Greece: mountains, seas and city-states; Athens and Sparta

Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   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.

2. 1.

   Where was Sparta, Ari asks?

   • In an inland river valley in Laconia
   • In Attica, near the sea
   • At the port of Piraeus
   • On the island of Crete
3. 2.

   Which city-state had a port on the sea, Esme asks?

   • Neither had ports
   • Athens, with the port of Piraeus
   • Sparta, on the Eurotas
   • Both had ports
4. 3.

   Rule by one person, such as a king, is called what, Jun asks?

   • Democracy
   • Monarchy
   • Oligarchy
   • Geography
5. 4.

   Rule by a few people is called what, Kira asks?

   • Peninsula
   • Democracy
   • Monarchy
   • Oligarchy
6. 5.

   Choosing by lot means drawing names at random. Why might Athens choose its Council this way, Milo asks?

   • It gives many people a chance to serve
   • It lets the richest choose
   • It keeps the same few people in power forever
   • It lets the kings decide
7. 6.

   Sparta's elders served for life; Athens's Council served for one year. What is one difference, Noah asks?

   • Sparta changed its elders once a year, like Athens
   • Both served for life
   • Athens changed its Council each year
   • Both served for one day
8. 7.

   Scholars disagree about how power was shared in Sparta. What should Pia write?

   • How power was shared is debated
   • The elders had the say in each matter
   • The kings had the say in each matter
   • Sparta had no councils
9. 8.

   Athens had a port and goods came and went by sea. What work would that bring, Ren asks?

   • Mining in Laconia
   • Nothing, since ports bring no work
   • Trade and shipping
   • Farming in the Eurotas valley
10. 9.

    Sparta lay in an inland river valley. What would that valley be good for, Tala asks?

    • Nothing useful
    • Farming
    • Fishing far out at sea
    • Sea trade from its harbor
11. 10.

    How might geography make Athens and Sparta different, Zee asks?

    • Both were on islands
    • Sparta had the port
    • They had the same land
    • Athens faced the sea; Sparta was inland