Economic Issues o f Ancient Athens and Sparta

1. Economic Issuesof Ancient Athens and Sparta

2. Spartan Economy • Based on: • farming • Problem: not enough land to feed all its people • Solution: conquered their neighbors and took their land

3. Spartan Economy – Labor Issues • Problem: Spartan men were trained as warriors and had no time to farm • Solution: Used slaves and non-citizens Spartan warrior

4. Spartan Economy – Slaves • Slaves (called HELOTS) - turned conquered neighbors into their slaves -lived in their own villages but had to turn certain amount of food over to Sparta Helots preparing grain

5. Spartan Economy – Non-citizens • Non-citizens(called PERIOIKOI) – Free men, not slaves BUT could not serve in the government, were mostly artisans, made necessary items like cloth, iron tools, pottery Spartan art depicting the making of cloth

6. Spartan Economy - Trade • discouraged trade • feared a weakened government • didn’t use coins as money • used heavy iron bars as money • no other countries interested in iron bars as money Actual Spartan Money

7. Athenian Economy - • Based on: • Trade • Problem: • Had too little land for their food needs • Solution: • Created a strong trade system with their neighbors • A good harbor helped them

8. Athenian Economy - Trade • Trade partners: • Egypt – grain • Italy – wood • What they traded: • Honey • Olive Oil • Silver • Painted Pottery Athenian Pottery

9. Athenian Economy • The Agora • A huge marketplace • Athenians bought and sold goods here • Olive Oil • Slaves • Jewelry • Furniture • Wine • All types of food Athenian Agora

10. Athenian Economy - Money • Athens minted its own money: • coins- small, easy to travel with • Made of metal: • Silver • Gold • Bronze • Decorated with symbols Front side of coin Back side of coin