The Rise of Sparta

1
The Rise of Sparta
2
Greek City-State

• Proper name is Lacedaimon or Lakedaimon.
• Son of Zeus, married Sparta.

3
Geography

• Located on the Peloponnesus, a plain between
  mountains and the sea
• Very isolated
• Did not trust outsiders, grew what they needed
• Did not like trade, grew what they needed
• Powerful army

4
Government

• Oligarchy
• Power in the hands of a few
• Important decisions made by the Council of Elders
• Council members had to be at least 60 and wealthy
• Served for life
• Had an Assembly, but had little power

5
Economy

• Sparta was a farm economy, they grew what they
  needed
• Anything else needed was was gotten through
  conquest
• Spartan men were soldiers, so work was done by
  slaves and/or non-citizens
• Helots Spartan slaves
• Perioikoi Free men, not slaves, noncitizens
• Did not have coins, used heavy iron bars for
  money
• Used iron bars because difficult to steal

6
Education

• Boys and girls
• The purpose of education was to protect the state
• Boys and girls trained to fight at age 7
• Boys taught to suffer pain without complaint
• Taught boxing, wrestling, racing gymnastics, some
  reading and writing
• At 20, boys given difficult military test, if
  passed, became soldiers
• Men unable to marry until age 30

7
Women and slaves

• Women
• Lived same, simple life as men
• Were expected to be strong, and able to fight
• Could own and control property
• Took care of husbands property when at war
• Slaves
• Treated very harshly
• Punished severely if thought might rebel
• Could marry and sell crops
• Could buy freedom