Classical Civilisation - Sparta

• Sparta was situated in the south of the Pelopennese.
• She controlled Laconia and neighbouring Messenia
• Isolated for the rest of Greece by Taygetus Mountains - This meant they could controll who entered and exited there country.
• Two main advantages: 1. Food resources - Mountains made land fertile meaning they could grow crops. Woodland area for hunting wild animals. And river Eurotas for good supply of fish.

                                               2. Defence system - Dangerous shoreline meant they could not be attacked by sea. Mountains could only be crossed by narrow path ways.

Stage 1 (aged 7-12)

• learnt to obey and live together
• built up physical strength with exercise
• lived in platoons 
• Punished by wardens and spartans over 18 years of age

Stage 2 (aged 12-18)

• Learnt group loyalty - Team contests
• Tougher and harsher conditions - one tunic for whole year & little food 
• Harder discipline

Stage 3 (aged 18-24)

• Toughest stage - top 300 picked & picked for krypteia
• Became Eiren - prefect of 1st stage platoons
• qualified as soldier at 24

3 parts of Spartan population: 

1. Spartans

• Full time soldiers
• needed 3 qualifications to become a Spartan - bot parents are Spartan, passed all 3 stages of education & belong to a syssition
• All equals - owned equal amount of land & shared equal way of life
• Code of honour - "Never to show Cowardice"
• Big decline in numbers after defeat by Thebes in 371BC

2. Perioeci

• Tradesmen and Craftsmen
• same race as Spartans
• Allowed freedom
• did not rebel - enjoyed protection of Spartans
• lived in towns and villages of Laconia 

3. Helots

• Farmers and slaves
• Different race from Spartans
• Appallingly treated - public beatings and hunted by krypteia
• Caused military way of life - 15 helots:1 Spartan
• Caused foreign policy - few foreign campaigns in case of helot revolt
• Loyal - Servants to Spartans & fought as soldiers when needed

The Spartan Government had 4 parts to it:

1. 2 kings

• Came from two Royal Families
• Had 2 responsibilities - Supreme power on battlefield & Priests for celebrations.
• Hugely honoured and very rich.

2.Gerousia

• 28 members ( plus 2 kings)
• Had to be over 60 years of age and a Spartan
• Elected for life by assembly 
• Two responsibilities: Prepared proposals for Assembly and acted as court for criminal cases.

3. Ephors

• 5 members
• Had to be over 30 years old and a Spartan
• Elected every year by assembly
• Had many responsibilities:

a) summoned assembly and Gerousia

b)Controlled Krypteia (secret police)

c)Controlled all other magistrates

d)Called out army when war is declared and accompanies King in war

e)Conducted civil trials

f)Supervised education

4. Assembly

• All other Spartans over 30 years old
• Two responsibilities:

a)elected ephors and gerousia

b)Had deciding vote on debates

• Not allowed to speak
• Not allowed to make proposals 
• Not allowed to meet until ephors summon them

Education

• Built up strength - physical training with boys
• lyre playing
• different from girls in rest of Greece
• No military Training
• No barrack life

Daily Life

• Raising children until the age of 6 years old
• physical training to ensure strong babies
• No real family life
• team competitions in singing and dancing
• allowed out in public.

Attitudes

• very proud of brave sons

Marriage

• Husband would be at least 30 years old
• Had to cut their hair short & wear men's cloak and Sandals
• had to sleep with another man if no child was born
• Child exposed on mountain if not strong enough

Land owning

• Owned a lot of land in later times
• Had much power and influence 
• Took over vacant land when Husbands died

Reputation

• Great Beauty
• Sexually Promiscuous 
• Comedy plays show them as beef & masculine

Tactics

• The Phalanx was a very effective formation against the enemy
• It was formed for a Lochos (or 144 men)
• Formation was usually 12 x 12

Drill

• 5 basic positions: 

1. At ease (spear on ground)

2. Attention (spear on shoulder)

3. Under arm thrusting

4. Over arm thrusting

5. Defence (crouch behind shield)

Appearance

• Heavy Armed hoplite - Round bronze shield

                                           - Short sword and spear

                                           - Crested Helmet

                                           - Scarlet cloak

                                           - Corselet and greaves 

Accommodation

• Barracks with other members of their Syssition