Political rights of women in Sparta

When comparing power levels and women’s rights, Sparta was a leader in its time. Sparta, known for its’ militaristic ways, was an oligarchy.  Sparta’s oligarchy was ruled by a counsel of 5 men, one being a lawmaker or giver.  The lawgiver’s name was Lycurgus.  Lycurgus was known for his warden-like ways in the training of men for war, but also for his equivalence in the rights of Spartan women. Sparta was comprised of three groups of people: citizens, the only ones with political power; perioikoi, free but without any political rights; and helots, serfs owned by the state and compelled to do all of the agricultural work and give half of the produce to their citizen overlords. Women could own property---and did in fact own more than a third of the land in Sparta---and they could dispose of it as they wished. 


works cited: http://www.womenintheancientworld.com/spartanwomen.htm









After reading the political rights of Spartan and Athenian women, what are the major differences between the political rights of the women in each Greek city?