When examining any society, one of the most important aspects of its civilization to identify is the education of the youth. Children yearn to please their instructors. Therefore, when all children throughout a society are taught a certain way to live and think, when they grow up, the society itself models these values instilled upon the children. Naturally, when using this ideal to study the history of the Ancient Greeks, focus falls upon its two major city-states, Athens and Sparta. As in almost every aspect of comparison, the difference between the education of the warlike Spartans compared to the education of the philosophical Athenians is like comparing black to white. The main focus of a Spartan education was not to focus on literacy. Instead, as a result of the system of helotry practiced in Sparta, fitness, obedience, and courage had to be taught in order for the Spartans to retain the militaristic supremacy that they had over the rest of the Peloponnesus. In contrast, an Athenian education was devoted to the three basic categories of literacy, music, and physical education in hopes of creating intelligent, well-rounded citizens who could responsibly participate in the Assembly. For purposes of comparison, the education of both societies can be broken down into three distinct periods of age in which certain traits were taught and which certain schools were attended. When education was complete, the society had successfully refined another child into its strict system of beliefs and principles. In the eighth century B.C., Sparta was in need of more fertile land to support an ever-growing population that demanded food. Consequently, Sparta was forced to do what any ancient civilization did when in need of resources: They invaded their neighbors, the Messenians, and after a twenty year war, enslaved them as their agricultural laborers, henceforth known as Helots. After many years, the Helots grew to outnumber the Spartans by a ratio as a large as ten to one.
Spartan Polis There are five classes in the Spartan social class; the middle three classes are also part of the social economy. ... Spartan women were taught to read and write. Their education included many athletic events such as javelin, discus, and foot races. ... Any Spartan man could abduct a wife, which leads to many husbands/wives. ... In order to be in the Spartan military, you had to be physically fit. ...
Describe the education and upbringing of young people in Ancient Sparta. Why did the Spartans raise their children in this manner? ... The education and upbringing of Spartan boys was not very pleasant. ... At the end of their education was a final test, their graduation. ... The most important thing about the Spartan education system and lifestyle was that it worked. ...
Education was generally a privilege2. ... The main purpose of Spartan education was to create a well-disciplined, very obedient army for their future wars; to bend the people to fulfill the needs of the state2. ... Despite the fact that both genders were forced to engage themselves in Spartan education, they were not taught exactly the same2. For Spartan girls, the point of education was to be a healthy woman in order to have healthy boys to fight in the army. ... Spartan education was focused on war and Athenian education was focused on creating better citizens2. ...
What was Spartan society like? ... The ephores were responsible for supervising the youth's education and the conduct of citizens. ... The combination of this ideology, the education of Spartan males, and the disciplined maintenance of a standing army gave the Spartans the stability that had been threatened so dramatically in the Messenean revolt (history channel)." ... The Greeks took the education of their women very seriously. The education of a woman was a physical education, not an academic education. ...
In the book Spartan Women by Sarah B. ... There are two major themes; these themes include the quality of education for women in many walks throughout her life, as well as the social aspects of gender roles. ... Girls from the start of their lives were given a good education in both the arts and athletics. ... These sections included Education, Becoming a Wife, The Creation of Mothers, Elite Women, The Lower Classes, and Women and Religion. ... In reading this book it becomes clear that the Spartan society bestowed upon their women a lot of freedom and responsibility, which intern helped the S...
The highest class of Athenian women were known as Hetaera and were given an education and allowed into the Agora as men were. ... Spartan women were much different in their positions in their society. ... Until they had reached this age they became well versed in matters of education as well as learning the duties they would be responsible for as an adult. ... It has been popularly quoted that the wife of Spartan King Leonidas was asked why Spartan women were the only women in Greece who "ruled" their husbands. Gorgo replied, "Because only Spartan women give birth to men"...
