Culture and Technology in Athens and Sparta

Culture and Technology in Athens and Sparta

The culture of a society, as determined by its political, social and religious structure, is a major factor in the development of its technology. Even societies that exist in the same time and environment can progress in different directions, depending on the interests and goals of the public. The ancient city-states or poleis (polis-sing.) of Athens and Sparta provide an excellent example of how cultural differences influence the development of technologies.

Athens and Sparta were the main rival poleis in Ancient Greece around 4th century BC. Besides the fact that they were both called polis, the two cities had very little in common. Athens controlled the whole Attic region and could be defined as a perfect democracy. Its citizens were free to express themselves in public, the government was a representative body for the whole society, and justice was the highest measure. Sparta was a strict military polis, with two kings and officials selected by wealth and good breeding. Its political system was defined as oligarchy and all aspects of the social life were aimed at improving the armed force of the state.

One of the most prominent features of the Greek polis was the city wall. Athens was built on a hill, the Acropolis, and hosted the palaces of the most prominent Greek Gods. A system of massive walls protected the Acropolis, the entire city, and eventually reached out to its ports (Chant, p. 77). Since Athens was a major trade center, the construction of these walls provided both basic military defense and safe access to sea. Even though Sparta boasted with the best military system in Ancient Greece, the polis was not enclosed by a wall. One reason for that is that the cit...

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... Athens and Sparta progressed in different directions due to the discrepancy in the political and religious organizations of the two poleis. Technology develops in order to meet the needs and to fit the customs of a society. The laws and morals in a democratic state such as Athens were very different from those existing in a oligarchic state of Sparta and this divergence had a direct impact on the advance of technology.

References:

Chant, Colin. Pre-industrial Cities and Technology. Routledge Press. 1999.

Pomeroy, S., Burstein, S., Donlan, W., and J. Roberts. Ancient Greece. A Political, Social, and Cultural History. New York: Oxford University Press. 1999.

Powell, Anton. Athens and Sparta- Constructing Greek Political and Social History from 478 BC. New York: Routledge Press. 2001.

Todd, S.C. Athens and Sparta. London: Bristol Classical Press. 1996.