Sparta

• What age would boys leave home to join the agoge?

  Boys would leave home at the age of 7.
• What happened to boys who failed the agoge?

  They could not become a full citizen. This meant theywould not be given a kleros or any helots. So would probably have to rely on begging to survive.
• How would boys in the agoge be grouped?

  Boys would be put into "packs" like classes with boys their own age.
• What were prefects and what did they do?

  Prefects were boys in their late teens who excelled in classes. They would supervise boys at all times and whip them for any misbehaviour.
• What were Spartan boys taught in the initial phase of training?

  Boys learned music and dancing in groups, to develop their precision and teamwork. They were also taught reading and writing but just enough to comprehend basic texts.
• Why wouldn't Spartan boys be taught philosophy?

  This would develop the boys critical thinking skills, which could undermine and/or threaten the Spartan system.
• Why were boys encouraged to fight one another in the initial phase?

  To toughen up and encourage competitiveness.
• Why were boys in the second phase only allowed to walk around barefoot?

  To toughen their feet up for running and climbing.
• How did boys train their whole bodies?

  They trained naked.
• How did boys in the second phase learn to do without luxuries?

  They were given only one cloak to last the whole year, whatever the weather. They had to build their beds from reeds they collected themselves without the use of knives to help them cut. This made the beds rough and uncomfortable.
• Why was food rationed?

  Food was rationed so each boy had barely enough to survive. This meant they could survive on campaigns with very little.
• What happened to boys who were caught stealing food?

  Boys were encouraged to steal more for themselves, but were severely punished if they were caught. The punishment wasn’t for stealing, but

  for being sloppy.
• What Spartans believe about boys in the second phase?

  They believed that boys this age were the most rebellious.
• What did Spartans do to comabt rebelliousness in boys?

  They were told to cut their hair short, stay silent in public and keep their eyes on the ground as a sign of respect for elders. Transgressions were punished severely with beatings.
• What were boys in second phase expected to do?

  Boys at this age were expected to take an older man as a lover and mentor.
• What did mentors do?

  Mentors would help the boy with his training, and there would be competition amongst the men to mentor the strongest boys. If a boy was having a training fight and he cried out in pain, his mentor would be punished.
• What was the krypteia?

  The kyrpteia were Spartan secret police who were selected due to them being the best fighters.
• What would krypteia do in the countryside?

  Members of the krypteia would go on solo missions into the countryside surrounding Sparta with very basic rations and a dagger.
• What did krypteia do during the day and the night?

  They would rest during the day, and at night they would make their way to roads and murder any helots they found.
• Why would krypteia watch helots as they worked?

  To kill any who seemed particularly strong or influential in their helot communities.
• What was the purpose of the krypteia?

  This training was thought to further toughen the boys for life on campaign, and to get them used to killing other humans – an essential ability for successful soldiers.