The Greek city-states were considered one of the most advanced and knowledgeable places in the ancient world. Out of all the city states Athens and Sparta were the strongest and most successful. They both had their high points and their low ones. However, Athens and Sparta are both remembered mostly for their strength and knowledge.
Athens was a very prosperous city-state. They were located right on the sea, which helped them to become excellent sea traders. They also had a superior Navy to help defend their society. Athens believed that the individual had more value than a group together. This encouraged the city-state to be a "thinking" society. Many of the famous Greek philosophers lived in Athens and were rather successful there. The government was under that of a limited democracy, where large groups of men told their opinions in the law. Although the Athenians were more worried about knowledge the community did stress physical fitness for men. Mostly, men trained their bodies to get ready for the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games were strictly for men but many women still went to encourage and cheer on their husbands. Education was the biggest thing in this city-state. Again, only for men, education was stressed beyond anything else. Athens was considered the greatest city-state of all Greece.
Sparta, unlike Athens, was a bellicose society. At young ages the Spartan boys were taught intense military techniques. This community's motto was "don't get caught." Children could steal as long as they weren't captured. It was issues like these, which made Sparta such a strong city-state. The Spartan army was the strongest in all of Greece. Their government was based on an Oligarchy and the ruling was rather strict. The main focus of this society was strength and endurance, even for women. Women were taught games to keep them fit and they were taught trades of the household so they would produce strong babies that could be used on the military.