, citizens held the highest rank, and males were privileged with voting rights while women holding citizenship were still regarded as minors. The non-Athenians, or metics, worked as merchants or artisans. Though they paid the same taxes as citizens, metics could never own land or participate in government. Lastly came the slaves who were a necessity to Athens and dependent on their master. Though owning no property and sharing no privileges with the citizens, the law protected the slaves from being treated brutally. The Spartans of highest stature were the citizens, descending from the Dorian invaders. Secondly were the neighbors who worked in commerce and industry. The helots served as slaves and were sometimes killed when caught defying the government.Quite possibly one of the greatest differences between the Athenian and the Spartans regarded their attitude towards women. When applied to the nations as a whole, woman defined the ancient city-states of Athens and Sparta. Both their roles in society and their relationship with the community played a major role in the development and effectiveness of each states government and culture. At infancy, girls and boys alike were evaluated by the Spartan government. Spartan girls who survived infancy received a public education. The education was physical, not academic. They were trained in gymnastics and taught patriotism to Sparta. They were not trained militarily; the emphasis in their upbringing was on preparing them for their important role as wives and mothers of male warriors. At twenty, Spartan women married, and they were encouraged to bear as many children as possible. Aristotle tells us that, desiring to make the Spartans as numerous as possible, Lycurgus offered incentives for couples producing children. Unlike the rest of Greek women, Spartan women had the freedom of equality except for voting rights. They did little housework or sewing. Such tasks were for th...
