Ancient Women,Spartans vs. Athenians

While Spartan and Athenian culture occurred at the same time in very close proximity there are many differences in culture when it comes to women’s place in society. The book defines the Athenians as a cultured, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan where the Spartans were a basic, earthy, and traditional culture. This can be seen in the treatment of the women the role the women play in society. Both societies believed in many of the same gods but the Spartans were a more war oriented people. The main differences were that of child rearing, marriage, and women’s place in society.
Spartan women were much different from Athenian women in that they were better educated and it was considered important a woman be able to protect herself. Girls were taught in the same manner as the boys. They were all expected to exercise naked in front of their counterparts and athletic feats by both sexes were valued. Women trained with men until around the age of twelve when girls learned book ski...