Which statements accurately compare the government systems of Sparta and Carthage?

To accurately compare the government systems of Sparta and Carthage, let's analyze the statements one by one:

1. **The Spartan and Carthaginian governments both used a council. The Spartan senate used 500 elected officials while the council of Carthage had 28 elected officials.**
- This statement is incorrect. Sparta had a council called the Gerousia, which consisted of 28 elders plus the two kings, while Carthage had a council known as the Council of Elders with a different number of members and different functions.

2. **The Spartan and Carthaginian governments both had an assembly. The Spartan government elected citizens in the assembly while the Carthage government did not.**
- This statement is also incorrect. Both Sparta and Carthage had assemblies, but the process for participation and influence varied. Sparta had the Apella, where male citizens could vote, while in Carthage, the assembly also had a role in governance, though the situation was more complex.

3. **The Spartan and Carthaginian governments both had two leaders. The Spartan government had hereditary kings while the Carthaginian government had elected leaders.**
- This statement is partially accurate. Sparta did have two hereditary kings, while Carthage had two elected suffetes (similar to judges or magistrates), but the overall structures and power dynamics were quite different.

4. **The Spartan and Carthaginian governments were both oligarchies. Carthage focused more on military matters and Sparta focused more on democracy.**
- This statement is misleading. While both had oligarchical elements, Sparta is known for its militaristic and oligarchic structure, while Carthage had a more complex political structure that allowed for merchant and political influence. Sparta did not focus on democracy in the same way modern interpretations suggest.

Based on this analysis, none of the statements are entirely accurate. However, the closest to being reasonable is the third one, though it lacks context and oversimplifies the differences between the two systems.

Pick 1 answer

The most accurate statement among the options provided is:

**The Spartan and Carthaginian governments both had two leaders. The Spartan government had hereditary kings while the Carthaginian government had elected leaders.**

While it's not perfectly accurate in terms of the overall governance structure, it does correctly highlight the distinction between Spartan hereditary kings and Carthaginian elected leaders.