Why Did Spartan Education Outweigh The Weaknesses?

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Around 5th century BCE Sparta started to dominate the eastern Mediterranean. Sparta was never really big, but they were strong because of their perfect battle formation called a phalanx. In order for he phalanx to work, intensive training and education was required. However, did the intensive training and education outweigh the weaknesses? The strengths of their training and education did not outweigh the weaknesses because the Spartans trained their people too harshly, many forms of education were banned, and the Spartans mistreated the Helots. These flaws in the Spartan system could’ve caused uprisings and rebellion The main reason why the strengths of Spartan education did not outweigh the weaknesses is because the Spartans trained their people too harshly. “A [Spartan] father had no right to decide whether to rear his newly born son or not. He was obliged to take the baby to the elders of his tribe for inspection. If they were satisfied that he was strong and healthy, they gave it back to the father …show more content…

The Helots were a group of people the Spartans conquered on its way to ruling the Peloponnese. The Helots are not slaves, but they weren’t free either. They lived just outside the city limits, so they were a potential enemy from within. Mistreating the Helots could’ve caused uprisings and rebellions against the Spartan rulers. “The Spartans were under terrific pressure, fighting Athens, and at the same time, looking over its shoulder at a restless Helot population at home”(BE). “At intervals, the magistrates would send out [the krypteia], the most sensible of the young Spartiates into various parts of the country.” They were to slaughter any Helots they caught (Doc C). In addition, the Spartans had no need to make money, because the Helots tilled the soil for them (Doc D). Lastly, the Spartans were required to give half of what they grew to their Spartan masters

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