Sparta

• What happens to babies at birth?

  inspected by gerousia (council of elders)

  Only strong were allowed to survive

  Weak babies were exposed
• Common test for babies at birth

  submerge them in wine - weak child would die, but if child survived they would libe
• Stage for spartan boys

  agoge - enrolled at age 7 and was compulsory military training

  would then try to get elected into the syssition - dining clubs for only spartan men
• How would you get elected to the syssition

  every single member would have to vote you in
• How would you get full spartan citizenship

  • by getting elected into a syssition
• How could someone avoid serving in the army

  • fail his military training
  • unable to get elected into a syssition
  • considered shameful and seen as inferior
• Why was Spartas army so small

  because the agoge was so tough, loads of people would fail or die

  ensured only best are recruited
• What happens after you are elected into a syssition?

  the citizens live in barracks and share dinner every night

  they share a tent on campaign

  encourages camaraderie
• Cameredarie 


  mutual trust and friendship
• How could he train so much?

  affordable - state gives him a plot of land and helots and kleros

  not allowed to have crafts - has all day to train
• What happens at age of 60

  would not be called to fight by more

  not noble for old man to die before young man
• What was service in militray seen as

  • civic duty
  • Spartans believed their system was perfect s it was handed down by Lycurgus
• How was the core of the army supplemented

  By perioikoi

  and helots

  help bulk up