, a militaristic city state, was an oligarchy, while its rival was known for its democratic institutions

Sparta, a militaristic city state, was an oligarchy, while its rival Athens was known for its democratic institutions

Explanation:

Sparta was one of the most famous polis in ancient Greece, and the most powerful in the Peloponnese. Unlike most other polis, Sparta expanded on land, instead of expanding at sea, by establishing subsidiary cities. Sparta was a self-contained urban and military state famous for its harsh and one-sided military education and army. Its business was dominated by agriculture and animal husbandry. Sparta did not trade much, nor did it have a significant craft industry or a significant contribution to the development of Greek cultural life.

Athens, in turn, was an ancient city-state in the province of Attica in Greece. In Ancient Athens, democracy was formed, philosophy and the art of theater received classical forms. The Athenians ruled through their powerful fleet in a large number of Ionian colonies in the Aegean islands and the coasts of Asia Minor. Attica was also the metropolis of most Ionian colonies. The Athenians bordered on the north with the Boeotians and on the west with the Megarians, with whom they were often in conflict. Ancient Athens played a leading role in the Persian wars, led the alliance of Delos, as well as one of the two alliances that clashed during the Peloponnesian War.