Two of the most powerful and rivalry city-states in Ancient Greece were Athens and Sparta. Athens was a city of immense culture and contributed largely to the arts, whilst Sparta was a military power whose primary purpose was to rule all of Greece. The two represented an opposing cultural mentality and socio-cultural system, which was therefore reflected in the way each of them approached physical education.

Sparta had a strong, militaristic and centralized government that produced able-bodied fighting men ready to devote their fill time and effort to the military and political service of his state. The aim of physical education in Sparta was to train a military caste of tough, hardy, fearless men who could defeat all external foes. In educating man, the Athenians however were dedicated to balance and harmony and consequently in Athenian physical education, both body and mind were developed. Gymnasiums in Athens gradually...