Question

athenian empire - seminar discussion questions 6. in what way does pericles believe that athens is different from, and better than, its spartan enemies? do you agree with him? why or why not?

Explanation:

Pericles viewed Athens as different and better than Sparta in several ways. Athens was a democracy where citizens (male, free, native - born) had a say in governance, with a focus on arts, philosophy, and intellectual pursuits. Sparta was an oligarchy with a militaristic society, where the state prioritized military training and discipline from a young age.

Regarding agreement, one could agree with Pericles if they value democratic governance, cultural and intellectual growth. Athens' democracy allowed for a flourishing of ideas, architecture (like the Parthenon), and literature. However, one might disagree as Sparta's system was effective for military strength and stability, and Athens' democracy was exclusive (excluding women, slaves, and foreigners), while Sparta, though harsh, had a more inclusive military - based citizenship for its male population in terms of service. Also, Athens' focus on democracy sometimes led to political instability (e.g., the Peloponnesian War was partly due to Athenian imperialistic democracy - driven decisions), while Sparta's oligarchy provided more stability in terms of governance structure.

Answer:

Pericles believed Athens was different and better than Sparta as Athens was a democracy with a focus on arts, philosophy, and citizen participation in governance, while Sparta was a militaristic oligarchy. Whether one agrees depends on values: agreement may stem from valuing democracy and cultural growth, disagreement from recognizing Sparta's military effectiveness and Athens' democratic exclusivity/instability.