spartan women

• What does the term "exposure" refer to in ancient Sparta?

  Leaving unwanted babies outside
• What does the term "militaristic" mean in the context of ancient Sparta?

  Focused on military policy
• What was the role of the "elders" in ancient Sparta?

  Council of older Spartan men
• What was a "syssition" in ancient Sparta?

  Communal mess hall
• What were "barracks" used for in ancient Sparta?

  Accommodating military personnel
• What does the term "consummate" mean in the context of marriage?

  Make marriage complete with intercourse
• What does the term "allegiance" refer to in the context of ancient Sparta?

  Loyalty or commitment
• Why were Spartan laws and customs designed to produce elite soldiers?

  To achieve military dominance
• Who decided whether a baby should be accepted into the household or exposed in ancient Sparta?

  Spartan elders
• What was the criteria for deciding whether a baby should be raised or exposed in ancient Sparta?

  Health of the baby
• What type of training did Spartan girls participate in?

  Physical training
• What does the fact that Spartan elders valued the health of the baby over its gender suggest about their values?

  They valued women's contributions to Sparta
• Why did the Spartan education system encourage physical excellence in women?

  To produce strong babies
• How long did Spartan girls receive education?

  Until they were 18
• Who was Cynisca and what was her achievement?

  First woman to win the Ancient Olympic Games
• How did young men and women interact in ancient Sparta?

  They exercised together and interacted freely
• Why was there no financial aspect to Spartan marriages?

  Because the main purpose was to produce strong children
• At what age did Spartan girls typically marry?

  Late teens or early twenties
• Why did Spartan girls marry at an older age than Athenian girls?

  Because older girls were thought to produce stronger children
• What did a Spartan bride do on her wedding night?

  She cut her hair short and wore men's clothes
• Where did the groom sleep on his wedding night?

  In his military barracks
• Why did the Spartan wedding ritual involve the groom sneaking out to see his bride at night?

  To ensure the couple's excitement and produce healthier babies
• How did the Spartans view female babies compared to male babies?

  They were regarded as equally valuable
• Why were young women permitted to exercise in ancient Sparta?

  Because it would help them produce strong children
• What does the fact that husbands would only visit their wives at night suggest about the value placed on women in ancient Sparta?

  Women were less valuable than the state and the husband
• What was the role of women in ancient Spartan society?

  They played a vital role in ensuring the success of Sparta's militaristic system
• Why was physical education important for women in ancient Sparta?

  It helped them produce strong children
• How did Spartan views on women differ from Athenian views?

  Spartans valued women's contributions to society, while Athenians did not
• What was the significance of the Spartan wedding ritual?

  It ensured the couple's excitement and produced healthier babies
• How did the Spartan education system impact women's roles in society?

  It helped them become stronger and more capable of producing strong children