Democracy in Ancient Athens

Label the map first, then complete the Athens and Sparta chart with the reading open beside it. Students can then discuss how direct democracy compares with the representative democracy described in the box on the Athens sheet.

Explain ostracism and jurors chosen by lot, then compare direct and representative democracy. The directions on the page read: Read the text and the box about two kinds of democracy. Then answer the questions on page 2. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 6th Grade Ancient History, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with Ancient Greece. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.

Steep mountains made travel over land slow and hard and cut valleys off from one another, so each area formed its own city-state. The sea was never far away, and Greeks became skilled sailors who fished and traded olive oil and wine for grain.

Athens was a democracy that valued art, learning and public debate, and it built a strong navy. Sparta was ruled by two kings and a council of elders and valued discipline, strength and loyalty. Students chart government, education, women's roles, the army and values.

Only citizens could take part, and citizens were men over 18 whose parents were from Athens. Women, enslaved people and foreigners who lived in Athens could not vote, so only a small part of the people had a say.