Greece: mountains, seas and city-states; Athens and Sparta
Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet

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Athens and Sparta
City-state Where Government Notes Athens Attica, near the sea, with the port of Piraeus democracy: an Assembly that voted on decisions, and a Council of 500 chosen by lot for one year goods came and went by sea Sparta Laconia: villages in the inland valley of the Eurotas River, in the southeastern Peloponnese two kings, and a Council of Elders: the two kings plus 28 members aged at least 60, chosen for life scholars disagree about how power was shared among its councils Kinds of government: monarchy is rule by one person, such as a king; oligarchy is rule by a few; democracy is rule by the people.
Where was Sparta, Ari asks?
- In an inland river valley in Laconia
- On the island of Crete
- In Attica, near the sea
- At the port of Piraeus
Athens and Sparta
City-state Where Government Notes Athens Attica, near the sea, with the port of Piraeus ? goods came and went by sea Sparta Laconia: villages in the inland valley of the Eurotas River, in the southeastern Peloponnese two kings, and a Council of Elders: the two kings plus 28 members aged at least 60, chosen for life scholars disagree about how power was shared among its councils The cell marked ? is blank. Kinds of government: monarchy is rule by one person, such as a king; oligarchy is rule by a few; democracy is rule by the people.
Bo's chart has a blank: how was the Council of 500 in Athens chosen?
- Born into the job
- By the two kings and their families
- By lot, for one year
- For life, at age 60
Athens and Sparta
City-state Where Government Notes Athens Attica, near the sea, with the port of Piraeus democracy: an Assembly that voted on decisions, and a Council of 500 chosen by lot for one year goods came and went by sea Sparta Laconia: villages in the inland valley of the Eurotas River, in the southeastern Peloponnese two kings, and a Council of Elders: the two kings plus 28 members aged at least 60, chosen for life scholars disagree about how power was shared among its councils Kinds of government: monarchy is rule by one person, such as a king; oligarchy is rule by a few; democracy is rule by the people.
Which city-state had a port on the sea, Esme asks?
- Sparta, on the Eurotas
- Both had ports
- Athens, with the port of Piraeus
- Neither had ports
Rule by a few people is called what, Kira asks?
- Monarchy
- Peninsula
- Democracy
- Oligarchy
Sparta had two kings and a small Council of Elders. Which kinds of rule does that mix, Luz asks?
- Democracy alone
- Monarchy and oligarchy
- No government
- Rule by the sea
Choosing by lot means drawing names at random. Why might Athens choose its Council this way, Milo asks?
- It lets the kings decide
- It keeps the same few people in power forever
- It lets the richest choose
- It gives many people a chance to serve
Scholars disagree about how power was shared in Sparta. What should Pia write?
- The kings had the say in each matter
- How power was shared is debated
- The elders had the say in each matter
- Sparta had no councils
Athens had a port and goods came and went by sea. What work would that bring, Ren asks?
- Farming in the Eurotas valley
- Nothing, since ports bring no work
- Mining in Laconia
- Trade and shipping
Sparta lay in an inland river valley. What would that valley be good for, Tala asks?
- Farming
- Sea trade from its harbor
- Nothing useful
- Fishing far out at sea
How might geography make Athens and Sparta different, Zee asks?
- Sparta had the port
- They had the same land
- Athens faced the sea; Sparta was inland
- Both were on islands