Final answer:
Ancient Sparta offered its citizens a militaristic and austere education system known as the agoge, focusing on creating disciplined and formidable warriors, while its society functioned as an oligarchy with citizens serving in the government and military until the age of sixty.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question regarding the kinds of education offered to citizens in ancient Sparta encompasses social, political, and militaristic aspects. Central to the Spartan education was the agoge, a rigorous program that began when boys were about seven years old. Separated from their families, these boys underwent intense military training and social conditioning.
The Spartan society itself was an oligarchy with a distinct elite class of warriors participating in government. At the age of thirty, Spartan men could take on more significant roles within the government and military service, which they served until the age of sixty. However, the intense focus on military prowess meant that Spartans did not engage in trade or agriculture themselves; these tasks were left to non-citizen commoners and subjugated populations known as helots.
Comparatively, Athens provided a stark contrast with its celebration of arts, music, and drama, and its groundbreaking experimentation with democracy. The polarity between these city-states highlights the diversity of educational, social, and political systems in ancient Greece.