C Curriculum Explorer
History·Ancient Greece & Rome·conceptual

Athens Versus Sparta

Compare Athens and Sparta as two very different Greek city-states: Athens focused on learning, arts, debate, and democracy, while Sparta focused on military training, discipline, and obedience — and understand that a city-state was a city that ruled itself like a small country

Suggested ages 7–9

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Evidence of understanding

  • Name at least two differences between life in Athens and life in Sparta
  • Explain what a city-state was and why Greek city-states were independent from each other
  • Describe what was valued most in Athens (learning, arts) versus Sparta (military strength)

Assessment prompt

If you asked Athens Versus Sparta about Athens and Sparta, could they tell you that Athens was famous for thinking and democracy while Sparta was famous for its fierce warriors?

Standards alignment

No external standards are linked to this topic.