Final answer:
Athens and Sparta developed different political systems with Athens embracing democracy and Sparta adopting an oligarchy. Their political evolution was influenced by their geographic isolation as well as their distinct cultural values and priorities. These systems laid the groundwork for future Western political theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ancient city-states of Athens and Sparta developed different political systems largely because of the distinct paths they took during the Archaic period. Athens evolved into a democratic state where all adult male citizens had the right to participate in governance, although in practice this democracy was limited as it excluded women, slaves, and non-citizens from political involvement. In contrast, Sparta followed an oligarchic system ruled by a small elite of soldier-citizens. The unique political, economic, and social systems that developed in Athens and Sparta were significantly influenced by their geographic isolation due to the mountainous topography as well as the culture and values that each polis cultivated.
Greek political systems ranged from monarchies and oligarchies to broader democracies. These different forms of government reflected the variety of conditions and preferences within the Greek world. Cultural innovations, like the Olympic Games and epic poems, arose during this period of self-government in the city-states. This variety in governance also affected their alliances and hostilities during the Classical period, marked by increased creativity and a backdrop of conflict, as seen in the conflicts like the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The developments in Greek political thought laid the foundation for Western civilization's understanding of governance and statecraft.