Blog #5

If you were a young teenage girl of the citizen class, in which city-state would you rather live? Why?

I would rather live in Sparta because compared to Athenian girls and women, Spartan women held a higher place in society. While their rights were still limited Spartan women were taught how to read and write, gymnastics, athletics and survival skills. They were also able to own their own property and during times of war they would be charged with protecting their husbands possessions.  This, in stark contrast to the women of Athens who were in essence their husbands property and had no rights. They could not even leave the house unless they were prostitutes or courtesans. The only education Athenian women received was basically household tasks such as sewing or cooking. 

If you were a slave, in which would you rather live? Why?

I would much rather live in Sparta. Sparta had Helots, as supposed to regular slaves. Helots were comparable to share-croppers in American history. While the slaves in Athens were the lowest of the low, the Helots had to give half of their crops to the Spartiates but still had some independence. While it was true that the Athenian slaves did play some roles that were more unique than the farming Helots of Sparta, such as policeman, their owner could kill their slave at their own discretion. I frankly don't think I'd be that interested in living a city where I could be killed at the drop of a hat. 

If you were a boy in the citizen class, which city would you rather live in? Why?

I would want to live in Athens because in Sparta I would be forced into military service at an early age until I was sixty and I would have to leave in a society centered around war. My "mentor" would be a pedophile rapist and I would be taken from my family at a young age. In Athens, I would grow up in a diverse society and receive a comprehensive education. I would also receive two years of military training but it would not dominate my entire life.

If you were a young soldier, in which city would you rather live?

It depends on my motivation. If I was looking to become a high-ranking military leader in one of Greece's premier armies I would probably want to live in Sparta. If I had other aspirations in life I would much prefer Athens. Knowing myself, I would prefer Athens because I wouldn't want my life dominated by the army. Also, since the Athenian navy was very big if I served in that I would have the opportunity to travel all over and see new places. The army in Athens was less intense and unlike Sparta you could see your family and spend time outside of the barracks. 

If you were a wealthy member of the citizen class, which city would you rather live in?

I would, of course, like to live in Athens. I would be able to buy what I want, live where I want etc... Sparta was very much more strict and also more communal than Athens. In terms of technical things if I lived in Athens I could do stuff like travel around different parts of the world because of it's role as an important port. Not to mention I'd have access to many more good from merchants trading in Athens.