BP 8. Sparta

Sparta was unique among the Greek city-states because of the rigid program of military indoctrination it instilled in its populace.

Supposedly founded by Heracles, in Mycenean times the Spartanís were ruled by King Menelaus, who beseiged and defeated Troy (check). Archaeologists and historians believe Sparta was founded by the Dorian Greeks, who invaded the Pelopennese around 1000 BC.

Sometime around 650 BC, Sparta was thoroughly reorganised, according to legend by Lycurgus, who came to power after Sparta was defeated by its neighbour Argos. Lycurgus turned Sparta from an elitist aristocracy into a broad-based oligarchy dedicated to warfare. By 500 BC it had conquered almost all of the surrounding territory and dominated the Pelopennese.

Ruled by two kings, twenty-eight elders and a council, Spartans were divided into three classes. At the top of the hierarchy were the Spartiates, a class of military professionals who lived most of their lives in communal barracks, and whose lands were farmed by serfs, leaving them free to pursue to the arts of war. Beneath them were the Perioeci; a class of artisans and craftsmen made up of those peoples whom the Spartans first conquered. They paid taxes and could serve in the army, but had no real political rights. At the bottom were the helots; serfs descended from those peoples who had resisted subjugation by Sparta. Constantly rebelling, the Spartans attempted to control the helots by forming a secret society that annually murdered any helots suspected of encouraging subversion.

Inward-looking and self-sufficient, the Spartiates were the most feared warriors in all Greece. They lived an austere life, despising any sort of luxury, in a city that contained neither walls, nor grand buildings.

Famous quotes and anecdotes associated with the Spartans:

A Sybarite, who ate at a public mess once remarked: "Now I know why the Spartams do not fear death."

Asked what was the greatest benefit Lycurgus conferred on his countryman, King Agesilaus replied "Contempt of pleasure."

"Come back with your shild - or on it" was supposed to be the parting cry of mothers to their sons. Mothers whose sons died in battle openly rejoiced, mothers who sons survived held their head in shame.

An old man wandering around the Olmpic Games looking for seat was jeered at by the crowd until he reached the seats of the Spartans, whereupon every Spartan younger than him, and some that were older, stood up and offered him their seat. The crowd applauded and the old man turned to them with a sigh, saying "All Greeks know what is right, but only the Spartans do it."

Objectives: Students will be able to

• locate Sparta and Athens on a map of Greece
• locate information from the text [BP 8 Sparta, BP 32 Populace of Athens] to complete a chart showing differences between Sparta and Athens
• determine in which city-state they would rather live in and give reasons why
• tell advantages and disadvantages of the lifestyle and government of each city-state

	ATHENS	SPARTA
Government	Limited democracy: Approximately 40,000 men were citizens. No political power from women, children, metics (Greek free non-citizens), and slaves (about 40,000)	Oligarchy: two kings, 28 elders, and a council (how many?) Less that 10,000 citizens (B9)
Population	Approximately 140,000	?
Political organizations	Council of 500; paid jury service
Social Structure		3 classes: Spartiates (military professionals), Perioeci (artisans and craftsmen), helots (serfs descended from those peoples who had resisted subjugation by Sparta who were constantly rebelling).
Allies	Delian League (with Athens clearly the most powerful: taxed and protected other city-states:	Peloponnesian League:
Military strength	Strong navy	Strong army, best fighters on land
Life style and values		Militaristic values. Children raised to be "Spartan" - get along with almost nothing.
Role of women	Kept in home, no participation in sports, politics. Wives considered property of her husband.	Could participate in sports; treated more as equals
Cultural achievements	art, architecture, drama and literature, philosophy, science, medicine, etc.
Other?

Important Words to Know:

• oligarchy - a form of government in which a few people have the ruling power < oligos few + archos leader>
• tyranny - a form of government in which a single person has the power
• democracy - a form of government in which the people rule (either directly through meetings that all may attend, or indirectly by choosing their representatives) < demos people + cracy rule >
• serfs -
• artisans -

To the Student:

1. After reading the information about Sparta and Athens, and looking at the chart above, be prepared to tell which city-state you would rather live in and why.

2. Athens has been called the world's first democracy. Is this a true statement? What are the limits of democracy as we know it, and ...

ROUGH DRAFT - THIS SEEMS TO FIT INTO THE "NATIONAL STANDARDS" SO I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE EXPERIEMENTED WITH.