Athens was a democracy, while Sparta was an oligarchy. In a democracy, all citizens have a say in how the government is run. In an oligarchy, only a small group of powerful people have a say in how the government is run.
There are several reasons why Athens and Sparta developed different political systems.
* Geography: Athens was located on a plain, while Sparta was located in a mountainous region. This difference in geography led to different ways of life for the people of Athens and Sparta. The Athenians were farmers and traders, while the Spartans were warriors.
* Social structure: Athens was a more socially diverse city than Sparta. There were a variety of social classes in Athens, including nobles, farmers, merchants, and slaves. In Sparta, there were only two social classes: citizens and slaves.
* Culture: The Athenians were known for their love of learning and the arts. They were also very interested in politics and public affairs. The Spartans, on the other hand, were known for their military prowess and their strict discipline.
These are just some of the reasons why Athens and Sparta developed different political systems. The differences between these two city-states had a profound impact on the history of ancient Greece.