1. Sparta
Ancient Greece

2. Geography In a valley surrounded by mountains. Rich, fertile soil.
How does Sparta benefit from the surrounding mountains?

3. 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.”

4. Sparta Citizens were free males who were at least 30 years old
All Citizens could vote in the assembly
All Citizens, who reached the age of 60, joined the Council of Elders
Council of Elders proposed laws to the assembly

5. Government –Oligarchy
The rule of a few
Small groups makes all the decisions (Votes were made by shouting)
2 Kings and 28 citizens (Council of Elders)
Council of Elders
Proposed laws
Assembly
Voted for laws

6. Spartan Society Focus on the Physical Military Class System
Feared Helots (slaves)
Outnumbered 10-1

7. continue Life revolved around toughness & military
Sickly babies left to die
7-30 in military training
20 – Regular military but able to marry
Lived in barracks

8. Spartan Women Trained for physical endurance (fit mothers, fit babies)
Ran farms while the men fought

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

10. Values of the Spartan Citizen
Unquestioning Obedience
Courage
Indifference to pain, cold or heat

11. How did they live as invincible warriors?
Never risked a battle they thought they could not win
Only distinction is military honor in battle

12. Spartan “Childhood” Only necessary schooling Provoked to fight
Taken from home at seven
Put in herds

13. “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”

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

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

16. 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

17. “Some Thracian is flaunting the shield I left thoughtlessly by the brush, an flawless piece. So what? I saved myself.” Archilochus