localized power A key characteristic of ancient Greek city-state was a political (government) system based on independent city-states where everyone could be left alone to do their own thing. In 428 they tried to aid the island state of Lesbos, a tributary of Athens that was planning to revolt. Indoctrination into this lifestyle began early. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Sparta focused on producing good . According to Plutarch, as the young Spartans grew, they were required to exercise more and more to build their bodies. The Spartan army showed the rest of Greece the way forward towards a greater military professionalism. However, as a free city in the Roman world things did improve for Sparta, and the city enjoyed good relations with her conquerors but the end finally came for Sparta in 396 CE when the Visigoth king Alaric sacked the city. Reduced by constant wars in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, the Spartan hoplites (homoioi) became dangerously small in number (8,000 in 490 BCE to 700 in 371 BCE), so much so, that non-Spartiate soldiers had to be enlisted and their loyalty and interest in Sparta's ambitions was questionable. Methods of mistreatment could be far more extreme: Spartans were allowed to kill Helots for being too smart or too fit, among other reasons. According to the ancient Greek historian Plutarch, who wrote several centuries after Spartas heyday in the 400s B.C., Spartans began developing soldiers shortly after birth, when male infants were evaluated by Spartan elders. Along with the surrounding area, it forms the perifereiak entita (regional unit) of Laconia (Modern Greek: Lakona) within the Peloponnese (Pelopnnisos) perifreia (region). World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Cartledge comments: One particularly striking instance of this displaced or surrogate fathering was the institution of ritualized pederasty. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/article/342/agoge-the-spartan-education-program/. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. The Falcons' leadership team of general manager Terry Fontenot and Smith also . Whether they were in Sparta or deployed elsewhere, every man of that mess was required to bring food to be shared in common and so, obviously, had to be present. Spartan boys started their military training at age 7, when they left home and entered the Agoge. 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! Healthy daughters were also a priority, however, as they would eventually be expected to produce children of their own. She or he will best know the preferred format. The relationship was probably sexual, but sex was by no means the only or even always the major object. If they were successful, even if the theft was detected afterward and the culprit clearly suspected, no punishment was given; if they were caught, they were severely beaten. In addition to local politics, from the 6th century BCE Sparta began to broaden her horizons by, for example, creating an alliance with Croesus of Lydia and sending an expedition against Polycrates of Samos in c. 525 BCE. Sparta, Modern Greek Spart, historically Lacedaemon, ancient capital of the Laconia district of the southeastern Peloponnese, southwestern Greece. Each stood at the head of alliances that, between them, included nearly every Greek city-state. Sparta was traditionally the great land power of the Greek world and controlled many neighboring territories whose populations were tied to the land as slaves. Whipping was a test of courage and stoicism, Reiter says. In 425 the picture was bleak for Sparta, which began to sue for peace. What was Sparta's focus as a city-states? Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. The word spartan means self-restrained, simple, frugal and austere. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Although Spartan women were not active in the military, they were educated and enjoyed more status and freedom than other Greek women. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. No one soldier was considered superior to another. Sparta was a strict military society while Athens was a free democracy. Thank you! Agoge, the Spartan Education Program. Cartwright, Mark. JoDee Kenney sits down with Troy Mayor Patrick Madden to talk about balancing a city budget, while still providing necessary services to residents. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Xenophon, a philosopher and historian who lived from the late 400s to mid-300s B.C., noted that one purpose was to keep them slim, which Lycurgus, the founder of the Spartan system, believed would make them grow taller. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. Sparta was a warrior society in Ancient Greece that was set during 401 and 434 BC. The war featured two periods of combat separated by a six-year truce. We contribute a share of our revenue to remove carbon from the atmosphere and we offset our team's carbon footprint. The elderly men also kept close watch of them, coming more frequently to their places of exercises, and observing their contests of strength and wit, not cursorily, but with the idea that they were all in a sense the fathers and tutors and governors of all the boys. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Lycurgus may have been a mythological figure (his dates are given as anywhere between the 9th and 6th century BCE), but whether he was history of myth, the program he is credited with establishing became the foundation of Spartan society and military might. All rights reserved. Hostilities resumed between Athens and Sparta with an assault launched by the Athenians at Sicily. Sparta was, however, an ally with Athens in the defence of Greece against the invasion of Persian king Xerxes, and fought with distinction at Thermopylae in 480 BCE and at Plataea one year later. Sparta thus came to control some 8,500 km of territory making the polis or city-state the largest in Greece and a major player in Greek politics. The planning, design, and construction projects for its water plant will lead to a connection to Decaturville's water system, to be used in the case of emergency. The helots could keep a percentage of the produce they cultivated, but they were also regularly purged to keep them firmly in their social place and they could also be conscripted into military duties in times of war. The agoge gradually declined in support from the 4th century BCE, though some form of it existed during the early years of the Roman Empire. They were encouraged to break the exclusive ties with their own natal families and to consider all Spartans of their fathers age to be [their parents]. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. They attacked the Sicilian city Syracuse and campaigned in western Greece and the Peloponnese itself. Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society. Once election to a mess was secured, all the men of that mess ate every meal together. Plutarch writes: When the boys reached this age, they were favored with the society of lovers from among the reputable young men. In the late 8th century BCE, Sparta subjugated most of neighbouring Messenia and its population was made to serve Spartan interests. Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society. Within a few months, however, Pericles fell victim to a terrible plague that raged through the crowded city, killing a large part of its army as well as many civilians. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Originally Sparta was not that different from other Greek city states. Sparta was leader of an alliance of independent states that included most of the major land powers of the Peloponnese and central Greece, as well as the sea power Corinth. The 80-second response to employees' bonus questions came at the end of a 75-minute . They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Sparta gained revenge on Argos in c. 545 BCE but then lost a battle with Tegea shortly after. Help us and translate this article into another language! (18.1). The Helots, whose name means captives, were fellow Greeks, originally from Laconia and Messenia, who had been conquered by the Spartans and turned into slaves. In a further blow, late the following year, Theban general Epaminondas (c.418 B.C.-362B.C.) On the advice of Pericles, its most influential leader, Athens refused to back down. After the transitional stage, students were known as hebontes (young men) and were under the tutelage of a paidonomos (boy-herder). A peculiar feature of the Spartans and their military was the great importance given to matters of religion. Especially, Sparta was a city-state that valued military education and their type of battling style. Member of a group of people who migrated into the Greek mainland Homer Greek poet who composed the Iliad and the Odyssey epic In 371 B.C., Thebes, a rival city state, defeated Sparta at the battle of Leuctra by using unorthodox, creative cavalry maneuvers that the Spartans were too inflexible to counter. Among his reforms was the creation of formal education and military training that became the agoge. The relationship between citizens and helots was an uneasy one and there were sometimes uprisings, notably in the 7th century BCE which contributed to Sparta's defeat to Argos at Hysiae in 669 BCE. They had an excellently trained military with diligent soldiers. As a result, the Peloponnesian War was concluded. Spartas continued agitation spurred Romes war on the Achaeans (146) and the Roman conquest of the Peloponnese. Fighting ensued, and the Athenians then took steps that explicitly violated the Thirty Years Treaty. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. But it accomplished all that at great cost, by turning Spartan boys childhood into what today would be seen as a traumatic experience. In 396 ce the modest city was destroyed by the Visigoths. Whether Lycurgus was history of myth, the program he is credited with establishing became the foundation of Spartan society & military might. The paidonomos was appointed by the citys Ephors (overseers), who were elected officials sworn to uphold the laws of Sparta and were even given authority to challenge a sitting king if he did not do the same. As in antiquity, it is served by the small port of Githion (Ythion), 28 miles (45 km) southeast, to which it is linked by a paved road. The Spartans also suffered reverses at sea. World History Encyclopedia. WATCH: Spartan Vengeance on HISTORY Vault, Strictly speaking, the Agoge didnt include military training, which didnt start in earnest until they became adult soldiers. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. It was a period in which diplomatic maneuvers gradually gave way to small-scale military operations as each city tried to win smaller states over to its side. Sparta was recognized by most as the best.. According to some accounts, one test was to drop the baby into a vat of wine and, if it cried, it was considered too weak, but this may be apocryphal. 5a. To push the claim, social media users are misrepresenting the limited use of RNA-based vaccines in animals, as well as a farming company's research into using plants to grow proteins used in vaccines. Although an Athenian, Xenophon was a friend of Sparta and, in fact, served the state as a mercenary. License. Known as the Agoge, the system emphasized duty, discipline and endurance. He's the co-author (with Martin J. Smith) of Poplorica: A Popular History of the Fads, Mavericks, Inventions, and Lore that Shaped Modern America. All of these freedoms would have been unacceptable in other Greek poleis. Updates? Athens believed that power should be used for the individual's benefit. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please support World History Encyclopedia. The women of Sparta also ate communally, just apart from the men. In the phalanx, the army worked as a unit in a close, deep formation, and made coordinated mass maneuvers. The Spartan army began by raiding lands within an Athenian allied territory, particularly a region near Athens called Attica. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Military activity was essential to Sparta. The Spartan hoplite endured rigorous training from the age of 7, to become a part of one of the finest type of warriors of the ancient world. They were subjected to continual physical, competitions (which could involve violence), given meager rations and expected to become skilled at stealing food, among other survival skills. This made it very difficult for Spartans to accept innovation in war or politics.. From the Sphinx of Egypt to the Kama Sutra, explore ancient history videos. The population of Sparta consisted of three main groups: the Spartans, or Spartiates, who were full citizens; the Helots, or serfs/slaves; and the Perioeci, who were neither slaves nor citizens. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The Spartan hoplite army, however, showed the rest of Greece the way forward towards a greater military professionalism and considering the iconic image of fearless and disciplined hoplites with red cloaks and lambda-emblazoned shields, for the Greeks, admiring Romans and even 21st century film-goers, this is Sparta. Xenophon, however, denies there was any sexual element to the relationships of the boys in the agoge. Related Content Sparta was unique in ancient Greece for its social system and constitution, which were supposedly introduced by the semi-mythical legislator Lycurgus. No man was allowed to live as he pleased, but in their city, as in a military encampment, they always had a prescribed regimen and employment in public service, considering that they belonged entirely to their country and not to themselves, watching over the boys, if no other duty was laid upon them, and either teaching them some useful thing, or learning it themselves from their elders. The boy who excelled in judgement and was most courageous in fighting was made captain of the company, Plutarch wrote. The only excuses for non-attendance were participation in a religious ritual or a hunting expedition. What is Sparta best described as? Unlike other Greek city-states, Sparta was exceptional in its socio-political stability, Hodkinson says. Preserving democracy and the rights of the people.. Anthropology, Archaeology, Social Studies, Ancient Civilizations. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. This instability was the context for the emergence of Greek city-states. Sparta- The Great City-State. Male children were raised primarily by their fathers until the age of seven when they entered the agoge and were known as paides (boys). Its real focus was to prepare Spartan males to be compliant members of society, who were ready to sacrifice their all for Sparta. Additionally, they were typically unencumbered by domestic responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning and making clothing, tasks which were handled by the Helots. "Sparta." The Spartans constant military drilling and discipline made them skilled at the ancient Greek style of fighting in a phalanx formation. In the initiate stage, the focus of the program was on instilling essential skills which would enable one not only to survive but conquer. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. This eiren then, a youth of twenty years, commands his subordinates in their mock battles, and indoors makes them serve him at his meals. In his The Polity of the Athenians and the Lacedemonians, he writes: The relationship of lover and beloved [in the agoge] is like that of parent and child or brother and brother where carnal appetite is in abeyance. It was probably their training in tactical maneuvers which really gave Spartan soldiers their edge on the battlefield, J.F. In the context of the agoge program, it is thought this sort of relationship also deepened the bonds between the younger and older students who thought of themselves and were considered by others all sons of the same father, the state. This war shifted power from Athens to Sparta, making Sparta the most powerful city-state in the region. Peloponnesian War, (431404 bce), war fought between the two leading city-states in ancient Greece, Athens and Sparta. Metropolis (cathedral) dedicated to St. Demetrios at Mistra. Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. One of Spartas allies, Corinth, had directly engaged the Athenian army. The goal of the agoge was the transformation of boys into Spartan soldiers whose loyalty was to the state and their brothers-in-arms, not their families. The agoge of the Classical Period continued producing its elite warriors up through 371 BCE when Sparta was defeated by Thebes at the Battle of Leuctra and still continued on in some form until 396 CE when Sparta was sacked and fell to the Visigoth king Alaric. Spartan citizens required this support because they focused solely on athletic and military training, and politics. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Along with the surrounding area, it forms the perifereiak entita (regional unit) of Laconia (Modern Greek: Lakona) within the Peloponnese (Pelopnnisos) perifreia (region). Indeed, the Spartan king Menelaus instigated the war after the Trojan prince Paris abducted his wife Helen, offered to Paris by the goddess Aphrodite as a prize for choosing her in a beauty contest with fellow goddesses Athena and Hera. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. Spartan political system was a combination of monarchy (kings), oligarchy (Gerousia) and democracy (ephoroi, ephors). The Battle of Salamis (480 BCE), one of the battles in the Greco-Persian Wars, revealed the magnitude of Athenian naval power and set in motion the deadly struggle between the two powers. READ MORE:8 Reasons It Wasn't Easy Being Spartan. Though Sparta absorbed this population, it did not integrate the conquered people into society. However, the treaty only lasted six. This hilltop not only housed the famous Parthenon, but it also included temples, theaters, and other public buildings that enhanced Athenian culture. This article was most recently revised and updated by, World History Encyclopedia - Sparta, Greece, Sparta - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Sparta - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The word means "raising" in the sense of raising livestock from youth toward a specific purpose. This was the name given to those who had been for two years out of the class of boys, and Melleirens, or would-be-eirens, was the name for the oldest of the boys. The present-day city was built in 1834 on the ancient site; it is called Na (New) Spart locally to distinguish it from the ruins that were excavated in 190610 and 192429. Spartans would humiliate the Helots by doing such things as forcing them to get debilitatingly drunk on wine and then make fools of themselves in public. His nephew, Charilaus, was evidently not the best man for the position of king and there seems to have been some significant social unrest. This 1899 illustration depicts the racecourse at Sparta. Soldiers were trained as hoplites, or heavily armed foot soldiers. World History Encyclopedia. In Greek mythology the founder of the ancient city was Lacedaemon, a son of Zeus, who gave his name to the region and his wife's name to the city. Plutarch and other ancient historians report Spartan mothers killing their adult sons who had run from battle or in any way displayed signs of cowardice. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), https://www.history.com/news/sparta-warriors-training, How Ancient Spartas Harsh Military System Trained Boys Into Fierce Warriors. The modern-day term laconic, meaning to express much in few words, comes from Laconia, the home of the Spartans. The prior financial year she was awarded a salary of roughly $1 million, in addition to about $4 million from mostly stocks and options, an annual incentive plan, and covered expenses, like access . This tough training resulted in a professional hoplite army capable of relatively sophisticated battle manoeuvres and made them feared throughout Greece, a fact perhaps evidenced by Sparta's notable lack of fortifications for most of its history. Mark, published on 15 June 2021. Simultaneous to the end of this conflict came the end of the golden age of ancient Greece. Sparta was also an important member of the Greek force which participated in the Trojan War. Even today, the word Spartan conjures up an image of an awesomely fit, skillful fighter, indifferent to pain and fear. They trained young men to become soldiers. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Later historians, such as Plutarch (l. c. 45/50 - c. 120/125 CE) were more critical of the program. Bibliography Modern Sparta is the capital of the southern Greek region of Laconia and a center for processing citrus and olives. When Spartan children were born, the male elders of the family decided if the infant was fit to live and be raised. The Peloponnesian War, one of the most significant events in ancient Greek history, enveloped the city-states of the ancient Greek world, forever changing the region. Sparta was a powerful city-state in ancient Greece. There were foreigners (xenoi) in Spartan society but these were not as welcome as in other city-states, and those that did live in Sparta were sometimes forcibly expelled by their overly suspicious and at times positively paranoid hosts. Last modified June 15, 2021. But to make sure they learned cunning, boys who were caught stealing were whipped. (17.2-3). World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. and 431 to 404 B.C.E.) 1996 - 2023 National Geographic Society. The Spartans conquered their neighbors and forced them to live as slaves, providing agricultural labor. Sparta and its allies accused Athens of aggression and threatened war. Holders of slaves, exacters of infanticide, practitioners of pederasty. Other [Greek] city states had fine armies, explains Kimberly D. Reiter, an associate professor of ancient and medieval history at Stetson University. It made them tougher/stronger, more able to sustain the weight of a heavy basically wooden shield in the summer sun, better at pushing and shoving, better at stamina, Cartledge says. The precise date of the end of the agoge is unknown, but it did not survive the 396 CE sack of Sparta by Alaric I (r. 394-410 CE) of the Visigoths. Spartans, who were outnumbered by the Helots, often treated them brutally and oppressively in an effort to prevent uprisings. Submitted by Mark Cartwright, published on 28 May 2013. Hoplite Warrior, DodonaO.Mustafin (Public Domain). Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. And they steal what they fetch, some of them entering the gardens, and others creeping right slyly and cautiously into the public messes of the men; but if a boy is caught stealing, he is soundly flogged as a careless and unskillful thief. Therefore, as they grew in age, their bodily exercise was increased; their heads were close-clipped, and they were accustomed to going barefoot, and to playing for the most part without clothes. The Peloponnesian War was a war fought in ancient Greece between Athens and Spartathe two most powerful city-states in ancient Greece at the time (431 to 405 B.C.E.). HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Instead, the Athenians used their navy to deliver troops into the Spartan territory to conduct raids on settlements. This was meant to prepare them for life in the army. Training in speech continued in the transitional period when one became known as a paidiskoi (bigger boy) around the age of twelve. Books Even lower than the conquered population was a group called the helots. The Spartan army was known for its skill in on-land combat. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. Pop. The Ephors were among the older men who oversaw punishments given to the younger boys by their elders. Earlier, in the same passage, he notes that Lycurgus created a system with his agoge unlike any others and only encouraged relationships that enriched the soul, not those which fed the appetites of the body. She or he will best know the preferred format. A second and lower social group was the helots, semi-enslaved agricultural labourers who lived on Spartan-owned estates. This body consisted of 28 over-60 years of age males who held the position for life. 30 Apr 2023. Cartledge notes: Election was competitive; a single no vote was enough to get a candidate rejected. (2001) city, 17,503; (2011) 16,239. Cartledge comments: Between the ages of seven and eighteen, the boys and youths were organized in 'packs' and 'herds' and placed under the supervision of young adult Spartans. Sparta, Modern Greek Spart, historically Lacedaemon, ancient capital of the Laconia district of the southeastern Peloponnese, southwestern Greece. Pre- and post-battle sacrifices were a common feature of Greek warfare in general but the Spartan army took things one step further and sacrificed before crossing rivers, for example, and even withheld from mobilising the army if an important religious festival was ongoing. In 371 B.C., Sparta suffered a catastrophic defeat at the hands of the Thebans at the Battle of Leuctra. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Widely circulating online posts are spreading the false narrative that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are being quietly added to the food supply. Spartan women had a reputation for being independent-minded, and enjoyed more freedoms and power than their counterparts throughout ancient Greece. Girls . Patrick J. Kiger has written for GQ, the Los Angeles Times, National Geographic, PBS NewsHour and Military History Quarterly. Developing a strong and efficient military. Sparta was about fitness, survival, and war while Athens was about public . Did you know? This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. A Spartan woman saying goodbye to her young son who is going off to war. Epaminondas' Echelon formation in the Battle of Leuctra. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The stability that the agoge fostered also led to a certain inflexibility, Hodkinson says. Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director. what was sparta's focus as a city -state. The most famous example of this is the tale of Philip II of Macedon sending the threat, If I enter Laconia with my army successfully, I will raze Sparta to the ground to which the Spartans replied, If. Thanks in part to the battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., in which a small force of Spartan soldiers stayed behind to fight to the death against a vastly larger Persian army, the warriors of Sparta have long been famous for their military prowess and tenacity. Member of a group who settled on the Greek mainland around 2000 B.C. Mayor Jones State of the City Address 2023 Apr 25, 2023: Full text of the State of the City Address given at Saint Louis University on April 25, 2023 City of St. Louis Opens Application Portal for Charter Commission to Review City's Founding Document Apr 17, 2023: The commission will empower St. Louisans to modernize and streamline city government in a transparent, citizen-driven way.
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