Compare and contrast Athens as a democratic polis and Sparta as a military polis. As part of your answer, be sure to address the following: 1. The Greek understanding of the polis as the “political community” (ie. humans are at their best when living together in the polis) 2. Compare and contrast in outline the distinctive political histories and constitutions of these two cities (In what ways are they similar? In what ways different? How does the Spartan polis define civic virtue or “excellence”? How does the Athenian state define virtue or “excellence”?)