History of Western Civilization - Essay Example

History of Western Civilization Athens and Sparta despite being the most powerful s that had ever existed in times of ancient Greece differed significantly in a number of ways. For instance, Athens ruled through democracy whereas Sparta opted for oligarchy.1 In addition, these two states had different cultures based on how they treated their families. Spartan was militaristic and normally had strict rules whereby boys began training for the army as early as when they were seven years old. In Sparta, it was a principle that all boys and girls leave their parents and start living in barracks where nurses would take care of them2. Unlike the Spartans, the Athens believed in education whereby they ensured that their children underwent strictly the knowledge acquisition process3. Therefore, this study seeks to relay information on how Athenians and Spartans differed especially in terms of family life as well as their mode of interactions with one another. . In ancient Greece, a family included married couples and children. During then, Slaves were very common such that each family had at least one supposed to undertake laborious tasks4. They acted as house cleaners, messengers as well as teachers while others worked in the fields and quarries. In Sparta, it was a requirement for each couple to bear as many children as possible. This to increase the number of soldiers who during then assumed the role of ensuring Sparta’s security besides having numerous workers. In ancient Greece, all family members stayed together. Married couples lived together with other family members. For instance, these family members included parents, unmarried brothers and sisters in one residential confinements though big enough to accommodate all of them5. In Athens, girls were married off once they reached the age of15 years whereas men were to wait until they reached 30 years of age6. A couple did not have any right concerning who to marry whereby these decisions were only made by the involved parties’ parents7. In Sparta, boys underwent vigorous training to in quest of preparing them to become competent soldiers from as early as seven years. Conversely, girls forced exercises were to ensure they were fit. This is because according to the Spartans fit girls gave birth to healthy baby boys who would grow up to be competent soldiers8. While Sparta focused on war, Athens spent most of the time trading at the Agora market. The main business in this market encompassed selling of silver in exchange for other goods, which ensured rapid economic development contrary to that of the Spartans9. In Athens, women adopted secluded lifestyles almost similar to that of slaves because their husbands did not allow them to leave their. Their main roles encompassed taking care of the entire family and giving birth10. Unlike men, Athenian women were never allowed to read or undergo strictly knowledge acquisition process. In addition, Women from wealthy families never went out. This is because their respective husbands had the capacity to purchase many slaves meant to do all tasks both within the homestead and in the fields11. However, they were at liberty as compared to those from poor backgrounds but not to outshine their male counterparts. This is because unlike the rich, poor women did not have enough slaves to attend to all their needs, hence they had no alternative but attend to duties that were outside their homesteads. Conversely, women in Sparta enjoyed more freedom than most of other neighboring states, Athens included. This is because men were always away in war or barracks; hence it was the women’s responsibility to ensure that their houses were in order. This gave them more time to learn and even teach each others about domestic arts such as sewing and spinning12. Unlike Athens, Spartan girls were married off only when they were 18 years of age to men who had attained the same age. Apart from reading and writing skills, they girls also learned how to sing as well as participate in varied sports meant to keep them fit13. Contrary the Athens, the Spartans were also more open-minded due to the then freedom and respect they enjoyed from their husbands. For instance, sometimes these women were capable of serving in the military just like their men because they had the right to own both land money, hence no one could seclude them if they wished to do other manly tasks. The journey of Spartan men in joining the state’s army started from a very tender age specifically when one was seven years old. They left their parents at an early age and lived in barracks whereby they underwent strict indoctrination meant to prepare them on how to protect their families from internal and external attacks. During this training, they endured extreme hardships such as staying without shoes besides having very few clothes meant to wear14. When the Spartan men attained 20 years of age, they were to undergo number of tests to determine whether they had acquired both leadership and physical skills applicable in the society. Once they passed this test, they qualified to join the military and eventually admitted in the barracks to live with other soldiers15. At the age of 30 years, they became full citizens supposed to serve in the military until each attained the age of 60 years. This is contrary to the Athens whose men spend almost much of their time away from homes trading in towns or working in their farms16. Athens never loved to get involved in any warfare but instead valued art, equality and philosophy. They loved education to the extent Athens’ families ensured that their boys underwent the strict education process. Young boys received education from home then later on moved to neighboring states for primary education until they reached the age of 14 years old17. Despite all schools during then being private, they were affordable even to the poor Athenians. This is because of the then insistence of equipping boys with the right knowledge. In primary schools, boys learned how to play games while those who were older learnt skills about fighting and wrestling. Apart from these skills, they also learned Arithmetic and algebra. Contrary to the Athenian boys, girls were not allowed to undergo any knowledge acquisition process. However, they were capable of learning from their residential places especially on how to manage their respective home chores that pertain to the female gender18. While Athenian children belonged to the father, in Sparta children belonged to the entire state because once one attained maturity stage used to serve all people equally. In conclusion, Athens and Sparta were the most recognized states during the ancient Greece because of being great rivals against each other. Contrary, these states were geographically very close despite then differing in terms of culture, lifestyle and values. For instance, in Sparta boys underwent meticulous training with the intention of becoming soldiers while those from Athens acquired the necessary skills meant graduate them into philosophers. This is by going to school and learning courses such as arithmetic and algebra. In Athens, women were required to stay indoors and perform all their household chores besides giving birth to children but not in Sparta. This is because the latter apart from the freedom of movement they enjoyed, had the right to learn and own land. Spartan men during then underwent meticulous training supposed to prepare them for military work. Reference list Ancient Civilization. “Rise of City-States: Athens and Sparta.” Accessed March 4. http://www.ushistory.org/civ/5a.asp Hynson, Colin. 2009. How people lived in ancient Greece. New York: Rosen Pub. Groups PowerKids Press. Kuhtz, Cleo & Martell, Hazel. 2010. Ancient Greek civilization. New York: Rosen Central. Read More