"The government was headed by two hereditary kings appointed by two families; the kings were so-called leaders in battle and in religion. (History channel)." "They were primarily in charge of military affairs and served as the leaders of the Spartan army in its campaigns. Moreover, the kings served as the supreme priest within the state religion and had some role in foreign policy (duiker 103)." These kings shared power with a council of elders known as the "gerousia." The gerousia was a group of twenty-eight citizens who were elected for life, which in a sense acted like a modern day senate. The geruosia would vote on proposals raised by the kings and citizens. They would also elect a special body known as the ephores. The ephores were responsible for supervising the youth's education and the conduct of citizens. These ephores may have held even greater power than the kings and the geruosia. One source goes on to say "the real rulers were the board of ephores (history channel)." The "History Channel" also goes on to say "The business of the state was conducted with secrecy and every effort was made to keep the institutions unchanged." The Spartan government was very powerful and deceiving. They kept the people of Sparta "out of the loop" so that no one may challenge their decision, thus preventing a rebellion, like the Messenean war. According to a Washington State University professor the Spartan government was a democratic timocratic monarchial oligarchy. This was the government of Sparta.
With the military becoming the sole purpose of the city-state, the Spartans took it to the extremes. When a child was born, either male or female,.
were evaluated to determine whether they were strong or weak. "The weak babies were taken to the hill and left to die of exposure. Exposing weak or sickly children was a common practice in the Greek world, but Sparta institutionalized it as a state activity rather than a domestic practice.
Spartan Polis There are five classes in the Spartan social class; the middle three classes are also part of the social economy. ... Spartan women were taught to read and write. ... Spartan women were trained and drilled in military and gymnastic exercises. ... Any Spartan man could abduct a wife, which leads to many husbands/wives. ... In order to be in the Spartan military, you had to be physically fit. ...
Essay: Explain the main features of the Spartan economy. ... Therefore, the importance of the perioikoi and the helots performing such tasks was stressed upon to ensure that Spartans could continue their military training. ... The profusion of natural resources Spartan land offered allowed Spartans to have self-reliance within the state and meant that the Spartans needed to import very few necessities from outside the economy. ... This led to a significant percentage of land in the hands of Spartan women and causes other historians to question the system of distribution in Sparta. ... E...
The main focus of a Spartan education was not to focus on literacy. ... After many years, the Helots grew to outnumber the Spartans by a ratio as a large as ten to one. ... When comparing the hardships the young Athenians went through to that of the Spartans, they are almost nonexistent. While the Spartans were denied food and comfort, the young Athenians still lived at home and went to school. ... At the age of eleven, the next level of a Spartan education began. ...
This essay will consider Lycurgus & his contribution & impact on Spartan society. ... Whereas, Plutarch says that Lycurgus was a Spartan king. ... Also, the Spartans were prone to heroize dead Spartans, thus dramatising the role of Lycurgus, & the sources cannot agree on his exact position in society. ... After the Spartans became suspicious of his motives, Lycurgus went to Crete. After a while, the Spartans persuaded Lycurgus to come back. ...
Why did the Spartans raise their children in this manner? ... The education and upbringing of Spartan boys was not very pleasant. ... If a Spartan did not show enough courage, then he was classified as a coward. ... The most important thing about the Spartan education system and lifestyle was that it worked. ... The Spartans successfully fought off Persian attackers and quelled Helot uprisings (even though the Spartans were greatly outnumbered by them). ...
The Spartans hoped that by doing this they would disrupt agriculture and spread fear and chaos throughout the region. ... Pericles hoped the Spartans would grow tired and frustrated and give up the fight. ... In the summer of 431, the Spartans marched into Attica and burned Athenian homes and farms. After Pericles died in 429, some Athenians joined the Spartan-led alliance. After months and years of fighting the Spartans destroyed the Athenian fleet. ...
Herodotus is more deferential in his descriptions of Spartan women, giving the reader a sense of their importance to the Spartan community. ... One of the most notable of Spartan women was Gorgo. ... Other queens were not involved in the important matters of the state, while Gorgo, a strong Spartan woman, was at the forefront of Spartan urgencies. ... The origin of a Spartan political institution is connected with the actions of a Spartan woman. ... The exceptions are mostly Spartan women, like Gorgo. ...
It told about what a Spartan boy had to go through science he was born. ... All the Spartans died I that battle including Leonidas. ... In both, it showed that a Spartan boy's training was harsh ad long. ... In both, the Spartans had spears, swords and shields Both had a design on the shield that the Spartans used. ... In both, a person betrayed the Spartans and told the Persians how to sneak from the side to get behind the Spartans. ...
