Sparta gov was a democracy

They also had 2 kings

One led the army the other was in charge of the city during times of war
They were elected to a 1 year term
Under the two kings was the Spartan council of elders 30 people in total, 28 plus the 2 kings
Council of elders were elcected for life, had to be over 60 to qualify
They would propose laws for the country
Under the Council was the Spartan asymbly, included all males over the age of 30. Or 7000 people
Board of Eforce voted on war. Decided what children lived or died, and whom married who
Athens
No written law during early days
Were goverened by council of Areopagus and over that were 9 archons who were the top gov
Archons served a 1 year term
Year 621BC Athens went through an agrarian crisis, couldnt grow enough food to feed citizens
turned the entire gov over to a single Archon his name was Draco
Gave authority to make laws
Draco wrote a law code was harsh but it benefited the society
Draconian=Harsh
Still an agrigarian crisis
Most farmers cant keep up with their debts
2 ways to pay a debt in old days. Pay it off, or become a slave until the debt is paid.
More than 50% of the city was enslaved
594BC new tyrant was elected named Solon
His plan part 1, universal amnesty for debts, people who enslaved themselves were now free
Part 2, change entire economy, grow something that is more valuable, no longer produce wheat and barley but now produce cash crops like olives for olive oil (lasted
for 6 months, easy to trade) grapes (for wine) and trade for other crops they need.
There was a short term flaw in this plan, they grow very slowly
Pisistratus came in to power after, needed to use military to calm the nation and keep the nation from revolting
Made it easy for people to move to Athens, or people with special skills
After 7 years these people would be able to vote in elections
After Pisistratus dies his son Hippias takes over
Hippias is brutal and oppressive, uses brute force to keep people from rebelling
Almost starts a civil war within Athens, the Aeropagus goes to Sparta ask them to invade and dethrone Hippias
Spartans take the city and 508BC Clistenes takes over Father of Democracy
They now also have their cash crops coming in now
He was only in charge for 1 year and then steps down
He creates the Deme, determines local voting by political war,
Creates a council if 500, 1 year term, they propose laws
Below that was the asymbly of all citizens, included all males
Most men would be on the council for 1 year in their life
Ostracism=too shun, have nothing to do with
Could vote to ostracize someone for 10 years, had one final chance to make a speech and defend your case, can only be ostracized once in their life. Could only return
during the ten years for a funeral
Major problem with this, there is very few checks and balances with this.
If things move to fast =Demagouge, someone who can sway a political vote for their own gain.
Conflicts The Persian War

Persia is modern day Iran they take over Mestopatamia Babylon Egypt Lidia
Cyrus the Great leader of Persians
They then conquer Ionia and take a break
The Ionians ask the Spartans for help and they say no, they say they are not a Navy but Athens does have 300 ships and they agree to send 20 ships
Cyrus the Great gets mad and sends a small military force to Atica, a man runs wounded and brings the news of the war to Athens that they had won then collapses and
dies, the city was called Marathon in 490BC
480BC Cyrus the great dies and is replaced by his son Xerxes who was very mad and vowed revenge
150-250k men were brought from the Persian. The Athenians panic and get the Spartans help
They decide their only advantage is knowledge, they send a small 300 Spartans to the north in the only passage (Thermopylae) that they can travel through. On one side
is the ocean the other side is steap cliffs 300ft high.
The battle lasted 3 days the Greeks lost due to someone betraying them. The Persians lost 18000 people
The battle of Thermopylae is only a stalling tactic
The ships are in the South unguared carrying food and weapons. The Athenians destroy the ships and the Persians have to walk home before they starve
The main battle is the battle of Salamis where the Persians lose half their ships
The Greeks continue to attack the Persians the entire way home and lose 70-90k men