Sparta: A Social Experiment If you could live in a society where everyone was socially and economically equal, would you want to?

Where does this history begin? Lycurgus Dates : Archaic Greece c. 700-500 BCE

The Way of Life Basileus Colonization vs. Agriculture Xenophobia Opposite of Athens

Where was Sparta? See p. 92 of Ancient Greece for map In the south, on the Laconian plain

A Cruel and Gloomy Reign Burn, rape and pillage Helots 10:1 Avoid uprisings

Who ruled Sparta? Two hereditary kings, 1st among equals Ran the military

Societal Organization Top- Kings Upper Middle – Citizens Lower Middle - Perioikoi Bottom - Helots Plato: “The organization of your state is that of an army camp, not a town.”

Spartan Government Kings Gerousia Assembly Ephors

Lifestyles of the Spartan Citizen Laconic No jewelry No precious metals Only necessary possesions

Values of the Spartan Citizen Unquestioning Obedience Courage Indifference to pain, cold or heat Contempt for other civilizations

How did they live? As invincible warriors. From cradle to deathbed Military caste Never risked a battle they thought they could not win Only distinction is military honor in battle

What is Spartan Culture? Imagine a world where everything is subordinate to war . . .

What is Spartan art? Poetry incites warriors to fight Music was for war and religion Even art depicts the gods in chains

Spartan vs. Non Spartan Poetry Is anything worth dying for? If so, what? “Shove your shield in the face of the enemy, hating life and embracing death’s dark spirits like the sun’s rays . . .” Tyrtaeus “Some Thracian is flaunting the shield I left thoughtlessly by the brush, an flawless piece. So what? I saved myself.” Archilochus

Spartan “Childhood” Only necessary schooling Provoked to fight Taken from home at seven Put in herds Only necessary food and clothes “To bring these things they steal, some going into gardens and others insinuating themselves dangerously and cautiously into the men’s messes. If anyone is caught, he is given many lashes with the whip”

Helots – Sparta’s Problem Constantly feared uprising Spartan boys spied on them Attacked them regularly Had to keep standing army to maintain them

The Krypteia Secret warfare tactics “this is another form of training for war: they sent each one out naked and ordered him to wander outside in the mountains for a year, maintaining himself by theft and avoiding detection

Spartan Lore Philip of Macedon: “If I enter Laconia, I will level Sparta to the ground.” Spartan reply: “If.”