The Classical Age was from 6th to 4th century BC. Greece was divided into city states that were all independent. Two major city states of this time were Sparta and Athens who had lots of differences between them. Sparta was rich agriculturally and was a militaristic state so they could control the population of the slaves. The slaves out number the Spartans 12 to 1. Lycurgus was the founder of the Sparta constitution in 600 BC. The Spartan government consisted of a senate to balance the monarchy of the king and the democracy of the people. The Senate had consisted of 30 men that initiate the laws and policies and 5 ephers who enacted the laws. The assembly consisted all the men who had weapons and armor and had a yes or no vote in the government. The Spartan government was an oligarchy, meaning that the senate had all the power. In the Spartan constitution Lycurgus made divided the land equally amoung the people to prevent luxury, envy, arrogance, crime, and disputes between social classes. They had no need for money a
Sparta had the best army and they created Peloponisian League to help other city states after the Persian War. The Persian War had united all the city states in Greece for the first time. Athens great navy had defeated the Persians and then they established the Delian League. They would then help other city states with their great navy in exchange for men, ships and money. If other states withdraw from the Delian League then they would then get attacked.
Athens had a democratic government far ahead of its time. Athens had a participatory democracy. The assembly had all the power. The council of 500 men would tell the assembly what issues and laws need to be discussed and the ecclesia would enact the laws. Ten generals were in charge of the supervision of the army and the state. Government jobs were selected by lot or by random and were in rotation every year so everyone would have a chance to hold different positions and to make it fair. Everyone was also paid. The only problem with this method of was some people we
All papers and essays are for research and reference purposes only!
Copyright 2002-2009
Direct Essays , LLC. All Rights Reserved. DMCA Webmasters make $$$$