Made popular today by the 2006 epic war film and the 1998 comic book series 300, Sparta was an ancient Greek city-state that went down in history as one of the world’s most powerful and warlike civilizations. 10 Interesting Facts about Ancient Sparta, 10 Interesting Facts about George H. W.Bush, 10 Interesting Facts about Georgia O’Keeffe, 10 Interesting Facts about Charlotte Bronte. The Romans in effect brought the myth of Sparta to a much wider audience, though, and it seems that the Spartans were more than happy to indulge these cultural tourists with tales and spectacles of ancient tradition. 1. See the fact file below for more information on the Sparta or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Sparta worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment. Sometimes, the weak baby became a slave or helot. In fact, we can still read Cynisca’s victory poem, dedicated at Olympia with a bronze statue for all to see: The fragmentary statue base and victory poem of Cynisca. Sparta is a city in Greece.It is the capital of the Laconia prefecture.It is in the south of Peloponnese peninsula.During antiquity, it was extremely powerful. Sparta’s Military Education. Although many historians dispute that Lycurgus ever actually existed as a hum… One of the signs a civilization reaches a certain point in its development is the way its … The Spartans, however, soon afterwards did away with them, and no one ever knew how each of them perished.”. The large number of helot slaves in Sparta greatly increased the anxious need for military strength within the state. Shortly after Agesilaus arrived in Egypt a group of Nectanebo I’s Egyptian troops rebelled against the Pharaoh, and the rest then deserted him. James' main area of research is ancient Greek music and Sparta. It was a law-package with politico-military, economic and social reforms. In Spartan, Helot were slaves or serfs. (1, 2) 3. Facts about Ancient Sparta 9: education. In education, sports was given the most emphasis in teaching. Even today, the allure of that prominent Greek city-state still catches our interest and imagination. Tennessee Tech University is only 15 miles north in Cookeville. The training would start from a young age for the Spartan man, and it would not end for him until late in loife, but this was the way for a man in Sparta. The darkest aspect of Sparta’s success was that, ultimately, it was enabled by the dehumanisation, subjugation, and enslavement of an entire people, the Helots, a population of Greeks who lived in Messenia. Facts about Ancient Sparta 10: military training. Boys were forced to be strongest army in the Spartan, whereas girls were pushed to be healthy and produced fit (strong) babies. Distinct Characteristics. In the next place, he banished the unnecessary and superfluous arts. Sparta was the Dorian Greek military state, considered as the protector of Greece as it was providing large army to Greece for many years. So remember, there is much more to Helen than the woman who went with Paris to Troy! As we know that Sparta was known as a city-state in Ancient Greece that has strongest army. Plutarch relates the story thus (Lyc. The laws of Sparta were developed and written by Lycurgus, a legendary lawmaker who, in the 7th century BCE reorganized the political and social structure of the polis, transforming it into a strictly disciplined and collective society.He also developed the stringent military academy of the agoge, where Spartan boys were trained from childhood to adulthood. The school between boys and girls were separated. This was very radical - other Greek girls were not formally educated. For the iron money could not be carried into the rest of Greece, nor had it any value there, but was rather held in ridicule. Here are some facts about Sparta, the famous city-state of Ancient Greece. 16,726 people lived there according to the 2001 census.. Paul Cartledge and Antony Spawforth, 2002. This caused a lot of problems that led to another full-scale war. The Helots were invited by a proclamation to pick out those of their number who claimed to have most distinguished themselves against the enemy, in order that they might receive their freedom; the object being to test them, as it was thought that the first to claim their freedom would be the most high spirited and the most apt to rebel. I know many people are probably wondering the history of both the Ancient Greek city-states, Athens and Sparta. She was the first woman to win at the Olympic games. Formal education for Spartan girls usually took place in the home. Motlow Community College and Tennessee Tech satellite campuses at McMinnville are 25 miles southwest. At present, Sparta is the administrative capital of the prefecture of Laconia. 1. The boys learnt survival skills and other skills vital to being a soldier. Agesilaus chose the right side, helping to secure Nectanebo II as Pharaoh (Nectanebo II would be the last native Pharoah of Egypt). It was here that they will live in shared quarters, and assigned to a group. Poet-musicians travelled from far afield to work in Sparta. Sparta was the only city-state where women received formal education in ancient Greece. Education for Greek people was vastly "democratized" in the 5th century B.C., influenced by the Sophists, Plato, and Isocrates.Later, in the Hellenistic period of Ancient Greece, education in a gymnasium school was considered essential for participation in Greek culture.The value of physical education to the ancient Greeks and Romans has been historically unique. Athens and Sparta were like two big fish in a small pond: both wanted to be the most important city in all of Greece. Much of the information about Sparta has come mainly through Plutarch. Originally Sparta was not that different from other Greek city states. The courses for them in these ancient Greek school were actually quite painful. The Spartan girls too went through education which was similar to that of the boys with less emphasis on military training. Sources. However, the only evidence that we really have for this comes from a rather dubious and late source, the 9th century CE lexicographer Photius, under the entry for the Greek letter ‘lambda’: L was written by the Lacedaemonians on their shields, like the Messenians [wrote] M [on theirs]. This tradition involved Spartan youths endured a ritual whipping in order to toughen them and placate the goddess (Artemis) Orthia. When this money obtained currency, many sorts of iniquity went into exile from Lacedaemon. Most famous is the Athenian owl or the Roman mints that proudly proclaimed the twins Romulus and Remus. History The city of Sparta rose to power around 650 BC. Spartan kings are my fathers and brothers. In Athens citizens had to be educated to take part in voting in the Assembly. The two kings led the executive branch, the citizens led the legislative branch, and the elders led the judicial branch. At six years old, children entered to the military school. I Cynisca, victorious with the chariot of swift-footed horses, Have erected this statue. They had to … history of ancient Greece In ancient Greek civilization: The helot factor …a rigorous military training, the agoge, to enable them to deal with the Messenian helots, whose agricultural labours provided the Spartans with the leisure for their military training and life-style—a notoriously vicious circle. Sparta is one extreme civilization to have ever walked on Earth. As such, each year the Spartans ritually waged war on the Helots. Sparta. And even without such banishment most of them would have departed with the old coinage, since there was no sale for their products. An iron spit from Sparta, their early currency? Excavations in Sparta have revealed a number of iron spits, now heavily corroded. This story is related by Plutarch in his Life of Lycurgus: In the first place, he withdrew all gold and silver money from currency, and ordained the use of iron money only. Education in Ancient Sparta. More generally, classical art & archaeology. The Phalanx. Spartans would kill the weak babies or throw them on the hillside, named the “Apothetae” (the place of rejection). Tennessee Technology Center operates two nearby facilities. Education - Education - Athens: Beginning at a date difficult to fix precisely (at the end of the 7th or during the 6th century), Athens, in contrast to Sparta, became the first to renounce education oriented toward the future duties of the soldier. This caused a lot of problems that led to another full-scale war. Understanding the role of music within Spartan society is the main aim of my PhD (and is perhaps one the reasons why this topic is on this list!). Helots were also recruited to fight for the Spartans when needed. Boys' education in Ancient Athens consisted of three main courses: Grammata , Music, and Physical Education.Grammata included reading, writing, and arithmetic. Once they left home the Spartan boys would join the public education of the state, or their military training, and become part of the Agoge which was a Spartan method for instilling the values of Sparta in their future warriors. The simplicity of their way of life, their political stability, their strict education system, and the “production” of the finest Greek warriors were some of the reasons why ancient Sparta was admired by many other Greek cities. 300 is probably the first thing that most people … Eurytus bravely charged into battle and died. Sparta has had an enduring impact on popular thought and culture. Honey, milk, cheese, bread, fruit, meat, and fish are the food in Spartan. The myths and excitement of what Sparta once was were capitalised upon. The Spartan political system underwent a lot of sociopolitical and military transformations. The word Spartan is used to describe somebody who lives a simple life or somebody who suffered a lot without crying or showing that they suffered. Sparta was the only ancient Greek polis where girls were allowed to receive a full-scale education. Fight, lie, kill, and steal were the skills that taught by Spartan to the children. Education was carried to a high level of artistic refinement, as evidenced by the events… Because the Spartan government wanted Spartans to be tough and strong, they … One of Lycurgus’ most important reforms was to reconfigure how the army was structured and trained. Spartan Public Education Schooling of 7-Year-Old Boys. The school between boys and girls were separated. He returned to Sparta with great shame (he later redeemed himself at the battle of Plataea where he died). Sparta adopted its procedure for the sake of simplicity, and to prevent any bias voting, bribing, or cheating that was predominant in the early democratic elections. However, the popular image of Sparta propagates a version of Sparta, our version of Sparta, and this is often quite removed from the ancient sources and idealised. If you would like to find out more about ancient Sparta, here are some links to further reading, online and in print. As such, this post includes some interesting facts (and theories) about ancient Sparta that you might not know, enjoy! Spartan girls were given formal education in order to train them to be productive members of society. Fight, lie, kill, and steal were the skills that taught by Spartan to the children. They learned how to read and write, but those skills were not considered very important except for messages. KS2 History Ancient Greece learning resources for adults, children, parents and teachers. Facts about Ancient Sparta 6: Education. Cynisca’s brother, King Agesilaus II, spent his final days leading a mercenary army in Egypt, having spent his earlier years proving himself as a military leader of great skill (most famously against in the Persians in 396-4 BCE). The popular image of Sparta is one of a state of military muscle men decked out in red cloaks and hoplite shields emblazoned with the Greek letter ‘lambda’ Λ, which stood for Lacedaemonioi (think of Gerard Butler). In 362/1 BCE, at around 80 years of age, King Agesilaus II (Cynisca’s brother) was summoned by Pharaoh Nectanebo I to lead his Egyptian forces against the Persians (Egypt had been conquered by the Persians in 525 BCE but then later regained independence). Military school was tough, on purpose. Sparta is a city in Greece.It is the capital of the Laconia prefecture.It is in the south of Peloponnese peninsula.During antiquity, it was extremely powerful. Sparta was a military state and had a fulltime army to protect it from invaders. Key Facts & Information Historical Background. In fact, women were not allowed within the sanctuary of Olympia while the games were on. Sparta differed markedly from all other Greek states in several crucial respects. Sparta comprises a farming concern, cattle feeding operation and beef processing facility. Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships, was from Sparta. However, there was a constant fear that the Helots might rise up again the Spartans (they outnumbered them massively). Cynisca is someone more people should know about. The women of Sparta had more freedom and education than most Greek city-states at the time. Spartan Mother and Son, Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée, 1771 . History The city of Sparta rose to power around 650 BC. And even though it is true that Sparta is known for its military prowess, what really made it great were its unique political institutions and society. If nothing else, then, it seems that these peculiar iron rods might have been the iron money to which Plutarch was referring. Have a look on google maps and see which other famous Spartan people, places, and events you can see! I am the only women in the whole of Greece to take this crown. After the students had learnt their letters, they went onto learning the words of … The Helots were, in effect, agricultural slaves. Each class will be explained below. “Indeed fear of their [the Helots’] numbers and obstinacy even persuaded the Lacedaemonians to the action which I shall now relate, their policy at all times having been governed by the necessity of taking precautions against them. A fragmentary lead figurine depicts a Spartan hoplite with rosette pattern on his shield. The earliest inscription to Helen from the Menelaion sanctuary dates to c.650 BCE and is from Deinis (a male name), who dedicated a bronze meat-hook. Alcman (from Lydia) was renowned throughout the ancient world for his ritual songs about Spartan maidens. Another myth that continues to lurk about ancient Sparta is that it was a deeply xenophobic society. Ancient Sparta was not as sophisticated as Athens, did not create arts and crafts, and has not left us any written masterpiece. Sparta beef is marketed both locally in South Africa and internationally. In Sparta, reading and writing was unimportant. First, it remained a monarchy of a peculiar kind: two kings ruled at the same time during Sparta’s entire history as an independent state. Apella – a governmental assembly in Sparta that accepted and rejected laws. Early Sparta was not just famous for its military, but also its music. Spartan women were afforded a public education as well. The women of Sparta had more freedom and education than most Greek city-states at the time. Not only was the physically of a Spartan man important, they were also expected to be cunning, savvy and educated, they were expected to excel in not only the body but also the mind, and this was the key to Spartan nature. They were also trained in sports, gymnastics, music, poetry, and war-education. They were taught various survival skills, strategic skills and so on. Sparta Facts For Kids – Ancient Greek History Sparta was a powerful Ancient Greek city-state known as a warrior society. The purpose of education in Sparta was to produce and maintain a powerful army. They could not, however, use their education to have careers or earn money. Aristodamus stayed behind. His body was transported back to Sparta. Athens, on the other hand, was the capital as well as the largest city in Greece. The education of Sparta---Military life One of many war experiences was the Dorian invasion which had played a great role in the development of the city state of Sparta. Again this schooling also differed in Sparta. Sparta (also known as Lacedaemon) was one of the key city-states in Ancient Greece. The nature of the city-states varied greatly, and this was also true of the education they considered appropriate. Both daily life and education were very different in Sparta, than in Athens or in the other ancient Greek city-states. I announce that. Athens is spread across the central plain of … According to the legend, the Spartan law was written by the great lawmaker (Greek : νομοθέτης, nomothetis) Lycurgus. The primary goal of Spartan education was to produce good soldiers. So, there we have it, 300 Spartans went to Thermopylae, and only Aristodamus and Pantites came back alive (though not for long). Sources. 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