Sparta-Horrible Histories

Greek City States

Why do you need to Align?The Persians are coming…you need protectionNeutral City-StatesThebesArgosDelosMantineaSyracuse

Make a Flag for your City-State

Who will you align with?-Make a table like this for each HandoutAthens Athens Sparta Sparta

Pro Con Pro Con

Example (Evidence)

Example (Evidence)

Example (Evidence)

Example (Evidence)

Example (Evidence)

Example (Evidence)

Example (Evidence)

Example (Evidence)

Spartans & Messenians Conquered Laconia and in 730 BCE conquest of Messenia. The Messenians and

Laconians became serfs and were helots “capture”. To ensure control over the helots…the Spartans created a military state.

Spartan means “highly self-disciplined” Boys enrolled in military at age 20…until 30. Vote at 30 but stay in military until 60.

Spartan boys taken from the home at age 7 (if they were not healthy they were killed) Went through a training process called the Agoge

In agoge program: Boys were encouraged to steal food, but they must not get caught!

Men gone/women had more freedom… must stay fit…exercise for child bearing. Oligarchy = headed by two kings…ephors (EH*fuhrs) five men elected each

year and responsible for the education of youth and the conduct of all citizens. A council of elders, 2 kings, 28 citizens over age 60…made decisions…only voted on issues.

No foreigners… discouraged from studying philosophy, literature, arts… Art of war!

Hoplite Tactics The use of hoplite tactics dramatically changed

warfare in the ancient world. Previously, warfare had primarily been the domain of the aristocratic elite who could afford the necessary equipment. Nobles fought one-another in single combat and skirmishes, as depicted in Homer’s Iliad. As the elites were the ones to engage in warfare, the glory and spoils went to them and thereby enhanced their status.

A necessary precursor to the development of hoplite warfare was an emerging middle class.

Another cultural prerequisite for hoplite warfare was an organized state apparatus to enforce military service.

PTSDThe scale of hoplite warfare necessitated that all

able-bodied and fully-equipped men participate when fighting began. To do this, societal institutions had to stigmatize and punish those who dodged military service. Athenian laws against refusing service may go as far back as 600 B.C.E. In Sparta, “Tremblers”—men who refused to go to war—could lose their rights as citizens. Men who had displayed cowardice in battle were unable to hold public office or obtain justice for insult or injury. “Tremblers” could not enter into contracts with other Spartans, nor would they be permitted to marry.

Athenian Society Maritime trade brings increasing prosperity beginning 7th c. BCE. Aristocrats dominate smaller landholders Democracy: To be a citizen of Athens, both your mother and father

had to be citizens. You could not have been born in a different country or in another Greek city. You could not be a slave. Women cannot vote

The Pnyx: Assembly House The Academy: Gymnasium: Exercise Focus is on the arts (Beautiful structures in the city dedicated to the

Gods) Attica: Outside of the city-Agriculture Increasing socio-economic tensions

Class conflict