Transcript Sparta - cloudfront.net

TO BE A CITIZEN OF A CITY-STATE:
The ancient Greeks referred to themselves as citizens of their
individual city-states. Each city-state (polis) had its own
personality, goals, laws and customs. Ancient Greeks were very
loyal to their city-state. The city-states had many things in
common. They all believed in the same gods. They all spoke
the same language.
But if you asked an ancient Greek where he was from, he
would not say, "I live in Greece." If he was from Sparta, he
would say, "I am a Spartan." If he lived in Athens, he would say,
"I am Athenian." The city-states might band together to fight a
common foe or sometimes they went to war with each other.
Greece was not yet one country.
It was a collection of Greek city-states.
1 minute video
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These two statues were constructed in two different city-states in ancient Greece.
The statue of Socrates is from Athens, and the statue of King Leonidas is from
Sparta. Carefully study the photographs and then answer the questions below.
1. How are these two statues similar?
2. How are they different?
3. What can we learn about the views and values of Athens by looking at this
photograph?
4. What can we learn about the views and values of Sparta by looking at this
photograph?
A wandering trader, has decided it is time to settle down. He
offers the family a choice between two cities.
In one city everyone wants to be athletic, tough & strong. Their
goal of education was to create a great warrior.
The other city is different. They were famous for their literature,
poetry, drama, schools, buildings, and government.
5. Which city would you choose?
Why? AT LEAST 3 Reasons
Sparta is situated on the southern
Peloponnesus (pel-uh-puh-nee-shus)
(peninsula forming the southern part
of the mainland) of Greece.
Sparta was isolated, surrounded by
mountains on 3 sides & a harbor 25 miles
away. Located in a fertile farming area on an
inland plain, they were able to grow much of
what they needed. What they could not grow,
their Armies took by force from their neighbors.
.
1
Write down
all of the
words that
come to mind
when you
look at this
picture.
2. What does
it tell us
about the city
state of
Sparta?
Athens and Sparta were
probably the two most
famous and powerful city
states in Ancient Greece.
However, they
were both very
different.
ATHENS
SPARTA
Life was very different in ancient Sparta than it was in
the rest of ancient Greek city-states. Sparta was an
ancient Greek polis that was surrounded by enemies, so
Spartan citizens began preparing for war at birth. The
Spartans were proud, fierce, capable warriors. The
Spartans believed that military power provided security
and protection.
Spartan emphasis on war was very effective at keeping
obedience and loyalty in their city-state. Sparta’s
military expertise has been credited for many victories
that helped protect the other city-states. However,
Sparta did not focus on much else. As a result, they
were poorer, and less technically advanced than the
other city-states. No great works of art came out of
Sparta, but the Spartans, both men and women, were
tough, and the Greeks admired strength.
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I Am Sparta
Life revolved around the army.
No need for city walls…Army will defend!
When babies were born, Spartan soldiers would come
by the house and check the baby. If the baby did not
appear healthy and strong, the infant was taken away,
and left to die on a hillside. Every Spartan male or
female was required to have a perfect body.
Babies who passed inspection still didn’t have it easy.
To test their strength, Spartan infants were often
bathed in wine instead of water. They were also
frequently ignored when they cried and commanded
never to fear darkness or being alone.
According to Plutarch (a philosopher), these “tough
love” parenting techniques were so admired by
foreigners that Spartan women were widely sought
after for their skill as nurses and nannies.
How would like to have one in your house???
I think NOT!
They were harshly treated to make them tough.
Children were raised to be
soldiers, or the mothers of
soldiers.
Boys were sent to live in
military barracks to prepare for
the regular Army
at the age of 7.
Spartan men
returned home at
age of 30 but stayed
in the army until age
60.
At age 20, Spartan
men entered the
regular army and lived
in the military barracks
for another 10 years.
Men trained heavily
in combat and
expected either to
win or to die on the
battlefield.
SPARTAN BOYS/MEN
•
•
•
•
•
Life in barracks was harsh
Beaten by older children to make them tough
Whipped in front of others, but could not cry
Spartan trainers underfed the boys,
When the boys reached the age of twelve, they no longer had
tunics to wear, but got one cloak a year. Their bodies were
tough and rarely had baths or lotion. They wore rags.
• As boys grew older, the Spartans intensified their training,
cutting their hair short and making them used to walking
barefoot.
• Marched allllllllllll day barefoot!
There is a story about a Spartan boy who, in
order to conceal a fox which he had stolen, hid it
beneath his cloak and allowed the fox to gnaw
him rather than let the theft be revealed.
He died of the wounds. If he had been
discovered, the disgrace would not have been in
the stealing, but in allowing it to be detected.
The boy's action illustrates the main purpose of
the Spartan educational system, which was to
produce men capable of showing such bravery
as soldiers.
Military strength was felt to be necessary to
Sparta for their very survival.
In Sparta, the purpose of
education was to produce capable
men and women who could fight to protect
the city-state.
NEED EXTRA HELP?
STUDENT ACTIVITY:
SPARTA READING
AND QUESTIONS
http://www.mrdowling.com/701-sparta.html
SPARTAN WARRIOR VIDEO / 3 min
http://www.history.com/videos/spartans#spartans
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