Classics - Community life in the Classical World: Option 1 - Sparta

Classics - Community life in the Classical World: Option 1 - Sparta

1. The Spartan State

   • The geographical position of Sparta in Greece.
   • Details of her policy towards and conquest of Messenia

2. Sparta and other Greeks

   • The nature and limitations of the evidence:
     • Aristophanes, Xenophon and Plutarch on women and education.Aristotle on education and government.
     • Spartan attitudes to non-Spartans
     • Sparta’s isolationism and the attitudes of other Greeks towards Sparta

3. Social structure

   • The Spartiatai
   • the Periokoi (origins)
   • the Helots (origins)
   • The different duties and roles of each class
   • The concept of Eunomia

4. Culture/ Artistic achievements

   • Poetry (the nature of the content of the poems of Tyrtaios)
   • bronze works
   • sculpture and pottery

5. Government

   • Eligibility, election, duties, responsibilities and limitations of:
     • the Kings
     • the Ephors
     • the Gerousia
     • the Ecclesia (Apella)

6. Lykourgos

   • The legend of his establishment as a leader in Sparta
   • His contribution to education in Sparta.

7. Education of boys

   • The purpose of the agoge.
   • The treatment of boys, from birth to joining the military messes.
   • Games, discipline, food, clothing, organisation (platoons, eirenes)
   • The role of the paidonomos

8. Women

   • Their upbringing
   • Marriage
   • Daily life
   • Physical appearance
   • Duties
   • Land holding
   • Attitude of other Greeks

9. Military organisation

   • The army’s organisation and fighting methods
   • Training, appearance and equipment (particularly based on statuary)
   • Accommodation
   • The syssitia, krypteia

10. The Spartan army in action

    • An understanding of the basic facts on the heroism of Leonidas and the 300
      • Candidates should be aware of the basic details of the account in Herodotus: Histories, Book VII, Chapters 207 to the end, including the role and influence of Demaratus