Athens and Sparta were the two strongest city-states in ancient Greece. This essay will compare and contrast everything from Athenian duties for the polis to the harsh treatment of Spartan children. The next paragraph will compare a brainy Athenian education to a Spartan military and war education.

There is a big difference in education. In Athens they went to school from 8-18, but in Sparta they went from 7-30 with nothing but one cloak a year. In both poli only boys go to school, although, girls do get a basic education at home. Athenian students learned writing, science, reading, math, gymnastics, sports poetry, art, architecture and philosophy. A Spartan student learned survival skills, warfare, choral dance, reading, writing and athletics.

In both city-states, military was part of the education. Athenians attended military school from 18-20 whereas Spartans trained from age 7-30 with most of the time spent on...