Lesson 5: Life in Sparta

After Athens, the most famous city-state in Ancient Greece was Sparta.

At one time Sparta had an advanced culture. Then, in 640 BCE, the peasants rebelled and Sparta went to war against them. It took twenty years for the Spartan army to crush the rebellion. Sparta vowed to never be threatened again, and from then on concentrated its efforts on war and defense.

At the age of seven, Spartan boys were sent to military camps. Here they were taught obedience, endurance, and how to be good soldiers.

Life was hard in these camps. The boys' heads were shaved and their shoes were taken away, so they had to march barefoot. They wore the same thin tunic in summer and winter. They were also taught not to flinch from punishment or show any expression of pain or fear.

Boys were also kept hungry and told to steal food. If they were caught they were beaten—as an incentive to steal more skillfully in the future. This was thought to make them into more cunning soldiers.

Spartan boys were supposed to be tough when they grew up. Those who weren't were called Tremblers and were publicly humiliated. They were forced to wear silly clothes wherever they went. Some Tremblers were even forced to grow a moustache or a beard on just one side of their face.

Single men were also made fun of in Sparta. Once a year they were stripped naked and forced to walk in a public procession while Spartan girls watched and shouted cruel things at them. These men were pressured to get married and father children, and thus provide Sparta with future soldiers.

Because they gave birth to, and raised, these future soldiers, Spartan women were more highly respected than were women in Athens. Women were also encouraged to pursue an active lifestyle as it would make them healthier mothers.

Spartan women also had more freedoms and responsibilities than women in other parts of Ancient Greece. This was because they had so much to do with the men away all the time. Even after they married, Spartan men continued to live in the military camps, apart from their wives and children.

Where Athens was a democracy, Sparta was a kingdom. In fact, Sparta was ruled by two kings—one was in charge of the army and the other was in charge of religion. There were twenty-eight other men who helped to govern Sparta, and they held power for life, regardless what the public thought of the job they did.

Check Your Knowledge Activity 5:
Life in Sparta

Send In Activity 5:
Comparing Sparta and Athens