In our study of ancient Greece, specifically the city-states of Athens and Sparta, we learned about the political, economic and cultural systems developed and used by the Greeks from approximately 700 B.C.E. to approximately 400 B.C.E.. Both city-states proved the statement "A popular government is one that promotes peace and prosperity" to be true to an extent; however, I believe that Athens' political (direct democracy), economic (export of olives and grapes) and cultural (art and freedom based) systems caused the polis (city-state) to prove it more than Sparta.

In 508 B.C.E., Cleisthenes came into power and changed Athens' political system to a direct democracy. As a result, Athens allowed all citizens (males, 18 years and older, born of citizen parents), regardless of wealth and nobility, to vote on, propose, and pass laws. This meant that the common people of Athens could become better off than those...