Athens
I live in Athens. It is a walled city with lots of beautiful buildings. All our poets write about the buildings and the artists spend all day painting pictures of them. Even so, our wives are encouraged to stay at home and to send slaves to do the shopping.
We have no king and we can all vote on how the city is run, but the very wealthy people have more influence on what happens.
In the harbour, there are many great ships. Some belong to merchants for trading wine and olive oil, while the others are fighting ships to protect us from our enemies.

Sparta
I am a Spartan soldier, like all the other Spartan men. Only strong and healthy people live in Sparta, because any weak and feeble babies are left to die.
When we were 7 years old, all my friends and I left home to live at school. Our school taught us how to fight, running, jumping and throwing, and not to care about pain. All the girls learn sports at their school too.
I became a real soldier when I was 20 years old, but will not be able to live at home with my wife until I am 30.
All the farming and food producing is left to the slaves, but they don't grow anything exotic. We wouldn't buy anything from our neighbouring states either.
When I am 60, I will retire from the army and I might be voted onto the small council that helps our 2 Kings run the country.