Final answer:
Greek city-states were self-governed, distinct political entities that shared common Hellenic cultural elements. However, they were fundamentally different in their political systems, with Sparta being an oligarchy and Athens a democracy. Furthermore, Sparta focused primarily on military dominance, while Athens promoted a more balanced societal structure with contributions to politics, art, and philosophy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two similarities among Greek city-states, such as Athens and Sparta, are: first, they were all independent entities with their own respective political systems, or polis, developing the definitive characteristic of self-governance during the Archaic period. Second, due to their geographical proximity, they shared the overarching Hellenic culture, exhibited through the prevalence of the Greek script, the popularization of Homer's epic poems, and the origination of the Olympic Games.
Contrarily, two major differences that distinguished these city-states were: firstly, the type and degree of political participation. Sparta was characterized as an oligarchy, where governance was in the hands of a select, elite class of soldier-citizens, while Athens developed into a democracy, where all adult male citizens, including both the rich and the poor, were allowed to participate in the decision-making process. Secondly, their societal focus and structure were diverse. Sparta was primarily a military state, with its citizens, the Spartiates, engaged in ongoing warfare and subjugation of neighboring regions. Conversely, Athens, being much larger, grew into a dynamic democratic state that fostered cultural and intellectual progress with citizens actively engaged in various fields such as politics, art, and philosophy.
Learn more about Greek City-States