Praxis II Citizenship

Answer: D - Athenian women rarely left home, were not considered citizens, could not vote and received no formal education; Spartan women were formally educated in reading and writing, could participate in sports, had some limited engagement in society, and could be citizens as well as property owners. Though Athens is remembered as the “birthplace of democracy,” it was less democratic (according to the modern interpretation of democracy) when it came to enfranchising its residents. Answer (A) is incorrect because only citizens could vote in Athens and only free men were considered citizens. Answer (B) is incorrect because there is no evidence that slaves in Athens or Sparta could be killed indiscriminately by their owners without recourse. That said, demonstrating “just cause” for killing slaves may not have been difficult. Answer (C) is incorrect because Athens was part of the Delian League (though they did tax their Delian allies), while Sparta was part of the Peloponnesian League. Sparta had a good navy, but they were renowned for their army, which was the most fearsome army in the classical world.