However, trying to crush Thebes, Sparta lost the crucial battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE against the brilliant Theban general Epaminondas. The Spartan army began by raiding lands within an Athenian allied territory, particularly a region near Athens called Attica. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. Instead, the Athenians used their navy to deliver troops into the Spartan territory to conduct raids on settlements. A small commercial and industrial centre of the European plain, the city trades in citrus fruits and olive oil. Spartan boys entered a rigorous state-sponsored education, military training and socialization program. World History Encyclopedia, 28 May 2013. "Sparta." 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. The stability that the agoge fostered also led to a certain inflexibility, Hodkinson says. Along with the surrounding area, it forms the perifereiak entita (regional unit) of Laconia (Modern Greek: Lakona) within the Peloponnese (Pelopnnisos) perifreia (region). The main meal was held after dark and no torches were allowed for lighting the way to or from the mess hall in order to encourage the mens skill in navigating terrain in the dark and, so, the enable them to gather and eat when in the field without alerting an opposing force to their location. Additionally, they were typically unencumbered by domestic responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning and making clothing, tasks which were handled by the Helots. The city of Sparta was also in constant rivalry with the other major Greek cities of Athens and Corinth and became involved in two protracted and hugely damaging conflicts, the Peloponnesian Wars of the mid- to late-5th century BCE and the Corinthian Wars of in the early 4th century BCE. For clothing, they were given just one cloak to wear year-round, to make them learn to endure heat and cold, and made their own beds from plants that they had to rip out of the ground with their bare hands from river banks. Finally, in the spring of 431, a Spartan ally, Thebes, attacked an Athenian ally, Plataea, and open war began. Encouraging the arts, philosophy, and architecture. Such harsh punishment was a prominent part of the Spartan training system. 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. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Bibliography The Spartan Way: An Introduction - The Art of Manliness This eiren then, a youth of twenty years, commands his subordinates in their mock battles, and indoors makes them serve him at his meals. Spartan society was separated into social classes, and conquered people were not given political rights or citizenship. Sparta was a city-state located in the southeastern Peloponnese region of ancient Greece. what was sparta's focus as a city -state. They thought of themselves as Greeks. Plutarch writes: Under [the direction of the paidonomos] the boys, in their several companies, put themselves under the command of the most prudent and warlike of the so-called Eirens. 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 grew to rival the size of the city-states Athens and Thebes by subjugating its neighboring region of Messenia. Sparta was known as possibly the strongest city-state in all of Greece, and are still one of the most feared military squads in history. In the following years their respective blocs observed an uneasy peace. Though Sparta absorbed this population, it did not integrate the conquered people into society. According to legend, Spartas ruling house c. 9th century BCE was divided by distrust and scheming, and the people lacked strong role models in government. During this final period of the agoge, a man might marry but most did not until they graduated at the age of 30. Quiz & Worksheet - Daily Life in Ancient Athens & Sparta | Study.com Cartwright, Mark. The Spartans real secret wasnt physical fitness or indifference to pain and suffering, but rather superior organization. The Spartans settled the area of the Peloponnese in the valley of Laconia at some point in the 10th century BCE, and later displacing an indigenous people the perioikoi and the helots who were then subjugated. 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. Pop. Originally Sparta was not that different from other Greek city states. It was the ancient capital of the Laconia district of the southeastern Peloponnese, Greece. 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. But experts confirm there are no COVID-19 vaccines in . Some messes were of course more exclusive and desirable than others, none more so than the royal mess, in which both kings dined jointly with their chosen aides when in Sparta. For all Spartan citizens there was a strong emphasis on military training and frugal living in communal mess halls where simple food such as barley meal, cheese, figs and wine were the norm. Sparta fought both foreign and neighboring adversaries. In 396 ce the modest city was destroyed by the Visigoths. The fighting engulfed virtually the entire Greek world, and it was properly regarded by Thucydides, whose contemporary account of it is considered to be among the world's finest . In 425 the picture was bleak for Sparta, which began to sue for peace. World History Encyclopedia. Sparta, Modern Greek Spart, historically Lacedaemon, ancient capital of the Laconia district of the southeastern Peloponnese, southwestern Greece. Men who delayed marriage were publicly shamed, while those who fathered multiple sons could be rewarded. Sparta and its allies accused Athens of aggression and threatened war. 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 Spartans conquered their neighbors and forced them to live as slaves, providing agricultural labor. But to make sure they learned cunning, boys who were caught stealing were whipped. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/. The program was first instituted by the lawgiver Lycurgus (l. 9th century BCE) and was integral to Spartas military strength and political power. Spartan girls also engaged in a number of sports including boxing, wrestling, discus and javelin toss, horseback riding, and foot races. 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. This hilltop not only housed the famous Parthenon, but it also included temples, theaters, and other public buildings that enhanced Athenian culture. Spartan women could own property which they often gained through dowries and inheritances. In What Way Was Spartan Government Like An Oligarchy The Greek city-state imposed brutal training and contests that began at age 7. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Describe Sparta as a city-state? You cannot download interactives. It is often regarded as the epitome of the military-state that is devoted to war. All rights reserved. Military activity was essential to Sparta. The result of the conflict was the 'King's Peace' where Sparta ceded her empire (for which she in any case lacked the necessary bureaucratic apparatus to manage properly) to Persian control but Sparta was left to dominate Greece. 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. In the late 8th century BCE, Sparta subjugated most of neighbouring Messenia and its population was made to serve Spartan interests. We want people all over the world to learn about history. The conquered peoples of Messenia and Laconia, known as perioikoi, had no political rights in Sparta and were often made to serve with the Spartan army. Continued Spartan ambitions in central and northern Greece, Asia Minor, and Sicily once again dragged the city into another protracted conflict, the Corinthian Wars with Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Persia from 396 to 387 BCE. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! In addition to foot races and wrestling, their sports included a particularly brutal contest in which two teams would try to drive each other off an island by pushing, kicking, biting and gouging their opponents, according to Kyles book. TDEC Announces Additional $232 Million in Water Infrastructure Investments Sparta is best . Sparta was recognized by most as the best.. 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. Soon afterward the navy was also beaten, and the Athenians were utterly destroyed as they tried to retreat. In 371 B.C., Sparta suffered a catastrophic defeat at the hands of the Thebans at the Battle of Leuctra. Marriage was important to Spartans, as the state put pressure on people to have male children who would grow up to become citizen-warriors, and to replace those who died in battle. But Sparta was very different from the other Greek city-states. Rise of City-States: Athens and Sparta The Acropolis played an integral role in Athenian life. 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. Soldiers were trained as hoplites, or heavily armed foot soldiers. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. (2001) city, 17,503; (2011) 16,239. These were the landed aristocracy, and following reforms credited to Lycurgus in the 6th century BCE (or even earlier), citizens could not indulge in agricultural activities - this was the lot of the helots - but they had to devote themselves to athletic and military training and politics.