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The Spartan State: A Contrast to Athens

Other Greeks regarded Sparta with a mix of fear and admiration. In contrast to democratic Athens, Sparta felt like an army camp, its male citizens obligated to full-time military training. Its government was an odd mixture of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy. People in city-states such as Athens were amused by Sparta’s strange customs. They were also frightened by its growing power.

Government in Sparta 
Sparta was a city-state on the Peloponnesian Peninsula. The center of Sparta was inland, so Sparta was not a sea power. Neither was it a democracy. Sparta was ruled by two kings who served as military leaders. The kings headed Sparta’s governing body, the council of elders. The council included 28 men over the age of 60. This oligarchy was the true government of Sparta.

Sparta did have a democratic assembly made up of some free adult males, but it had only about 9,000 citizens, compared to about 45,000 in Athens. The Spartan assembly also had far less power than the Athenian assembly. It could pass laws, but the council had to approve them.

However, the Spartan assembly did have one important power. It elected five ephors. An ephor (EH for) was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the government. The five ephors made sure that the kings and the council acted within the limits of Spartan law. Ephors could remove a king who broke the law.

How did other Greeks feel about Sparta?
*
A) They ignored it.
B) They feared and admired it.
C) They wanted to move there.
D) They thought it was weak.
What made Sparta different from Athens?
*
A) Sparta had no government.
B) Sparta had more artists and philosophers.
C) Sparta was focused on military training.
D) Sparta was a democracy like Athens.
What type of government did Sparta have?
*
A) Only a monarchy
B) Only a democracy
C) A mix of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy
D) A government exactly like Athens
Why was Sparta not a sea power?
*
A) It had a weak navy.
B) It did not believe in trading.
C) Its center was located inland.
D) The Athenian navy controlled all trade.
Who made up Sparta’s council of elders?
*
A) 28 men over the age of 60
B) All free citizens
C) Athenian advisors
D) Elected officials from every city-state
How was the Spartan assembly different from the Athenian assembly?
*
A) It had far less power.
B) It could reject the council’s decisions.
C) It was made up of all citizens.
D) It was larger than Athens’ assembly.
What important power did the Spartan assembly have?
*
A) It could make its own laws without approval.
B) It elected five ephors.
C) It could remove the kings.
D) It could overrule the council of elders.
What could ephors do if a king broke the law?
*
A) Put him in prison
B) Ignore his actions
C) Declare war on him
D) Remove the king from power

1 answer

Here are the answers to your questions based on the provided text:

  1. How did other Greeks feel about Sparta? B) They feared and admired it.

  2. What made Sparta different from Athens? C) Sparta was focused on military training.

  3. What type of government did Sparta have? C) A mix of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy.

  4. Why was Sparta not a sea power? C) Its center was located inland.

  5. Who made up Sparta’s council of elders? A) 28 men over the age of 60.

  6. How was the Spartan assembly different from the Athenian assembly? A) It had far less power.

  7. What important power did the Spartan assembly have? B) It elected five ephors.

  8. What could ephors do if a king broke the law? D) Remove the king from power.