Ancient Greece was divided in city-states, and two of the most important ones were Athens and Sparta. However, these two city-states differed significantly from each other.
Sparta was significantly more concerned with war, and people lived a more simple lifestyle. Young boys were all trained to be soldiers, and the life of the community revolved around these concerns. Their values reflected this, making values such as bravery and obedience very important.
Athens, on the other hand, was more focused on culture and learning. The arts and sciences flourished in this city, and service in the army was optional.
The government of both cities was an Assembly that was elected democratically. However, Sparta also had kings who were not elected, making Athens more democratic. Moreover, Athens was generally more concerned with conquering other lands and spreading its culture all over Greece. These two factors meant that Athens had a much more important and lasting effect on Greece.