In this essay, I am going to talk about the main features in the polis of Sparta during the archaic period (C800 - 470BC). I will discuss factors such as the importance education, social hierarchy, military status, religious practices, and the role of women. In Sparta, the education and training system of a new-born literally began at birth. With each new child, there was to be inspection of its fitness. The first test came from its mother, the child would be bathed in wine to test its constitution. (Holland, P.81). Following this, it would be taken to the Gerousia, the Spartan council of elders. If they saw in the child any obvious deformations, or signs of weakness in response to simple gestures, it would be deemed unfit and ordered to be discarded on Mount Taygetus, the "Apothetae" (deposits). (Holland, P81). The purpose of this was to keep the Spartan population strong and free of disease. Although they would have had no idea what eugenics were, this was in fact an early form of the activity. As a result, only the healthiest of children would be permitted to live and, effectively, continue in their training. From this point on, the Spartan education and training regime, known as the "Agoge", would play a major role in the upbringing of all male Spartans. (Holland, P84). Rigorous military training would begin for males at the age of seven. To begin with, there would be an emphasis on the importance of the Spartan state, over any self-interest or desires. This continued throughout the training and ensured loyaty to the state first and foremost. (R.L.F. P.71). The boys lived in communal messes and were deliberately underfed to encourage them to steal food. With what food they did have, the Black Broth, which was a so... ... middle of paper ... ...e a single arrow was fired, or a sword drawn. Such was the fear that they imposed upon their enemies, turning their blood to ice with the sight of their impenetrable wall of toughened soliders. (Holland, P76). In conclusion, I think it is clear to see that the unique approach to politics that the Spartan polis used in terms of structure had a significant influence at the time. Admired in their approach to raising respectful, sturdy citizens, they served as a model not just for the structure of a society but also for the development of one of the most important changes in the ancient world – professional soldiers. It could even be argued, I think, that the Spartan constitution was one of if not the first form of democracy, given the nature of the control over kings that the council of Elders had, who were themselves elected by members of the Spartiate population.
...litary end even the women in Sparta would have been affected by the military ways of life almost as much as the young men. From childhood they were being primed to raise a family, they were taught in the ways of mid wifery, learning the correct manner in teaching the future young men of Sparta and keeping themselves fit to produce fit children.
Prior, Plutarch accounts for the unequal social framework within Sparta, where tribal leaders owned vast domains of land, in great contrast to the average Spartiate. Furthermore, Hodgkinson suggests the success of social reform in Sparta stems from the redistribution of Messenian land and the Agoge; reinforcing the belief that dissent from this social order would threaten the established hierarchical status of the Spartiates.
The one thing we know for certain about Spartan society is that we don’t know much about it. Very few documents and artifacts about the Spartans have been discovered, but the ones that have tell us everything we know. Two of these works are Plutarch’s On Sparta and Xenophon’s Spartan Society. One of the main things these two accounts focused on was the Lycurgan reforms. Through their stories and writings Plutarch and Xenophon had both some similarities and differences when talking about the political, economic, militaristic, and social reforms. One of the main differences when comparing these two writings is how Plutarch gives a historical account of Spartan society and tries to keep objectivity
...ining until old age. Because they focused more on military training rather than education, these young boys knew of no other life than what was instilled though Lycurgus. Also, under his reforms, Lycurgus killed a lot of babies. Because he wanted to build a strong army and a strong nation, having weaklings was not part of his plan. As a result, Spartan's population was not as grand as what they made it seem.
Spartan culture is a great example of how a society’s infrastructure will directly affect both, its social structure and superstructure. It also serves as a warning that any society that becomes too rigid in its structure and too static in its values will not last long when confronted with more agile and adaptable cultures. This paper will explore why Sparta became the Hellenic army par excellence, how this worked to create a very specific social structure founded on martial values, and, finally, how that social structure would ultimately be the undoing of the culture.
One of the main reasons for the population problem in Sparta were the strict requirements related to military training for Spartan males. In order to qualify as a full Spartan citizen, a male had to obtain membership of the phiditia, also known as the military mess. To obtain the membership, men were selected through elections after they completed the
Archaeological evidence collected in ancient Laconia reveals great insight into the role and status of Spartan women until 371 BC. A compilation of written sources shows the unique treatment of women in Sparta compared with that of other ancient Greek societies. This treatment differs the economic, religious, marital, reproductive and social responsibilities from those of gender archetypes.
Young girls were taken to live with other young girls to learn physical training (Blundell). Spartan women were trained heavily in exercise such as wrestling, and gymnastics (Hodkinson). The objective of the training for Spartan women was slightly different than Spartan men. Women in Sparta were trained vigorously, because they believed the more physical the women were, the more likely they would bear stronger children that would become incredible warriors (Blundell). Just like the young men, girls were encouraged to be naked in physical competitions (Hodkinson). The idea of the men and women being able to be naked together, gave each of them the idea that they were equal, and needed each other to achieve
In their youth, Spartan women were allowed to train with Spartan warriors. This was done in the belief that their training would give them the power to bear warrior sons (Robert R. Edgar). In fact, women in Sparta formed a military background in their youth. They were also as strong
One of the greatest responsibilities a woman had in Classical Sparta was giving birth to the Spartan males. Through physical training when a young teen with the Spartan boys, the women needed to be healthy and strong to produce healthy children capable of going through the agoge training. “…By athleticism they made sure that their children would be up to the standard of physical fitness demanded by the Spartan system.” (H.Michell, Sparta). The Spartan mother would prepare the young Spartans prior to the agoge; she would have minimal interaction and supply minimal clothing and
Sparta's polis was the most extensive military land forces during the classical Greek. It is during the classical period that Sparta administered, dominated and even influenced the whole of Peloponnese. Also, the defeat of Athenians
But Spartan society itself changed, evolving into a city-state. The state determined whether children, both male and female, were strong when they were born, leaving the weak in the hills to perish. At the age of seven, every male Spartan was sent to military and athletic school teaching discipline, endurance of pain, and survival skills. At twenty, the Spartan became a soldier spending his life with his fellow soldiers to live in barracks with his fellow soldiers. Only at the age of thirty, did the Spartan become an "equal," and was allowed to live in his own house with his own family, although he continued to serve in the military. Military service ended at the age of sixty.
Sparta was one of the strongest Greek city-states to ever exist. They fought valiantly in many wars, all because their strong military force could defeat almost anyone. They were the neighbors of Athens, a city-state that prided itself on their arts and strong government. Sparta’s dominance stems from its long history as a militaristic society. The lives of the soldiers were hard because they had to be so disciplined to last in the tough military schools that all men seemed to have attended from a very young age. Their women were held to higher standards than the neighboring city-states because the men could do nothing but be in the military. Women were given a new level of respect that was not seen anywhere else at that time. Spartan soldiers were the ultimate hoplite warriors, devoting their lives to training as heavy infantry (ancientmilitary.com, 2013).
Like the Athenians, women were expected to bear sons. Boys were taken away from their mothers at the age of seven and put under the control of Spartan leaders. The boys were taken to live in military camps and were “subjected to harsh discipline to make them tough and given an education that stressed military training and obedience to authority”. For most of the Spartan men’s lives, they lived in these camps, and trained for battle. Once the males turned 30, they were allowed to vote in an assembly. They were able to marry and live in their own homes, but had to remain in military service until the age of 60. Spartan women, unlike Athenian women had more control and power in society. Woman like men contributed in physical activities because it was “thought that is both parents were strong their children would be more
Because of the tranquil times, the civilization’s society had more time to focus on writing, math, astronomy, and artistic fields, as well as trade and metallurgy. Out of all the city-states of Greece, two excelled over all the rest, Sparta and Athens. Even though they were the most advanced and strong civilizations, they were bitter enemies. While Athens focused mainly on the people’s democracy and citizen rights, Sparta were ferocious and enslaved its original inhabitants, making them unable to leave and kept under a close eye to prevent insurgence (History of Greece:The Golden Age of Greece). Additionally, Sparta had strict and trained soldiers that underwent intense physical exercising and instruction.