Spartans

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=  __ Ancient Greece: Sparta __  =  The Spartans were some of the toughest warriors people have ever seen. Sparta also known as Lacedaemon was formed by Dorian Greeks, 80 years after the Trojan War. Tradition says that Sparta was founded by the son of Zeus, and was named after his daughter. Spartans are truly patriotic they lived and died for their country, which is why the Spartan military is nearly invincible. Spartans were so confidante of their military that they didn’t have any city walls. Sparta is held up by many pillars, which include: women, men, children, military, slaves, government, and currency. These are all aspects that shale by stated in this essay.

In all Greek states women were required to stay in their homes at all times, however Spartan women were allowed to leave their homes whenever they pleased. The Spartan women had a free life but were required to have academic and physical education. It was said that by doing this they would be able to have a strong healthy baby. When a baby was born it was taken to the oldest Spartans to be examined, if the Spartan husband and Elder didn’t accept the baby for it’s weakness they would leave the baby out on a mountain to die. They did this because they believed all Spartans that are in military school should be strong. A Spartan marriage was non-ceremonial, with the attendance of only their family and closest friends; Spartans didn’t believe in luxury, they though it made you selfish, weak and unappreciative. Spartan women had power and respect, the women of Sparta owned at least 35% of all the land in Sparta. The life of Spartan women was respected, because of their major task in life, to give birth to Spartans. In Sparta slaves were called Helots in Sparta, Helots aren’t the same as slaves they were better than slaves. They would farm land and cultivate for a minimum pay. All Helots aren’t poor people, Helots are also prisoners from war who were captured by their enemy and forced to work. After a war this was a common way of receiving helots. Since the military had nobody to practice there fighting skills on the government decided that every year they would have war with Helots, it didn’t count as murder if they died. Helots were always trying to escape most of them hated there masters with all their life. The military was always alert in case the helots decided to have war with Sparta; thanks to their organization they were able to keep the Helots under control. By the law Helots couldn’t be sold to anybody, and they had absolutely no legal or civ

il rights over anything. They didn’t do work in homes because of the risk that they would attack young children and women so they would work out on the farms. Only the most trusted Helots were allowed to work indoors when the women allowed it. Usually almost everybody owned a Helot since cultivating and farming was such hard work under the gruelling sun. With the help of Helots average citizens would have a successful crop and their farm would be well kept. Helots were a large part of the everyday life of a Spartan. The Spartans had the most stable government in the entire history of Ancient Greece. There government was a democratic monarchical oligarchy. The Spartan government consisted of two kings and a group of elders, although the kings didn’t have mu ch say over Sparta. They focused on Military, judicial, and religious. The Kings believed that a stronger military would mean and better country overall. Major decisions of the country took the opinion of all citizens and weren’t only decided by the government. Soon after the war on Athens the relationship of the two kings started to change, it was said that one of the kings was a traitor and was giving information to the Persians. After more evidence he was banished that’s where he fled to Persia to assist them, this made the Persian war even more interesting. Overall the Spartan government was one of the most powerful ever, they were able to meet the requirements for almost all citizens. The military consisted of true warriors that would give their life for war, in other words they lived and died for their country. Spartans were disciplined and were taught many essential values. Spartan boys lived a normal life until the age of seven, that’s when they had to leave their home for military school. In Spartan military schools they would enter the Agoge system for education, they would do physical training, hunting, dancing and emotional and spiritual training. The Spartan boys would sleep in something called a Barrack and would have to wake up extremely early to start school, by doing this they would have discipline. The life of the average Spartan consisted of one thing: training for war. After the Agoge system Spartan children would then enter something called a Gauntlet. This ritual is where the children run around a group of older children who would continuously whip them sometimes to death. When military school was finished that's when then children were finally Spartan warriors. A major war for the Spartans was in 479 B.C when the Spartans/Greeks fought against the Persians. It was known as the Persian war. The Persian war was one of the largest wars Europe has ever seen, since they have been rivals for such a long time they both knew that a war was approaching so they were prepared when it happened. Approximately 40,000 people from Sparta came, 5000 were Spartan warriors and 35,000 were Helots (slaves).In the end the Greeks won the battle ending the war. The first loss for the Spartans was the battle of Leuctra in 371 B.C; once again it was the first defeat for the Spartans. Since Sparta and Athens, Thebes and Persia were major powers fighting for Supremacy, this was the result of the Peloponnesian war. This is also where the Athenian Empire tries to take over the Spartan role of “Guardian of Hellenism”. There many attempt all ended in failure. During war was the only time men were allowed to beautify their hair and ornament their body. The average Spartan would stay in the army till age 60, after they were allowed to enjoy life and their many achievements. When war was over a Spartan could only return to Sparta in one of two ways: victorious or dead. Also if a Spartan doesn’t return with his shield it was thought that he threw it at his enemy so that he could flee, this act is punishable and can result in death. So far Sparta has ruled over the city area of Laconia, however they haven`t ruled any other areas. For a long time Sparta had no city walls trusting there army for defence. Finally 1834 after the war of independence Sparta rebuilt itself into a new modern city. Spartans warriors were major parts in the well being of Sparta. Spartans consisted of die hard warriors that would give there life for Sparta, this is a major reason why the military was so powerful. Spartans believe that they were true Greeks since they didn’t believe in luxury and followed all Greek rituals. Spartans were very down to earth they loved there country and who they were, which they though of themselves as superior Greeks. Spartans lived life according to the circle of life. Women would give birth to children who would become warriors, and then the warriors would have kids which would also become warriors. They lived life in a chain. Together they helped each other live a normal and kept the Spartan legacy to live on. In conclusion Spartans were truly ambitious, they lived for one major reason, to serve there country.

By: Haaris