Comparing The Governmental Structures of Athens And Sparta During The Archaic And Classical Periods (ca 800-323BCE) Kwasi O. Angus University of The People
GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES OF ATHENS AND SPARTA 2
Introduction
Athens and Sparta were the two most prominent Greek city-states during the archaic and classical periods …show more content…
d) Both had an assembly which comprised all free male citizens
Differences Between The Two Governments
“Following Cleisthenes reforms the government of Athens was essentially run by the Peoples’ Assembly (Ekklesia). All matters affecting Athens were decided by this assembly. It possessed the power to decide what was passed into law and what wasn’t. The Assembly also elected free, male citizens to serve in each of the governmental offices such as the Boule, Magistrates, etc.” (Brand, n.d.)..
On the other hand, Spartas’ Assembly hadn’t any real power to decide on matters affecting Spartans. Instead, matters were decided by the Gerousia and the Ephors. Decisions made by these two small groups of men dictated how each person living under Spartan rule lived their lives.
As such Athens became a direct democracy because its’ demos decided all matters while Sparta became a dictatorship government or oligarchy.
GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES OF ATHENS AND SPARTA 6