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Sparta
One of the city states of ancient Greece, Sparta was well known for its warrior culture.
2,647 Questions
How did the Persians defeat the Spartans?
The Spartans never really recovered from the huge loss of life in 465 BC earthquake and subsequent helot revolt as well as wars with Argives and Arcadians (except Mantineans) which came immediately after epic war with Persia, and basically ended in the eve of the Great earthquake.
Wounded Sparta then embarked on a very tough, civil war equivalent - Peloponnesian war(s). But it ended it not as a former military power, though still strong, but as more of a political power, which at the end of an exausting war gave them a victory. But at what cost? Spartan system crumbled, adn with citizen population decimated, their army was no longer an elite, their warriors weren't bred from childhood to be the best in Greece, but most of the army were now either free semi trained periokoi (second class citizens) or even freed helots (public slaves).
Finally, Thebans, which rose to power in Greece in 4th century BC after almost 800 years since last heyday, defeated Spartan army in the battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, officially ending the very slow process of Spartan power fading, which started almost immediately after Persian wars. That wasn't the first nor the last defeat Spartans had suffered, but it was probably the most decisive, as it never recovered its power.
But only few decades later, Thebans also fell to the power of Alexander the Great and Hellenistic kingdoms, who again, after Alexander's death soon fell to the Romans, together with entire Greece.
Sparta was slowly reduced to a remote village, a Roman tourist attraction, and in the early middle ages, after several barbarian attacks and fall of Rome, it ceased to exist until refounded by modern Greeks as Sparti in the end of 19th century where it still stands.
Is democracy as a way of life a characteristic of Athens Sparta or both?
Sparta had sparse living accommodations. Sparta had boys removed from the family and living in dormitories. Spartan men ate to be strong warriors. They slept nude and were allowed to gather thistle down to add to their beds made of reeds.
Athens had simple homes. Art was seen as a public activity. The rich had tables and chairs made of wicker, wood, metal or marble. Beds had cushions of wool, hay, leaves or feathers.
Why were the Spartans able to focus on getting strong and preparing for war?
because they had a senate like rome that took care of the city state will every other young boy was thought how to fight and survie on their own and Sparta was large so it could afford to focus on building an army and training their soldier in the art of war.
Why did Spartans forma military culture?
When they conquered all of the southern Peloponnesian peninsula, the had a serf farming people to live off. They needed military strength to keep them under control, and to repel other city-states which coveted their territory.
What was the Sparta's civilization system of government?
Unlike modern societies, government did not interfere in daily life in Sparta. The citizens were fiercely independent and ran their daily lives and their relationships between each other as they saw fit.
The government's function was to ensure internal and external security, but called a meeting of the citizens to get approval for significant actions by the state. The governing council had to do this to ensure that the citizens would support and act on their decisions.
Why did the Spartans start the Peloponnesian War?
Fear - They feared that the rise of Athenian power would consume them - weighing the balance of power as it existed at the time, and what they saw as Athens continued rise in power - the window of opportunity to win a war against them was closing - in the end, they went to war because they feared the growing power of their neighbor to the north and their growing influence in the region.
What were some disadvantages to life in Sparta?
In Athens the women weren't free, they had to clean, cook, and had to be hidden when they're husband's friends comes over. In Sparta, the women were free and they could have jobs and go anywhere! But in athens, they had to ask for permission. In sparta, they had better security, they had the military but athens didnt care about the military. In athens, only men were able to vote and participate in the government but in sparta, women can join the military and get jobs also they can vote!
Oligarchy (Rule by Few). The oligarchy of Sparta was: 2 Kings (priestly and judicial functions, elected by the assembly), 5 Ephors "Overseers" (presided over the senate and the assembly, put legislation before the assembly, the loudest yes or no was decided by the ephors, elected annually by the assembly), Senate (elected by the assembly for life, prepared legislation for the assembly and advised the Kings), Assembly (Free male citizens over 30, elected kings, ehpors and senate, voted on legislation but could not initiate it). Women, children, slaves and non-athenians did not vote…. JUST did an essay on that xD
spears, boats, guns and iron swords sharpend with dinosour teeth. :)
What were city states of Athens called?
This is a very complex matter, but I'll try to give you a brief answer. Ancient Greek Cities-States where a very small town or city with its around territory part of them. Greeks would speak the same language (in many dialects), have same religion, customs and bloodline but were very topicists and individual. Do not think big, like a modern Athens or Paris or London. Think that all Greece is almost the same as the whole state of New York. Now think that Athens is 1/3 of NYC. You get the picture. Imagine that Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond were separate and individual complete independent countries as the Greek cities states of same NY culture, but all waging war to each other and all together against Pennsylvania or Massachusetts. In order to achieve this they would form a Koinon (pron. kéénon -> "commonwealth") a confederation or alliance for military reasons. e.g the Koinon of NY so all would attack the city state of Boston or sometimes go bigger as the Koinon of North-East (like tenths of cities from NY, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts) and go to war against the Koinon of South East (like cities from Florida, Alabama, Georgia). Then the strongest or most influential culturally city would prevail and be in charge e.g the Delian League with Athensor Peloponnesian League with Sparta or the Hellenic League with the Macedonians).
The Greeks, would 95% go to war against each other and not so often against other culture nations. The only notable time in antiquity that they had a Greek Koinon as a whole, was with Alexander, when they conquered almost all known world.
Straight Answer:
Delian League.
How did the Spartans - citizens of Sparta - live their lives in ancient Greece?
I know that Sparta was a strong military based city in Ancient Greece.
AnswerThe word "spartan" (which means "marked by strict self-discipline or self-denial" or "marked by simplicity, frugality, or avoidance of luxury or comfort") was created in homage to their civilization. That ought to give you some idea of what their lives were like.
Why did Sparta discourage trade?
A Spartans first and only vacation was to be a warrior, anything else would be an insult to the other Spartans. The job of trade went to the Perioikoi, they traveled all across Greece and the Aegean and made Sparta fairly rich.
Spartans could travel if they wished, usually they just didn't. The city of Syracuse in Sicily was founded by Spartans. Travel was however discouraged as it tended to be the case that when a Spartan left Sparta they came back with all sorts of 'bad' habits.
They were not allowed to trade and travel because they could not risk a war or battle to start on foreign ground.(Even though they were a military community)
How did Spartans protect from themselves from invaders?
The Spartans created a system which produced the best warriors the ancient world had yet seen. This started by removing the young boy (as well as girl) from the home at age seven, and pushing them through a rigorous training program which they followed for the majority of their lives. After several years of training the girls left to marry older men, while the boys continued. This was a very structured, orderly society that instilled extreme discipline into the young men. These warriors were created not so much because of fear of invaders, but rather the fear of revolution against them by their massive slave population (known as helots).
What is the proper adjective to Sparta?
The proper adjective for Spain would be Spanish, as in Spanish cooking.
Note that the correct term for nationals of Spain is Spaniard, but many people refer to "the Spanish" in the plural.
Who was the patron god or goddess of Sparta?
Actually, the Spartans worshipped Artemis and Aresthe most. Athena was not their patron goddess. She was the patron of Athens, Sparta's rival.
What cowardly prince stole the wife of Menelaus in greek mythology?
He was Paris, a prince of Troy. He was not at all cowardly, eventually killing super-hero Achilles in battle during the Greek attack on Troy. And he didn't steal king Menelaus' wife Helen, she went of with him very willingly, bringing along a lot of the family wealth to make her new life with Paris all the more enjoyable.
When the Trojans offered to give Helen back, the Greeks asked what about the treasure she took. The Trojans said no way, just the woman who was quite expendable, but not the money, so the siege continued.
How did the Spartans way of fighting influence the military today?
Do not watch 300. It is not a good historical reference. The Spartan military was very forceful and they developed it to prevent rebellions, and to prevent other countries from conquering them.
How was the education for spartan boys different from the education of athenian boys?
Spartan boys were placed under the supervision of a designated trainer, who taught them warlike and cultural subjects. Athenian boys were educated in the home/farm/business by the father, or for the few rich enough, by a slave and then in a class run by a philosopher.
Describe the system of education in Sparta?
Sparta was focused on providing a strong army, so they trained children in necessary combat skills. Athens wanted to have a smart population of citizens, so they taught a lot of what you learn today.
What made Helen choose Paris over menelaus?
Some legends say that Paris forcibly abducted Helen; others that she fell in love with him and went willingly. In one peculiar account, originating in Stesichorus and used by Euripides, Helen was rescued by Proteus in Egypt, who substituted in her stead a phantom that sailed to Troy with Paris. Proteus then cared for Helen until Menelaus finally claimed her. In the Iliad and Odyssey, Helen becomes Paris' wife but is in sympathy with the Greeks. She is easily reconciled with Menelaus after the war, and they return to a peaceful life at Sparta.
What are the general geographic features around ancient Sparta?
Sparta has mountains surrounding it (1200m in altitude), which are natural defences for Arcadia.
They were also near the Sukajni desert which caused a suffer to their agriculture gains.
Hope this helped :)
How did the roles of the assembly and the council of elders differ?
The Council conducted the ongoing business of the city-state. When a major decision was needed, it called an assembly and put a proposition to it. The assembly voted yes or no to the proposition.
Can you compare and contrast Paris and Menelaus of 'Helen of Troy'?
Paris and Hector are brothers and although it is not explicitly stated by Homer, it appears that Hector is probably the elder and Paris the younger. Hector is the most able warrior in Troy and is the leader of the Trojan army and he is looked up to by the citizens of Troy, whereas Paris is regarded by his people as 'black death'. They are different in many aspects.
- Hector accuses Paris in Book 3 of being 'beautiful, woman crazy, cajoling' and for not facing up to Menalaus in battle and wishes he had never been born, so the whole war wouldn't have happened. Contrastingly, Hector in Book 22 does stand up to fight Achilles, although he does have an inwardly debate as to whether he should fight.
Paris isn't as capable as Hector in fighting; he hardly participates and when he does, is scared and nothing like what they thought a soldier should be. Paris is a archer and Hector a swordsman who fights face to face showing him to be braver. Hector has to make up for the fact that his father, Priam is old and that Paris is weak at fighting, by being a strong warrior.
- They are both husbands, but Paris doesn't have children. Hector has one son with his wife, Andromache, called Scamandrius (Asyanax), who both later meet their unfortunate deaths when Troy is captured.
- Hector as a son, is the one that wishes most to win glory for his father, Priam. This was the idea in Ancient Greece, that a son can gain respect for his father by fighting in battle. Hector says in Book 6 that he wishes for his son to grow up to be a better man than he. (However, we know this will never come to be). Hector, especially in Book 22 knows that retreating into the walls of Troy will show cowardice, which is something that he does not ever want to succumb to. Thus, he fights to the death against Achilles.
Were weak spartan babies killed?
Yes, and they were either thrown off a cliff or drowned. They figured the weak were no use to Sparta because its main focus was its military.
Yes, if the babies were weak or sick, they would be dropped off a cliff or turned into a helot, a slave to the Spartans. Spartans only looked for strong babies for their military. If the baby was weak or deformed, it would be no use because they proved a weak spot in the phalanx. They needed someone to watch their allies backs while maintaining form.
