Text 2: Discipline and

Warfare in Sparta

Topic 5: Ancient GreeceLesson 2: The Greek City-States

The Spartans

Were Dorian invaders from the north who conquered Laconia, in the southern part of Greece

Built the city-state of Sparta

Control of Sparta

They turned the conquered people into state-owned slaves, helots, and made them work the land

Helots greatly outnumbered the Spartans so they set up a brutal system of strict control

Government of Sparta

Two kings and a council of elders who advised the monarchs

An assembly made up of all citizens approved major decisions

Citizens were male, native-born Spartans over the age of 30

The assembly also elected five ephors, or officials, who ran day-to-day affairs

Sparta Way of Life

From childhood, a Spartan prepared to be part of a military state

Officials examined every newborn, and sickly children were abandoned to die

Spartans wanted future soldiers and the future mothers of soldiers to be healthy

Preparation for Military Life

At the age of seven, boys began training for a lifetime in the military

They moved into barracks, where they were toughened by a coarse diet, hard exercise, and rigid discipline

This strict and harsh discipline made Spartan youths excellent soldiers

Military Life

At the age of 20, a man could marry, but he continued to live in the barracks until he was 30 and took his meals in the barracks until he was 40 years old

At the age of 30, after further training, he took his place in the assembly

Spartan Women

Girls, too, had a rigorous upbringing

As part of a warrior society, they were expected to produce healthy sons for the army

They were required to exercise and strengthen their bodies

Spartan Women

Like other Greek women, Spartan women had to obey their fathers or husbands

Under Spartan law, they had the right to inherit property

Because men were occupied with war, some women took on responsibilities such as running the family’s estate

Citizens of Sparta

To be a citizen of Sparta, a person had to be descended from the Dorians who invaded the land

Spartan citizens owned land, but did not farm it since that was the job of the helots

Foreigners in Sparta were unwelcome guests and could be expelled

Noncitizens of Sparta

Noncitizens outnumbered citizens

They had few rights

Were strictly controlled by the government

Disadvantages of Sparta

The Spartans isolated themselves from other Greeks

They looked down on trade and wealth, forbade their own citizens to travel

Had little use for new ideas or the arts

Advantage of Sparta

While other Greeks admired the Spartans’ military skills, no other city-state imitated their rigorous way of life

“Spartans are willing to die for their city,” some suggested, “because they have no reason to live.”

Overall

In the long run, Sparta suffered from its rigid ways and inability to change

Over time, its warrior class shrank, and its power declined