The sparsity of ruins from antiquity around the modern city reflects the austerity of the military oligarchy that ruled the Spartan city-state from the 6th to the 2nd century bce. Lycurgus was a Spartan prince whose older brother had died, leaving behind a pregnant wife. And even this story gains credence from what their youths now endure, many of whom I have seen expiring under the lash at the altar of Artemis Orthia. At the age of seven, boys left home to begin training at a military academy called an agoge (a-go-je). Spartan girls also engaged in a number of sports including boxing, wrestling, discus and javelin toss, horseback riding, and foot races. Spartan society was separated into social classes, and conquered people were not given political rights or citizenship. The kings were also priests of Zeus and they sat on the council of elders known as the gerousia. During this final period of the agoge, a man might marry but most did not until they graduated at the age of 30. Member of a group who settled on the Greek mainland around 2000 B.C. Marriage was important to Spartans, as the state put pressure on people to have male children who would grow up to become citizen-warriors, and to replace those who died in battle. Continued Spartan ambitions in central and northern Greece, Asia Minor, and Sicily once again dragged the city into another protracted conflict, the Corinthian Wars with Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Persia from 396 to 387 BCE. In the Corinthian War (395387) Sparta had two land victories over Athenian allied states and a severe naval defeat at Cnidus by a combined Athenian and Persian fleet. Spartan culture was. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. This defeat led to Athenian surrender. However, the treaty only lasted six. Sparta, also known as Lacedaemon, was an ancient Greek city-state located primarily in a region of southern Greece called Laconia. You cannot download interactives. Lycurgus was next in line for the throne but abdicated in favor of his brothers infant son and, to avoid any suspicion that he might harm the child to win back power, left Sparta. The relationship between citizens and helots was an uneasy one and there were sometimes uprisings, notably in the 7th century BCE which contributed to Sparta's defeat to Argos at Hysiae in 669 BCE. The teenage boys who demonstrated the most leadership potential were selected for participation in the Crypteia, which acted as a secret police force whose primary goal was to terrorize the general Helot population and murder those who were troublemakers. what was sparta's focus as a city -state. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Sparta was one of the most dominant of all the Greek city-states, and is most often remembered for their athletic and militaristic values. As Donald G. Kyle notes in his book Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World, Spartan youth had to present themselves for regular inspections in the nude, and boys who didnt look sufficiently fit were flogged. Sparta decided to retaliate. It is an ancient greek city home to the Spartans. "Sparta." The Perioeci, whose name means dwellers-around, worked as craftsmen and traders, and made weapons for the Spartans. Gabrielle Heim pitched a complete game and recorded 14 strikeouts for Sparta and allowed eight hits, four earned runs, and one walk as it defeated Lenape Valley 11-4 in Stanhope. Although an Athenian, Xenophon was a friend of Sparta and, in fact, served the state as a mercenary. Just how these different political elements interacted is not known for certain but clearly a degree of consensus was necessary for the state apparatus to function. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Sparta, Modern Greek Spart, historically Lacedaemon, ancient capital of the Laconia district of the southeastern Peloponnese, southwestern Greece. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. What was Sparta's focus as a city-states? Metropolis (cathedral) dedicated to St. Demetrios at Mistra. Sparta was known as possibly the strongest city-state in all of Greece, and are still one of the most feared military squads in history. To keep them in control, Sparta developed an austere culture based on maintaining an elite military force, with a ruling council of 28 elders. Boys looked forward to the public display of their fortitude.. You cannot download interactives. However, in 480 B.C.E., Sparta allied with Athens, to prevent the Persian king Xerxes from invading Greece. It seems probable that the boys all ate together throughout the agoge, but at the age of maturity one needed to be elected to a certain mess also known as a "common tent" (a suskania). If they were successful, even if the theft was detected afterward and the culprit clearly suspected, no punishment was given; if they were caught, they were severely beaten. There were many different dining messes, and it was imperative that a young man be elected to one of them. Plutarch writes: Of reading and writing, they learned only enough to serve their turn; all the rest of their training was calculated to make them obey commands well, endure hardships, and conquer in battle. A Spartan woman saying goodbye to her young son who is going off to war. Epaminondas' Echelon formation in the Battle of Leuctra. "Sparta." https://www.worldhistory.org/article/342/agoge-the-spartan-education-program/. Sparta and Athens are known as city-state with many contrasting beliefs. Neither view captures the complexities not to say conflicting accounts of the city-state known anciently as Lacedaemon. Within a few months, however, Pericles fell victim to a terrible plague that raged through the crowded city, killing a large part of its army as well as many civilians. In this way, at every fitting time and in every place, the boy who went wrong had someone to admonish and chastise him. One of Spartas allies, Corinth, had directly engaged the Athenian army. The paidonomos would learn from the Ephors what constituted excess or leniency and was often the overseer of punishments. Reduced by constant wars in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, the Spartan hoplites (homoioi) became dangerously small in number (8,000 in 490 BCE to 700 in 371 BCE), so much so, that non-Spartiate soldiers had to be enlisted and their loyalty and interest in Sparta's ambitions was questionable. Male Spartan citizens were allowed only one occupation: soldier. Cite This Work World History Encyclopedia. The Athenian alliance was, in fact, an empire that included most of the island and coastal states around the northern and eastern shores of the Aegean Sea. Ancient Sparta is one of the most well-known cities in Classical Greece. Sparta, under Cleomenes (c. 520-490 BCE), overthrew the tyrants of Athens but the resulting democracy put a stop to any Spartan ambitions in the city. Which battle established Sparta as the most powerful state in Greece? Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Cartledge comments: One particularly striking instance of this displaced or surrogate fathering was the institution of ritualized pederasty. This 1899 illustration depicts the racecourse at Sparta. What was the focus of Spartan culture? The treaty stated that Athens and Sparta would defend each other for the next 50 years. The area was first settled in the Neolithic period and an important settlement developed in the Bronze Age. National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Participation by Spartan males in the agoge (pronounced ah-go-GAY in ancient Greek and ah-GOJ-uh in modern English) was mandatory. The end came in 405 when the Athenian navy was destroyed at Aegospotami by the Spartan fleet under Lysander, who had received much aid from the Persians. This was the name given to those who had been for two years out of the class of boys, and Melleirens, or would-be-eirens, was the name for the oldest of the boys. Its real focus was to prepare Spartan males to be compliant members of society, who were ready to sacrifice their all for Sparta. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. In the late 8th century BCE, Sparta subjugated most of neighbouring Messenia and its population was made to serve Spartan interests. This tough training resulted in a professional hoplite army capable of relatively sophisticated battle manoeuvres and made them feared throughout Greece, a fact perhaps evidenced by Sparta's notable lack of fortifications for most of its history. License. She or he will best know the preferred format. The Spartans real secret wasnt physical fitness or indifference to pain and suffering, but rather superior organization. Some messes were of course more exclusive and desirable than others, none more so than the royal mess, in which both kings dined jointly with their chosen aides when in Sparta. Girls . We strive for accuracy and fairness. Plutarch writes: Under [the direction of the paidonomos] the boys, in their several companies, put themselves under the command of the most prudent and warlike of the so-called Eirens. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. Last modified May 28, 2013. World History Encyclopedia. In 425 the picture was bleak for Sparta, which began to sue for peace. The fighting engulfed virtually the entire Greek world, and it was properly regarded by Thucydides, whose contemporary account of it is considered to be among the worlds finest works of history, as the most momentous war up to that time. To toughen them up even more, Spartan boys were compelled to go barefoot and seldom bathed or used ointments, so that their skin became hard and dry, Plutarch wrote. To the Spartans, women had the most important responsibility of all: giving birth to warriors. This made it very difficult for Spartans to accept innovation in war or politics.. Madden said the city was able to stay below New York's property tax cap, and said his . The modern-day term laconic, meaning to express much in few words, comes from Laconia, the home of the Spartans. The word means "raising" in the sense of raising livestock from youth toward a specific purpose. Spartan warriors were also known for their long hair and red cloaks. Military activity was essential to Sparta. Also known as: Lacedaemon, Na Spart, Spart. Whipping was a test of courage and stoicism, Reiter says. Updated: July 21, 2022 | Original: November 12, 2009. Religion in Sparta had the ideas to support a militaristic and superstitious society, which, therefore, influenced the approach to religion to suit The Great Rhetra. (2.13-14). Unlike other Greek city-states, Sparta "was exceptional. The population of Sparta consisted of three main groups: the Spartans, or Spartiates, who were full citizens; the Helots, or serfs/slaves; and the Perioeci, who were neither slaves nor citizens. Lycurgus reforms were comprehensive, including every aspect of the peoples lives, and, as he had mandated from the start, were not committed to writing; the laws would be kept in the peoples hearts because they would know these precepts led to the best possible society. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director. This body consisted of 28 over-60 years of age males who held the position for life. Pop. Aided by a force of Spartans, Syracuse was able to break an Athenian blockade. What is Sparta best described as? It was probably their training in tactical maneuvers which really gave Spartan soldiers their edge on the battlefield, J.F. Submitted by Joshua J. (17.1). It made them tougher/stronger, more able to sustain the weight of a heavy basically wooden shield in the summer sun, better at pushing and shoving, better at stamina, Cartledge says. Once election to a mess was secured, all the men of that mess ate every meal together. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. In 371 B.C., Thebes, a rival city state, defeated Sparta at the battle of Leuctra by using unorthodox, creative cavalry maneuvers that the Spartans were too inflexible to counter. Books This instability was the context for the emergence of Greek city-states. 1. The Spartans way of life would not have been possible without the Helots, who handled all the day-to-day tasks and unskilled labor required to keep society functioning: They were farmers, domestic servants, nurses and military attendants. When Spartan children were born, the male elders of the family decided if the infant was fit to live and be raised. Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society. Cartledge comments: Between the ages of seven and eighteen, the boys and youths were organized in 'packs' and 'herds' and placed under the supervision of young adult Spartans. Omissions? However, trying to crush Thebes, Sparta lost the crucial battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE against the brilliant Theban general Epaminondas. Sparta was about fitness, survival, and war while Athens was about public . The main meal was held after dark and no torches were allowed for lighting the way to or from the mess hall in order to encourage the mens skill in navigating terrain in the dark and, so, the enable them to gather and eat when in the field without alerting an opposing force to their location. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. Ideology In The Two City-States Sparta believed that a person's benefit comes from loyalty to the state. A century-long decline followed. The agoge was at its height during the Classical Period (5th-4th centuries BCE) and was praised as the ideal form of education by the philosophers Plato (l. 428/427-348/347 BCE) and Aristotle (l. 384-322 BCE) as well as the writer Xenophon (l. 430 - c. 354 BCE). In the meantime (430429), the Spartans attacked Athenian bases in western Greece but were repulsed. Spartan citizens did not indulge in farming activities themselves but devoted their time to military training, hunting, war, and politics. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Pericles declined to engage the superior allied forces and instead urged the Athenians to keep to their city and make full use of their naval superiority by harassing their enemies coasts and shipping. Books Sparta is best . and the Corinthian War (396 to 387 B.C.E.). The Spartans also suffered reverses at sea. "He's an impactful player; he's a home run hitter," said Smith of Robinson. The present-day city was built in 1834 on the ancient site; it is called Na (New) Spart locally to distinguish it from the ruins that were excavated in 190610 and 192429. In preparation for marriage, Spartan women had their heads shaved; they kept their hair short after they wed. Married couples typically lived apart, as men under 30 were required to continue residing in communal barracks. These monarchs were particularly powerful when one of them led the army on campaign. Under Roman control Sparta was permitted to leave the confederacy in 147 BCE which prompted the Achaean War. As Cartledge writes in Spartan Reflections, it wasnt until age 60 that Spartans finally were allowed to retire from the armyprovided that they lived that long. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. This copper engravingby MatthausMerian illustration depicts the Athenian naval defeat near Corinth over the Corinthian and Spartan fleet around 430 B.C.E. Each stood at the head of alliances that, between them, included nearly every Greek city-state. A brief treatment of the Peloponnesian War follows. Sparta was a city-state located in the southeastern Peloponnese region of ancient Greece. We want people all over the world to learn about history. Instead, the Athenians used their navy to deliver troops into the Spartan territory to conduct raids on settlements. He commissions the larger ones to fetch wood, and the smaller ones potherbs. Lycurgus returned with a new concept of law, one that people would learn by living it and would not need a written form, and gradually won the upper class over to his vision. Corrections? There were foreigners (xenoi) in Spartan society but these were not as welcome as in other city-states, and those that did live in Sparta were sometimes forcibly expelled by their overly suspicious and at times positively paranoid hosts. (24.1). They were like the Hikkos and the Assyrians and Unlike the Phoenicians or the Mionaons. Off the battlefield, the rigid acceptance of the status quo that the Spartan educational system enforced made it difficult for the Spartans to deal with social problems in their society, such as inequality in land ownership and a declining population. He has taught history, writing, literature, and philosophy at the college level. Plutarch writes: When the boys reached this age, they were favored with the society of lovers from among the reputable young men. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. But Sparta was very different from the other Greek city-states. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. The word spartan means self-restrained, simple, frugal and austere. The boys lived communally under austere conditions. (69). Spartan government What was characteristic of Spartan society? Developing a strong and efficient military. Helots were responsible for agricultural duties and other day-to-day tasks that supported the Spartans. Sparta was recognized by most as the best.. The Spartans constant military drilling and discipline made them skilled at the ancient Greek style of fighting in a phalanx formation. Known as the Agoge, the system emphasized duty, discipline and endurance. The Spartan army began by raiding lands within an Athenian allied territory, particularly a region near Athens called Attica. From the Sphinx of Egypt to the Kama Sutra, explore ancient history videos. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. The focus of the education was very different in each city-state. In addition, Spartan women could also move around with reasonable freedom, they could enjoy athletics (done in the nude like men), and even drink wine. Plutarch and other ancient historians report Spartan mothers killing their adult sons who had run from battle or in any way displayed signs of cowardice. Scholar Paul Cartledge describes the agoge as a "system of education, training, and socialization [that] turned boys into fighting men whose reputation for discipline, courage, and skill was unsurpassed" (32). National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Thebes then annexed parts of Messenia and Sparta became thereafter only a second-rate power. Sparta. As a Spartan ally, Corinth resumed hostilities toward Athens when Athens threatened Corinths interests in the region surrounding Corcyra. Even after gaining reinforcements in 413, the Athenian army was defeated again. The first period lasted 10 years and began with the Spartans, under Archidamus II, leading an army into Attica, the region around Athens. Lycurgus may have been a mythological figure (his dates are given as anywhere between the 9th and 6th century BCE), but whether he was history of myth, the program he is credited with establishing became the foundation of Spartan society and military might. The Battle of Salamis (480) revealed the magnitude of Athenian naval power and set in motion the deadly struggle between the two powers that ended in Athenian defeat at the close of the Peloponnesian War in 404 and the emergence of Sparta as the most powerful state in Greece. Sparta's focus as a city-state was military. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. As in antiquity, it is served by the small port of Githion (Ythion), 28 miles (45 km) southeast, to which it is linked by a paved road. In Sparta, only the strongest males and females survived. For clothing, they were given just one cloak to wear year-round, to make them learn to endure heat and cold, and made their own beds from plants that they had to rip out of the ground with their bare hands from river banks. This war shifted power from Athens to Sparta, making Sparta the most powerful city-state in the region. Sparta was a strict military society while Athens was a free democracy. The program was first instituted by the lawgiver Lycurgus (l. 9th century BCE) and was integral to Spartas military strength and political power. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. In his second season as Michigan State's starting point guard, Hoggard was named third-team All-Big Ten after averaging 12.9 points and 5.9 assists per game for the Spartans in 2022-23. Watch 300. These youths pursued rigorous athletic and military training which became even more demanding from the age of 20, when they joined common mess halls (syssition) where they often formed homoerotic relations with older, more experienced citizens. What is an Oligarchy? Spartan citizens required this support because they focused solely on athletic and military training, and politics. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Spartans conquered their neighbors and forced them to live as slaves, providing agricultural labor. The epitome of rough and ready virility. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/article/342/agoge-the-spartan-education-program/. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. The agoge was the ancient Spartan education program, which trained male youths in the art of war. But Stephen Hodkinson, an professor emeritus of ancient history at the University of Nottingham, UK, says there are hints in other sources that they received the standard Greek elementary education in reading, writing, numbers, song and dance.. But to make sure they learned cunning, boys who were caught stealing were whipped. In the next few years the Athenians took the offensive. [Sparta was] everywhere admired and nowhere imitated. For full treatment, see Ancient Greek civilization: The Peloponnesian War. From 1460 until the War of Greek Independence (182129), except for a Venetian interlude, the region was under Turkish rule. In addition to foot races and wrestling, their sports included a particularly brutal contest in which two teams would try to drive each other off an island by pushing, kicking, biting and gouging their opponents, according to Kyles book. Athens defeat was perhaps the worst casualty in a war that crippled Greek military strength, and thus the most culturally advanced Greek state was brought into final eclipse. Two kings from two different families ruled Sparta. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/. They had no need to learn to sew or weave because the menial jobs in Sparta were taken care of by the helots. It resulted in the emergence of Sparta as the most powerful state in Greece. Especially, Sparta was a city-state that valued military education and their type of battling style. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Spartan boys started their military training at age 7, when they left home and entered the Agoge. From the 5th century the ruling class of Sparta devoted itself to war and diplomacy, deliberately neglecting the arts, philosophy, and literature, and forged the most powerful army standing in Greece. In a decisive battle at Amphipolis in 422, both Brasidas and the Athenian leader Cleon were killed. The boy who excelled in judgement and was most courageous in fighting was made captain of the company, Plutarch wrote. Its real focus was to prepare Spartan males to be compliant members of society, who were ready to sacrifice their all for Sparta. Sparta was a powerful city-state in ancient Greece. 5a. Sparta is one of the most famous states in the Classical era. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Corrections? One such type of governing body was the city-state or polis. (71). The professional and well-trained Spartan hoplites with their distinctive red cloaks and long hair were probably the best and most feared fighters in Greece, fighting with distinction at key battles against the Persian army at Thermopylae and Plataea in the 5th century BCE. Leonidas was a Spartan king whose stand against the invading Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece is one of the enduring tales of Greek heroism, invoked throughout Western history as the epitome of bravery exhibited against overwhelming odds. In the phalanx, the army worked as a unit in a close, deep formation, and made coordinated mass maneuvers. Encouraging the arts, philosophy, and architecture. Sparta prohibited any new ideas while Athens accepted it. Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. prepares to jump on a fumble by Purdue wide receiver TJ Sheffield during the second quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium for the Purdue game on Sept. 1, 2022. Sparta was a city in Greece in which the form of the kingdom in the form of joint authority was preserved. In a further blow, late the following year, Theban general Epaminondas (c.418 B.C.-362B.C.) There was also an executive committee of five ephors (ephoroi) chosen by lot from the citizen body, able only to serve for a maximum of one year and who were ineligible for future office. They attacked the Sicilian city Syracuse and campaigned in western Greece and the Peloponnese itself. Being a militaristic state, Sparta's primary focus was on its land-based army, composed of armoured hoplites. Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! At the age of maturity one needed to be elected to a certain mess also known as a "common tent" (a, Wikipedia User: Putinovac (Public Domain). The stability that the agoge fostered also led to a certain inflexibility, Hodkinson says. Athens and Sparta had fought each other before the outbreak of the Great Peloponnesian War (in what is sometimes called the First Peloponnesian War) but had agreed to a truce, called the Thirty Years Treaty, in 445. Training in speech continued in the transitional period when one became known as a paidiskoi (bigger boy) around the age of twelve. Sparta was a warrior society in ancient Greece that reached the height of its power after defeating rival city-state Athens in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.). In the context of the agoge program, it is thought this sort of relationship also deepened the bonds between the younger and older students who thought of themselves and were considered by others all sons of the same father, the state. Please support World History Encyclopedia. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. This hilltop not only housed the famous Parthenon, but it also included temples, theaters, and other public buildings that enhanced Athenian culture. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. Cartwright, Mark. Sparta and its allies accused Athens of aggression and threatened war. World History Encyclopedia. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. While the boys were going through the agoge program, the girls were raised by their mothers or by trusted servants but, unlike in other city-states such as Athens, they did not learn how to spin, weave, or clean house. Did you know? Mark is a full-time author, researcher, historian, and editor. The city of Sparta was also in constant rivalry with the other major Greek cities of Athens and Corinth and became involved in two protracted and hugely damaging conflicts, the Peloponnesian Wars of the mid- to late-5th century BCE and the Corinthian Wars of in the early 4th century BCE. Soldiers were trained as hoplites, or heavily armed foot soldiers. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. (2001) city, 17,503; (2011) 16,239. (18.1). Originally Sparta was not that different from other Greek city states. The program was first instituted by the lawgiver Lycurgus (l. 9th century BCE) and was integral to Sparta 's military strength and political power. Sparta gained revenge on Argos in c. 545 BCE but then lost a battle with Tegea shortly after. Democracy was overthrown by the oligarchical party, which was in turn replaced by the more moderate regime of the Five Thousand. Sparta fought both foreign and neighboring adversaries. Cartledge notes: Election was competitive; a single no vote was enough to get a candidate rejected. The word laconic, which means pithy and concise, is derived from the Spartans, who prized brevity of speech. The Helots, whose name means captives, were fellow Greeks, originally from Laconia and Messenia, who had been conquered by the Spartans and turned into slaves.
Where Is The Group Number On My Caresource Card,
What To Wear To Southern Decadence,
Lancaster Guardian Court Listings 2020,
Kinder Com App Scan Code,
Nanea Golf Club Membership Cost,
Articles W
what was sparta's focus as a city state