Sparta

GOVERNMENT:

The Spartan political system was a mix of monarchy (ruled by a monarch), oligarchy (power given to a few), and democracy (governed by the people). There were two hereditary kingships, the Gerousia - a council of twenty-eight plus two people, the Ephorate - a group of five magistrates called ephors, and the assembly, which every Spartan citizen (Spartiate) over 18 could participate in.
The Spartan kings, one from each of the two royal families - the Agiads and Eurypontids, had military, religious and political functions. The kings were the leaders of the army, but after a dispute between the two kings in 508 BC, only one was allowed out with an army at any one time. They were also two of the members of the Gerousia, discussed below. As part of their religious functions, they were also the priests of Zeus Hellenios and Athena Hellenia.

ECONOMY:

Sparta was mainly an agricultural state because of its inland location. It would have exported agricultural products such as wine and olive oil. The most important imports were metals.
In Sparta men citizens were warriors. The other men were slaves. There were visitor men from surrounding states that did trading and commerce. A few of the men were aristocrats as there were usually two kings in Sparta. These positions were hereditary. The kings had the right to wage war against anyone they wished, but they had the responsibility to engage first and leave the battlefield last.
The helots performed the labor and the perioci traded that labor for funds and goods the citizens, who only performed military duty, needed.
Though Sparta was not on the coast, its coastal territories included several ports which did participate in international trade. Mainly it exported agricultural products such as wine and olive oil and imported lumber, metals, and wheat.

WAR FORCE:

The Spartan army was known far and wide for their fierceness, brutality, and efficiency in battle. This was partly due to their militarily-oriented society, but it was also due to a remarkable innovation in land warfare that made the Spartans nearly unstoppable on the ground.They all wore bronze body armor, helmets, bronze shin guards, and all carried shields. Their primary weapons were a short sword for close-quarter fighting, and the weapon that became the trademark of the phalanx, an 8-15 foot long spear.
The phalanx fought in formation in a highly organized and disciplined manner. Shields were worn on the left shoulder, and were long enough to cover the soldier's knees. As the hoplite soldiers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, the shields overlapped each other, forming a wall of shields and protecting each other.

Athens

GOVERNMENT:

Athens made the first democratic government in 510 B.C. However, not everyone in Athens could vote. No women, no slaves,no children, and no foreigners. Athens also had an empire at this time and none of those other people living in those city-states also can not vote. During the Archaic period the government favored rich men and women. Laws were made and were very severe toward the poor. For small crimes, such as stealing a cabbage, they could be sentenced to death. Solon, the famous statesman and lawgiver, son of Exekestides from Salamis, descendant from the family of Kodros and Neleid's, was born at Athens in 638 BC. His father was a merchant and Solon, who followed him in his profession, traveled in many countries. He was near forty, famous for his poetry and wisdom, when he took part in the civil life of Athens. There was also Pisistratus, who loaned farmers money and grants, and gave the poor citizens a greater voice. Cleisthenes created a council of 500. They were all men and over the age of 30.

ECONOMY:

Different Athenians were sailors, who made a living from going from port to port selling their catch. Traders also joined them in traveling port to port selling their merchandise. Other greeks were soldiers for their City-States. An economy in Athens was agriculture. After Greece began to lose population, they grew cattle instead of sheep. They later began to mint their own coins.

MILITARY WAR FORCE:

The Athenian lacked the skills that were needed to be warriors on land, but were great protecters and warriors out at sea. The Athenian trireme was a superfast galley that was different from anything else at that time. At the time, naval warfare had primarily consisted of attempting to either board an enemy's ship, or set it on fire. With the introduction of the trireme, however, a new tactic was added to naval combat-ramming opposing ships.
The trireme's special shape and construction allowed ot to do things that other ships at the time could not do. It's keel ran the length of the ship, as in most ships, but it also stuck out three meters in front, and was armored with bronze plates. This projection was the battering ram that became the ship's primary weapon