1
00:00:11,134 --> 00:00:19,506
Laurie walked into Grandpa's study wearing a necklace and a long dress pinned at the shoulders.

2
00:00:19,507 --> 00:00:21,822
Her hair was gathered into a net.

3
00:00:21,823 --> 00:00:25,899
"How do I look, Grandpa? Can you guess what I am for Halloween?"

4
00:00:25,900 --> 00:00:30,800
"A woman from ancient Greece of course!" Grandpa said, smiling.

5
00:00:30,801 --> 00:00:35,004
"And which city-state, may I ask, are you from?"

6
00:00:35,005 --> 00:00:38,283
Laurie frowned. "I hadn't really thought about it.

7
00:00:38,284 --> 00:00:45,387
Sparta? Athens?" she answered, naming the only two old Greek cities she knew.

8
00:00:45,388 --> 00:00:52,269
"Those are two very different cities. They were also enemies for many years.

9
00:00:52,270 --> 00:00:57,953
Maybe I should tell you about them so you can decide which one you'd rather live in.

10
00:00:57,954 --> 00:01:03,160
The Spartans were known for being serious, disciplined warriors.

11
00:01:03,161 --> 00:01:08,237
Every man joined the army and spent most of his life in the military.

12
00:01:08,238 --> 00:01:15,891
Training began at age seven, when boys were taken from their families and sent to live in military camps.

13
00:01:15,892 --> 00:01:23,893
They practiced sports for hours each day because having a weak body was considered dishonorable among Spartans.

14
00:01:23,894 --> 00:01:28,590
They were taught to live with only the barest necessities.

15
00:01:28,591 --> 00:01:37,448
Sometimes they were even starved on purpose so they would learn to fearlessly steal or kill their own food for survival.

16
00:01:37,449 --> 00:01:45,753
They were also served a black soup made of pork stewed in pigs' blood, vinegar, and salt to make them strong.

17
00:01:45,754 --> 00:01:52,135
Besides undergoing physical training, they had to learn how to become brave warriors.

18
00:01:52,136 --> 00:01:58,725
A good Spartan warrior could never cry out in pain or surrender easily.

19
00:01:58,726 --> 00:02:03,402
Even the Spartan women were expected to be strong and fearless.

20
00:02:03,403 --> 00:02:14,368
Unlike women in most other Greek cities, women of Sparta spent lots of time outdoors, exercising: they ran, did gymnastics, and danced.

21
00:02:14,369 --> 00:02:24,221
Part of a woman's duty was to provide her husband with a physically fit—preferably male—child who would become a strong warrior.

22
00:02:24,222 --> 00:02:31,483
In order to give birth to a healthy child, it was thought the mother must be fit and healthy too.

23
00:02:31,484 --> 00:02:37,092
Girls also received good educations and were allowed to own property as adults!

24
00:02:37,093 --> 00:02:42,648
This really shocked Greeks from other cities, where women weren't allowed such things.

25
00:02:42,649 --> 00:02:49,128
Spartan men and women were able to devote their lives to building a powerful Spartan military

26
00:02:49,129 --> 00:02:53,632
because all their farming and other labor was done by slaves.

27
00:02:53,633 --> 00:02:58,590
In fact, most of Sparta's economy ran on slave labor.

28
00:02:58,591 --> 00:03:03,289
But just because they had slaves doesn't mean Spartans were extravagant.

29
00:03:03,290 --> 00:03:06,780
They were expected to scorn wealth and luxury.

30
00:03:06,781 --> 00:03:13,077
They didn't have parties and, besides religious rites, had very few celebrations.

31
00:03:13,078 --> 00:03:16,323
They didn't wear jewelry or make much art.

32
00:03:16,324 --> 00:03:22,905
Today the word 'spartan' can describe someone who is courageous and self-disciplined,

33
00:03:22,906 --> 00:03:28,241
but also something that is extremely simple and not at all luxurious.

34
00:03:28,242 --> 00:03:32,645
What do you say, Laurie, could you be a Spartan?"

35
00:03:32,646 --> 00:03:39,021
"Hmm . . . I could play sports, learn stuff, and eventually own my own house.

36
00:03:39,022 --> 00:03:45,458
That doesn't sound so bad, but I want to hear about Athens before I decide," Laurie said.

37
00:03:45,459 --> 00:03:51,695
"You got it. Athenians enjoyed a lifestyle very different from the Spartans.

38
00:03:51,696 --> 00:03:58,425
Women's main duties were to raise children, take care of the household, and weave wool.

39
00:03:58,426 --> 00:04:04,566
If you were an Athenian, you probably would have made that beautiful dress of yours at home.

40
00:04:04,567 --> 00:04:10,244
Now taking care of the household could mean different things depending on how rich you were.

41
00:04:10,245 --> 00:04:17,480
If you were well-off, you probably had many slaves who would clean, watch the children, and bake bread.

42
00:04:17,481 --> 00:04:22,216
If you weren't, well, you might be doing all that work yourself.

43
00:04:22,217 --> 00:04:29,162
Although boys began school around age seven, Athenian girls didn't get to go to school.

44
00:04:29,163 --> 00:04:35,917
Around age 13 or so, they got married and began their lives as wives and mothers.

45
00:04:35,918 --> 00:04:39,418
But Athens was a truly incredible city.

46
00:04:39,419 --> 00:04:48,755
It is often called the birthplace of democracy because it was the first city to test out democracy, or government run by citizens.

47
00:04:48,756 --> 00:04:58,075
Athenians held city meetings at which all citizens—meaning Greek men who were born in the city—could share their opinions.

48
00:04:58,076 --> 00:05:06,255
Then citizens were allowed to vote. Sometimes they decided big issues, such as whether the city should go to war.

49
00:05:06,256 --> 00:05:12,177
Their style of government developed into the democracy we know today.

50
00:05:12,178 --> 00:05:21,536
Athens was also home to the famous Acropolis, an immense complex of temples, theaters, and other impressive buildings.

51
00:05:21,537 --> 00:05:26,909
The temples were dedicated to the worship of the Greeks' many gods and goddesses,

52
00:05:26,910 --> 00:05:31,747
whom the Athenians respected, feared, and often celebrated.

53
00:05:31,748 --> 00:05:36,186
Athenians were not spartan like the Spartans.

54
00:05:36,187 --> 00:05:43,469
They enjoyed sculpture, music, theater, poetry, and philosophy.

55
00:05:43,470 --> 00:05:47,677
Maybe you've heard of the great thinkers Socrates and Aristotle?

56
00:05:47,678 --> 00:05:57,897
They were both from Athens. Athenian citizens were deep thinkers, but they also liked wine, feasts, and celebrations!

57
00:05:57,898 --> 00:06:07,528
Grooming was also an important part of life; both men and women took hot baths and rubbed themselves with olive oil.

58
00:06:07,529 --> 00:06:11,183
Women owned lots of makeup and perfume.

59
00:06:11,184 --> 00:06:18,461
Athenians wore beautiful gold jewelry, a lot of which can be seen in museums today.

60
00:06:18,462 --> 00:06:27,940
Sparta and Athens had very different ideas about how people should live and govern themselves, but each grew to be a strong city.

61
00:06:27,941 --> 00:06:39,402
Eventually they clashed. Both wanted to rule the other Greek city-states, and in 431 BC, they fought in the Peloponnesian War.

62
00:06:39,403 --> 00:06:47,912
After nearly thirty years of battle, the Spartans were victorious and the good times in Athens ended.

63
00:06:47,913 --> 00:06:51,155
So what do you think, my little Grecian?

64
00:06:51,156 --> 00:06:58,303
Which ancient city would you like to live in—Sparta or Athens?" Grandpa asked.

65
00:06:58,304 --> 00:07:07,058
Laurie considered her options. "Being a Spartan would mean I'd live a simple—and maybe harsh—life, but get to run around a lot.

66
00:07:07,059 --> 00:07:15,607
Being an Athenian would mean I'd witness the birth and development of democracy, but I wouldn't get to participate because I'm a girl.

67
00:07:15,608 --> 00:07:25,147
Sparta it is!" Laurie cried, snatching off her necklace and raising a fist in the air. She marched out of the study.

68
00:07:25,148 --> 00:07:28,946
"Lace up your sneakers, Mom," she called.

69
00:07:28,947 --> 00:07:37,738
"We're jogging to the Halloween parade—in true Spartan style!"