and power they were accustomed