Blog Entry #5

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

If I was a young teenage girl of the citizen class, I would deffinitely rather live in Sparta. They were treated a whole lot more like equals there. The Spartans believed in people being in "top-shape". The girls were educated, just like the boys. They could also own their own property and guarded their husband's property during wars. Out of all the city-states in Greece, women lived best and had the most independence in Greece.
In Athens, women were not even allowed outside of their houses very often! They were not educated and were considered property of their husbands.


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

I would rather live in Athens if I were a slave. Slaves in Athens could have more important jobs like being a war ship rower or being a policeman.
Slaves in Sparta were treated horribly because the slaves would rebell all the time. Their rewards for their work would be cut in half, one half going to the slave and the other to the master.


3. If you were a boy of citizen class, in which would you rather live? Why?

I would rather live in Athens if I were a boy. Unlike women in Athens, boys were treated way better than in Sparta. In Sparta the boys would barely get to know their parents and family because they were separated at the age of seven and trained until age 21. Also, if the boy did not look "strong enough" at birth, he would be killed. Athens believed in education over military. boys went to school and were taught many things like gymnastics, writing, reading, and math. They only underwent military training for two years - unless they joined the army.


4. If you were a young soldier, in which would you rather live? Why?

Athens was based on education and not the military while Spartans' lives were completely focused on the military instead. I would rather live in Sparta. Even though boys were separated from their families at age seven, if I was a soldier, Sparta would be better. Boys were trained in harsh but effective ways. The Spartan's army was amazing and strong.


5. If you were a very wealthy person of the citizen class, in which would you rather live? Why?

Athens in my opinion is the better place a wealthy person could live. More money means a better education and larger properties. Wealthier people could go to academies where they could study things like ethics and philosophy. Education is very important to me and can help you throughout your entire life.


6. Athens vs Sparta?

Being a girl, I would rather live in Sparta. Women's lives were so much better there. They were equal to men's. If I were a boy, I would have chosen Athens. I like how Athens really values education. They should have believed in equality for both genders like the Spartans. Girls are just as important as men!