Spartiate

Spartans were full citizens of Sparta. During the heyday of Sparta in the 6th century BC, their number was about 8,000 men, but took this number after the Persian Wars from. They were a ruling minority in a population of the Lacedaemonian State of about 50,000 (excluding slaves ). Therefore, it came to a catastrophe if at a single battle a few hundred Spartans died, as were in the battle of Thermopylae, or the battle of Leuctra or captured, as on Sphacteria in the Peloponnesian War. In the 3rd century BC, the number amounted to barely 1,000 men.

The education of the Spartans

The Spartan Education ( agoge ) was characterized by Resilience, martial arts, discipline, and the prohibition of all life facilitating conveniences. The upbringing was strict. However, few concrete details are known, as only later sources report it and this probably partly deliberately an "ideal image " and was thus distorted the reality. The girls were brought up to hardness and body control, because it was believed that strong women would give birth too strong children.

A newborn Spartan was a strict selection before Gerusia, the Spartan elders subjected. The Gerusia decided whether he possessed the qualities of a future full citizen and was allowed to stay alive. The child was not considered viable, it has been suspended.

By 7 or 8 years old boys and girls lived with their parents, the boys were in a " flock", a group with peers who had to obey their commander unconditionally added.

Daily life in such a community was marked by brutal Resilience, although they also learned to read and write, but the (very hard ) physical training has been given preference. At the age of 14 years was the " basic training " ended, but the physical drill went on. The goal was to maintain the military capability of the community, the men were thus faced with an almost permanent military training.

A rather peculiar form of training was that young Spartans stole in a contest food. Who was caught received a beating because he was too clumsy and was caught. Disobedience and offense were also punished with beatings. They were also taught in debating. Your speeches should be as factual as possible and short. Even today, the term used " laconic speech."

The youth education lasted until age 18, even if the men were billeted still up to their 30th birthday and only then were given full citizenship. The agoge was allegedly ended with a ritual in which the young men should make their first real serious combat experience by fell upon the Helots. However, such reports are only handed down from a later period, so that their veracity is not properly clarified.

Now the Spartans in so-called food companies, the Syssitia were included ( similar edible communities, there were also in other parts of Greece ). A food community from which they could be expelled if you were not able to raise his contributions ( in kind and probably money) to the community, was usually from 15 men. The Syssitia also came to an important social role, for in them the Spartans were able to discuss current issues. Military service in the Spartan army was called up to the age of 60.

The girls trained early, because their task was to give birth to so many Spartan guidelines appropriate children as possible. However, they were of the mother, due to the long absence of the husband fell to a special role in the household, also taught carefully. The men in turn were downright encouraged to marry and have children, but took in the course of time, the birth rate dramatically.