Athenians eventually abolished slavery and developed a direct democracy where citizens chose the members of the powerful Assembly. Divide the class into groups and present each group with one of the following quotations. Then explain to students that the first extract is taken from a speech Adolph Hitler made in 1926, and the second is taken from our Declaration of Independence. All development is struggle. Only force rules.
Force is the first law. . . .
Only through struggle have states and the world become great. Instead of everlasting struggle, the world preaches cowardly pacifism, and everlasting peace. These three things, considered in the light of their ultimate consequences, are the causes of the downfall of all humanity. Next, share the Comparing Sparta and Athens handout with your students. Now ask students to use what they've learned about the two civilizations and imagine what their lives would be like if they lived in Athens and Sparta.