THE CITY-STATE: SPARTA (Adapted from Matthew Lewis ED 639, October 22, 2002)

Questions to Keep In Mind… How was the lifestyle of Spartan women different from that of other Greek women? How was Sparta different from other Greek city-states? Which of the requirements for citizenship in early Greece do you think were fair and which were not? Explain. What parts of Spartan life would you have enjoyed and what would you have wanted to change? Explain.

The Polis A city-state, that was the geographic & political center of life Acropolis: fortified hill in center of Polis Agora: at foot of hill, used for marketplace By 700 B.C. city-state formed

The Polis cont… Each city-state had its own gov’t and laws. The average size was from 5,000-10,000 citizens Only citizens could vote, own property, hold public office, and speak for themselves in court. In return they were expected to participate in the gov’t and defend the polis in time of war. Workers born outside of Greece, women, children, and slaves were not citizens.

The Polis cont… For Greek citizens civic and personal honor were one and the same. The polis gave them a sense of belonging. The good of the polis was put above everything else. Two of the greatest city-states were Sparta and Athens. Each developed with a different kind of government and a different way of life.

Sparta Sparta was located in south-central Greece, know as Peloponnesus. By 500 B.C. was the greatest military power in Greece About 800 B.C. aristocrats took control of Sparta. Ruled by two kings, they only led the army and conducted religious services

Sparta cont… Only aristocrats could be citizens. All citizens over 20 yrs. old were members of the Assembly. Five ephors (managers) were chosen each year. Council of Elders helped the ephors, they were men over 60 yrs. old and chosen for life. They also helped the Assembly and served as high court.

Sparta cont… The land was farmed by helots, or enslaved people owned by the city-state. Half of their crops were turned over to the aristocrats who lived in the center of the polis. Business and trade was left to the perioeci, or merchants and artisans who lived in the villages. They were neither slaves or citizens. The aristocrats trained for the army and war. By 750 B.C. there 20 times more helots and perioeci than aristocrats. The aristocrats chose to use force to keep down the helots and perioeci.

Spartan Way of Life The Spartans wanted to be the strongest in Greece. Newborn babies were examined to make sure they were healthy. If they were the were allowed to live. If not they were left on a hillside to die. At age seven Spartan boys were sent to live in military camps. They learned to read, write, and use weapons. They received only small amounts of food, were forced to go barefoot, and were given only one cloak to wear.

Way of Life cont… They were forced to walk in silence with eyes on the ground, they only spoke when necessary. They slept outdoors without cover. Every ten days they were lined up to make sure they were not getting fat. At age 20 they were expected to marry, but could not have a household of their own. They could retire from the army at age 60.

Way of Life cont… Spartan women had more freedoms than women in other city-states. In other city-states for women most of their time was spent at home doing household duties.They did not go without a chaperone and then only to visit other women or religious services.They never spoke to men on the street or entertained their husband’s friends.

Way of Life cont… Spartan women though mixed freely with men. They enjoyed sports such as wrestling and racing. They told the men going off to war, come home with your shield or on them.

Way of Life cont… Spartans believed new ideas would weaken their way of life, so they tried to prevent change. When other city-states began to use coins they still used iron rods. Other city-states developed literature and art. They also built up business, trade, and improved their way of life. Sparta remained a poor farming society dependent on slaves. Their only goal from the beginning until its defeat in 371 B.C. was to be militarily strong.

The End of Lesson: The Polis and Sparta Compare and contrast Spartan and American ways of life (in writing) Respond to the Quia survey entitled “9H WH- Ancient Sparta”