Athens and Sparta: Two Greek City-States

Despite a distance of only 100 miles separating these two Greek cities, Athens and Sparta were as different as they could be. But why did one contrast the other so greatly? Part of the answer is geography. Since **[Athens]** is only four miles from the Aegean Sea, its location encouraged Athenians...

Despite a distance of only 100 miles separating these two Greek cities, Athens and Sparta were as different as they could be. But why did one contrast the other so greatly? Part of the answer is geography. Since **[Athens]** is only four miles from the Aegean Sea, its location encouraged Athenians to look outward toward the world beyond the city. Athenians enjoyed traveling and were eager to spread their own ideas and to learn from others. They encouraged artists from other parts of Greece to come and share their knowledge of art and architecture. Athens developed strong relationships with other city-states, and it flourished through trade. Additionally, a great fleet made it the leading naval power in Greece. In contrast, **[Sparta]** was more isolated because it was located on a narrow plain on a peninsula in southern Greece known as the **[Peloponnesus]** (pel-uh-puh-NEE-suhs). Mountains surrounded Sparta on three sides, and its harbor was about 25 miles away. Spartans were suspicious of outsiders and their ideas. They could already grow much of what they needed in the fertile soil around Sparta, but what they could not grow, Sparta\'s powerful armies would often steal from their neighbors. While Athenians boasted of their art and culture, Spartans valued simplicity and strength. They taught their sons and daughters to fight and were proud to produce soldiers rather than artists and thinkers. For most of their histories, these two city-states were bitter rivals. As you continue reading, you will notice the major differences between Athens and Sparta reflected in almost every part of life.