Athens

No other city has contributed more to mankind than Athens. It is where Socrates, Plato, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and many others were born. It is also the place where democracy was born. The original name for Athens was Akte or Aktike after the first Athenian king Aestos. It's second name was Kekropia after the king Kekrops, who also succeeded Aestos by marrying his daughter. The revolt of the Ionic cities was caused by the tyrant Miletos, Aristagoras, who also tried to capture the island of Naxos with the help of Artafernes. When the expedition finally failed, Aristagoras in order to avoid punishment for his promises not kept from Miletos, he initiated the revolt to the unhappy Ionic cities.

Sparta

Sparta was originally founded during the Mycenaean War. Dorian Spartans crossed the mountains of Taygetus and took over the Messenia territory. Messenians revolted around 650 B.C. This revolt almost defeated the Spartans, but the Spartans managed to hold out and maintain their rule over Messenia. Unlike Athens, Sparta was a military oligarchy, monarchy, democracy, and timocracy all in one. Originally founded with aristocratic interest, Sparta was able to keep it's lineage of kings throughout it's existence.