Essay On Spartan Life

The Life of a Spartan

Spartans were a people of war who thrived on fighting, so naturally physical might was a much needed and wanted attribute. The children who were strong excelled to high levels in society while the weak either became farmers or scholars. The deformed or mentally handicapped were either shunned or exterminated. When a boy reached manhood, he would undergo a series of tests that involved surviving on his own and not returning to his home until he had brought home a trophy (usually an animal hide or etc.) that proved his worth as a warrior. At the age of seven, Spartan boys were taken from their mothers to military barracks for twenty-three years and were taught skills such as athleticism, discipline, hunting, survival, weapons training, and how to endure pain. At the age of twenty, Spartans became

soldiers for the state.

Spartan soldiers lived and trained with their fellow soldiers almost all their lives. Soldiers were allowed to marry, but could not live with their wives, at least not until they became an equal (soldiers that reached thirty years of age). A Spartan if discharged dishonorably would lose his eligibility to become an equal. The minimum number of years a Spartan had to serve in the military was sixty, after that he could retire if he chose. Sparta was the most liberal of all ancient culture. Although women didn’t serve in the military, they were educated along the same lines as the males. Sparta was the only nation in Greece to take women’s education seriously. Women were taught academics as well as gymnastic and strength training. Spartan women also had unusual amounts of domestic freedom because their husbands

usually didn’t live at home.
Spartan Government
Spartan society was made up of three groups, Spartiate, a full-blooded Spartan who could trace his lineage all the way back to the original inhabitants of the city. These groups of people got full political freedom and rights of the state and were required to enlist in the military. The second group was the Peirioci, a people who were dwellers in the area. They would usually conduct trade and fulfill economic pursuits for the city. The third and final group was the Helots. These people were the farmers and peasants of the society. Sparta had no slave labor. Sparta is credited with having the most efficient and stable government in the history of Greece. At the top of the government was the monarchy; the monarchy was however a dual monarchy made up of two kings and twenty-eight nobles who were retired from the military. The council would debate and set legislative and foreign policy, they also acted as the supreme criminal court. Below the council was the democracy of Spartiate males that would vote and select members and also veto laws or proposals. At the top however, was a group of five men called the Ephorate. In all honesty, the Ephorate was the government. They ran the education system, the military, and could decline or veto anything that came out of the council. They even had the power to dethrone the king, although they would need great divine reason to do so. So to put it simply, Spartan government was democratic, timocratic (a government where honor and ethics determine everything) monarchial, and oligarchy.

Spartan Dress and Battle Tactics
The Spartan military wore heavy bronze armor everywhere rain or shine; this was used as a strengthening tactic for the soldiers. The bronze in the armor was the hardest of its age, and harder still than many you can find in modern times. Spartans designed the first actual model of close-toed shoes, they would wear these shoes in battle and during training. The shoe was made out of hardened leather with metal tips on the sole for traction on the dirt and soil. The Spartan helmet was the second most important (and symbolic) thing next to the armor. The original Spartan helmet covered the entire head but also restricted some sight and hearing which was needed on the battlefield, so the Spartans ditched that model for the more symbolic helmet we know them by today. The new model of helmet was shaped to allow more head movement and had openings for the ears with bigger eye holes added as well. The new model was also lighter in weight, which gave a great advantage to the soldiers using them. The Spartan shield was made out of a nearly indestructible metal that was also lightweight. The shield and spear were a major part of the Spartan battle plan, they would gather together in a group and defend each other on all sides while impaling outside enemies with their spears. Now of the spear happened to break, the Spartans were also equipped with a sword that was about fifteen inches long and an inch thick. Spartans would then proceed to ruthlessly attack their enemies even sometimes until death, Spartans believed death in battle was the greatest honor one could achieve in their life for their families and their country. To wrap things up, Sparta was one of the most advanced societies of ancient times, their beliefs in government, honor, and devotion to their nation have carried on in cultures today. The battle tactics of Sparta were revolutionary for the time and are used by militaries worldwide even today. The Spartans were a pinnacle of comaraderie and advancement, a true marvel for their time, their legacy shall live on as long as history chooses to remember them. We wouldn’t have been able to do much without them.