Ancient Greece

This is Sparta

900-396 B.C.E.

Essential Standards

• 6.C&G.1 Understand the development of government in various civilizations, societies and regions.

• 6.C.1 Explain how the behaviors and practices of individuals and groups influenced societies, civilizations and regions.

Clarifying Objectives

• 6.C&G.1.3 Compare the requirements for (e.g., age, gender and status) and responsibilities of (e.g., paying taxes and military service) citizenship under various governments.

• 6.C.1.1Analyze how cultural expressions reflected the values of civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., oral traditions, art, dance, music, literature, and architecture).

Essential Questions

• What were the requirements & responsibilities of Spartan citizenship for men?

• What were the requirements & responsibilities of Spartan citizenship for women?

• How does the way the Spartan cultural expressions reflect their values?

Ancient Greece• Ancient Greece was

known for

• Ancient Greece was broken into 5 powerful city states– Athens– Sparta– Corinth– Megara– Argos

Sparta• Sparta was a Greek City State

• It was one of the 5 largest city states

• Sparta is known for being the Warrior culture in Greece

• The entire Spartan nation lived as an army

• Sparta is still honored today as being one of the foundations of military strategy and toughness there ever was

Life In Sparta• Life in Sparta began with

an inspection

• When a child was born especially a boy they were inspected by an elder

• This was to see if the boy would be strong enough to eventually become a warrior

Passing Inspection• The elder was a person of the

state (from the government)

• If the child was deemed worthy they would be returned but not to their mother

• They would go to a slave wet nurse to be cared for to ensure that the child was not coddled

Passing Inspection• If the child had any

imperfections at all they were deemed not worthy to live in Spartan society

• They were taken to a Mount Taygetus and flung into the ravine

• No consideration was given to the feelings of the parents because their job was to birth strong warriors

Tough Love• If the child was deemed

worthy there life was still not easy at all

• As young babies they were ignored if they cried

• As toddlers they were taught not to fear darkness & to not fear anyone

Where is Daddy• Spartan boys & girls grew up

without a father if they were lucky

• They were considered lucky if their father was a member of the Spartan Military

• If he was he would occasionally come home from battle or from training but other than that would not ever see his family

Tombstone• Tombstones with their names on it

were rare & they were an honor to have

• You were only given a tombstone if you were a Spartan Warrior who died in battle

• If you were a Spartan mother who died giving birth

• This was because both acts were considered dying for the states (your country)

Agoge, Military Training• Young Spartans would be put

into military training at the age of 7

• At age 7 every young boy was taken from their mother to start military training

• From that point on the boy would live a rough unforgiving military life in a Spartan Military Training Barrack

Training, Training, Training• After being taken from their

mother Spartan boys would do nothing but train for the next 12 years

• Spartan’s could barely read or write

• Spartan Training & Education focused on– Military Skills– Discipline– Toughness

I’m Cold• The young Spartan boys were

not given clothes, shoes or underwear

• They were given one cloak that was supposed last them the whole year

• They were not given a bed either

• He had to make his own from the reeds by the water

I’m Hungry• During their training the

Spartan boys were not fed enough to eat

• This was done to encourage them to be angry & to steal their food from their enemies

• If he was caught stealing he would get beaten by the owner of the food and then by his instructor for being dumb enough to get caught

Encouraged to Fight• Young Spartan boys were

encouraged to fight with each other

• Older Spartan men would instigate fights between the boys

• This was all part of their training to toughen the boys up

Spartan Society• Spartans were taught not to cry you

were taught not to show pain

• At age 10 they would play a game where two Spartan boys would be tied to a tree or column and whipped

• Who ever was able to stand there and be whipped the longest was deemed toughest

• Their families would stand there and watch and yell at the boys not to pass out

Spartan Society

• The societal model was designed to turn people into tough soldiers who didn’t fear death

Spartan Women• Spartan girls were allowed

to stay with their mothers but were trained as well

• Spartan girls were trained in gymnastics, javelin throwing & dance

• This was to make them strong for when they were to bear children

Training with Spartan Weapons• At age 12 the Spartan boys

would begin training with Spartan weapons

• They would train with the sword, thrusting spear, & shield

• They fight each other with wooden spears and tip less swords

Death in Training

• It was common for Spartan boys to kill each other with these training weapons

• That was allowed because it toughened up the winner by letting him see death

Final Rite of Passage• When they turned 18 they

had to pass one last test to be a part of the military

• They had to murder a helliot (Spartan enemy) and steal

• You must both murder & not get caught

Graduation• At age 18 following the murder

of the Helot they were inducted to the Spartan military officially

• This was the second biggest day of their life (only the day they were killed was more important)

• This was also an important day for both mother & father because it validated the process of being taken from them at a young age

Tav Tan E Pa Tas• Tav Tan E Pa Tas

• Spartan mothers would give the shields to Spartan boys at graduation and say this phrase which is Greek for with your shield or on it

• What this means is either comeback victorious or comeback dead from being killed in battle

Phalanx • The Spartan Warriors fought

in a Phalanx

• A Phalanx was a battle strategy where every warrior was protected by the warrior to their right & left’s shield

• They would let the enemy attack but halt them with their shields and then launch their own attack

Essential Questions

• What were the requirements & responsibilities of Spartan citizenship for women?

• What were the requirements & responsibilities of Spartan citizenship for women?

• How does the way the Spartan cultural expressions reflect their values?

Lesson Summery

• http://www.history.com/videos/spartan-boot-camp-killing-machines#spartan-boot-camp-killing-machines