How did the Spartan military differ from the Athenian military?

The Differences Between Spartan and Athenian Military

Spartan women attended military school. In Spartan society, women were encouraged to participate in physical activities and were trained in combat skills alongside men. This was very different from Athenian society where women had limited rights and were not involved in military training.

Spartan military forces were small and untrained. The Spartan military was known for its elite and highly disciplined soldiers, who were trained from a very young age. In contrast, the Athenian military consisted of a large citizen army that was not as rigorously trained as the Spartans.

Spartan citizens had control over the military. In Sparta, the military was controlled by the citizens who held political power in the city-state. This gave the citizens a strong influence over military decisions and strategies. On the other hand, the Athenian military was controlled by a group of strategoi, or generals, who were elected annually.

Spartan men received intense military training. Spartan boys were taken from their families at the age of 7 and put through a rigorous military training program known as the Agoge. This training included physical fitness, combat skills, and endurance tests to create the ultimate warrior. Athenian men, on the other hand, received military training but it was not as intense or focused as the Spartans.