Sparta vs. Athens

Weak babies left to die and military training starting at age seven.

Sounds like a horrible and unfair way of life. But in Sparta this was all done for good

reasoning. Sparta was a very militaristic city-state therefore things such as leaving weak

babies to die and starting military training at age seven made Sparta the strongest military

force around. Close by this strong, patriotic city-state was the beautiful Athens where

individual freedom was strongly practiced. They had democracy, beautiful buildings and

many philosophers. Where would have been the better place to live, Sparta or Athens? An

examination of a very strong army, an oligarchy type of government, and the equality of

women and men will show that Sparta was a better place to live.

In 620 B.C.E, the Messenians rebelled against the laid back Spartans. Sparta

was successful in the end but not without using all the brute force they had. From then on,

Sparta decided that if they...