Sparta's Military Society

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Sparta’s Military Society Chapter 8, Section 2.1 Main Idea: Sparta was a powerful ancient Greek city-state devoted to war Vocab: Helots: state owned slaves captured from conquered land Elders: someone who is 60 years old or more Revolt: an attempt to put an end to some sort of authority Hierarchy: an organization in which people or groups are ranked Tunics: a loose garment, typically sleeveless and reaching to the wearer's knees Spartan Society The city-state of Sparta was located in the Eurotas river valley, one of the most fertile areas of southern Greece It was protected by mountains that made invasions difficult Being more isolated could have led to an outlook and values in sharp contrast with other Greek city-states The government was a blend of kings, elected officials and a ruling class - Two kings shared power, both led the army into battle - Five elected officials were elected each year by an assembly of citizens, they held the real power - The two kings and a group of 28 elders proposed new laws - The government helped maintain a balance of power and prevent revolts Spartan Society (continued) Society was a rigid hierarchy - Citizens were ranked by importance based on wealth and power - The upper class was the elite, landowning families - The second class was made up of free, noncitizens from surrounding villages (farmers, traders, soldiers, etc.) - The lowest class was the helots Helots farmed land and were only allowed to keep a tiny portion of their harvest - They outnumbered the Spartans, which gave a constant fear of an uprising = main reason for Sparta’s military society Daily Life The army was at the center of everything in Sparta and everything in Sparta was centered on the army - Spartan soldiers felt it was an honor to die in battle for Sparta At 7 years old, all boys were taken from their families and raised by the state to be soldiers; it was a very brutal training process - They wore tunics and no shoes, even in winter - Meals were small and nasty so they would have to steal food to survive, but they were punished if they were caught - Intense physical training and endless military drills created strong and obedient soliders - At age 20, they joined a military mess, or regiment, that dominated the rest of their lives Family Life Family life supported Sparta’s military values A woman’s primary role was to produce future soldiers - Women lived their daily lives independent of men - They could own property Girls were educated and focused on physical strength, athletic skills, and how to defend themselves Although Sparta’s commitment to war made it a force to be reckoned with, there were few artists, philosophers, or scientists Review Questions 1. What was one reason Sparta developed a military society? 2. In what ways was Sparta’s government unique? 3. What effect did Sparta’s commitment to the military have on other aspects of its society and culture?.

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