Sparta
Sparta is located on the Peloponnesus. Spartans were Dorians. In the 8th century BC, this
state conquered all the other people of Laconia, one of the most fertile plains in Greece.
leigáz, legyőz, meghódít
Conquer UK: kɔŋkər
Sparta had an unusual system of government.
The Spartan constitution was mixed, containing
elements of monarchy / királyság/, oligarchy / kevesek hatalma/ and democracy.
Two kings ruled the city.
Council of elders' /28 rich old men/ controlled their powers.
Assembly: only free Spartan men over 30. They weren’t allow to debate over problems, only vote.
The oligarchic element was represented by a Council (gerousia) of elders consisting of
twenty-eight men over the age of sixty who were held office for life. The elders had
important judicial functions and were also consulted before any proposal was put before the
Assembly of Spartan citizens.
The Assembly (apella) consisted of all male citizens over thirty years of age. In theory, it was
the Assembly who was the final authority but in practice the real function of the Assembly
was to ratify decisions already decided upon by the elders and kings
Constitution
alkotmány
UK: kɔnstɪtjuːʃn
Authority UK: ɔːθɔrɪtiː
hatalom
Spartans were a class of military professionals who lived most of their lives in communal
barracks. Rarely seeing their wives and children, their lands were farmed by slaves, leaving them free
to pursue to the arts of war.
The Spartan state arranged for a basic equality in land holding and provided the citizens with
labourers, called helots. In other words, the economy was based on the idea that slaves would
labour to supply the Spartan armies with food, drink and clothing. As a result, the slave
population of Sparta was enormous, thus necessitating the sort of militaristic state that Sparta
indeed became.
Supply
UK: səplaɪ
ellát
Perioikos /körüllakók/ is the singular form of perioikoi. The perioikoi were free men of
Sparta, mainly farmers, merchants, or craftsmen, who lacked the full citizenship of the
Spartans. They paid taxes and could serve in the army, but had no real political rights. They may
have been part of the conquered people, but unlike the helots, they kept their freedom.
Perhaps they were conquered earlier.
At the bottom were the helots/ heloták/: a slave class descended from those people who were
subjugated by Sparta. Because the helots were constantly rebelling, the Spartans attempted to control
them by forming a secret society that annually murdered any helot suspected of encouraging
subversion.
Subjugate
UK: sʌbʤʊgeɪt
leigázni
Education:
The newborn baby was examined by the elderly and if the baby looked small or ill, they threw
the baby to the deep Taigetos.
Boys were taken from parents at age seven and trained in the art of war. They were only given
a cloak - no shoes or other clothes, and not enough food so they had to steal (to learn survival
skills).
At age 20 they were placed into higher ranks of the military. From age 30 they could marry
but still lived in barracks with other soldiers. They were educated in choral, dance, reading
and writing, but athletics and military training were emphasized.
Girls: Girls were educated at age 7 in reading and writing, gymnastics, athletics and survival
skills. Could participate in sports; treated more as equals.
There was state education for girls who lived at home but who were also organized into
troops. Boys and girls met together to learn basic studies as well as to dance, sing and play
musical instruments. After marriage (usually at 30 for men, 16 for women), the husband ate at
the men's club until the age of 60 while his wife remained at home.
Militaristic values:
Children of citizens were raised to be "Spartan", taught to get along with almost nothing.
Spartan citizens were not permitted to own gold or silver or luxuries. Spartan children were
taught to respect elderly, women, and warriors
Spartan mothers would say to their sons, "Either come back with your shield or on it"
(meaning return victorious or die fighting).
An old man wandering around the Olympic Games looking for a seat was jeered at by the
crowd until he reached the seats of the Spartans, whereupon every Spartan younger than him,
and some that were older, stood up and offered him their seat. The crowd applauded and the
old man turned to them with a sigh, saying "All Greeks know what is right, but only the
Spartans do it."
A Sybarite, who ate at a public mess, once remarked: "Now I know why the Spartans do not
fear death."
Troop UK: truːp
katonai csapat