Spartan Society

Ancient Sparta was located in one of the more fertile parts of the Peloponnese. It stood in the valley of the Eurotas River on the well-watered Laconian plain.

Spartans and the Military was everything! Spartan society was dominated by the military. The Spartans believed that military power provided security and protection. Spartan society was started by Lycurgus (ly-KUHR-guhs after a slave revolt.

Boys and Men in Sparta When a boy was born, the government took him away. If the boy was unhealthy, the baby was taken outside the city and left. Abandoned to die if it showed any type of deformity Healthy boys were trained to be soldiers.

Sparta: Society “Come back with your shield - or on it” was the reported parting cry of Spartan mothers to their sons.

Spartan Training A rigorous discipline and mainly military type education, the so-called Agoge, commenced at 7 and lasted thirteen years. Put through increasingly brutal series of classes designed to make them used to suffering and hardship Also designed to break down family relationships For thirteen years, they drilled in gymnastics, running, jumping, throwing of spear and discus, and also taught to endure pain and hardship, hunger, thirst, cold, fatigue and lack of sleep. There was not much time for education, mainly focused on music, dancing, and athletics

Military Lifestyle At the age of twenty, the military service of the Spartan begun. He would join one of the dining messes or clubs which were composed of about fifteen members (one of Lykourgos laws). Membership was official indication that a boy had become a man. Not allowed to marry or have a family for 10 years. Still had to have meals with club until he was 60. Military clubs formed basic unit of military service. Men were expected to stay in the military till about 60.

The Life of a Spartan Birth Age 7 Age 20 Age 30 Newborns brought to ephors (leaders) for examination Sickly babies left to die of exposure Healthy babies Boys lived with their parents until age seven Girls stayed with their parents until marriage, and learning weaving, cooking, cleaning Age 7 Boys sent to military school for strict physical training Weapons and endurance training Frequent beatings Taught basic reading and to be laconic (use brief speech) Age 20 Young men became soldiers Allowed to get married But lived in the barracks until age 30 Age 30 These soldiers became citizens Could vote and could live in their own homes Remained in the military until age 60

Girls and Women in Sparta Women had more power in Sparta. They owned land and ran households while men were at war. Women didn’t do jobs that other Greek women did, like weave clothing, but left them for slaves. Spartan women also trained physically. They believed that with strong mothers, children would healthier.

Society In theory, all Spartans citizens were equal To discourage economic and social distinctions, Spartans observed an extraordinarily austere lifestyle as a matter of policy No jewelry, elaborate clothes, luxuries, or accumulation of great private wealth Even today, “spartan” means Practicing great self-denial Unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment Resolute in the face of pain or danger or adversity

Helots Helots were servants of the Sparta state Not chattel slaves, but not free either By the 6th Century B.C., helots probably outnumbered Sparta citizens by 10 to 1 The large number of helots allowed the Spartans to cultivate their region efficiently, but also posed the threat of constant rebellion Sparta responded for the need for order by military means

SPARTAN GOVERNMENT Two kings Led army and Sparta in general Hereditary Gerousia 28 man council All members over 60 years old Drew up proposals for legislation Assembly of the Spartans All full male citizens Voted on legislative proposals Presided over by five elected officials called ephors King Leonidas

Government Highly unusual government that contained elements of democracy, timocracy, monarchy, and oligarchy

Sparta: Government Oligarchy Rule by a few Power was in the hands of five men called Ephores who were elected annually by the Council of Elders Timocracy Government by people of honor All Ephores were over the age of 60 and had completed their military career The Ephores controlled all daily life in Sparta

Sparta: Government Monarchy Rule by a hereditary sovereign Under the five Ephores there were two Kings that came from the two noble families of Sparta With divine approval, shown in an oracle or an omen, the Ephores had the power to force the Kings’ abdication Democracy Election based on numerical majority Under the Kings were the Council of the Elders. The council passed laws and elected the five Ephores Beneath them were the rest of the free Spartan men who voted for the Council of Elders