Daily Life and Growing Up
Spartan boys had to go barefoot, even in the dead of winter, because shoes like sandals would give them this
What are soft feet?
At this age, Spartan boys were taken from their families to live in military barracks.
What is age seven?
These were large numbers of captured, enslaved people who were forced to work on state-owned farms in Sparta.
Who are helots?
Unlike most city-states with a single ruler, Sparta was unique because it had this exact number of kings.
What is two kings?
Because Sparta was isolated and tried to keep foreigners away to preserve its traditions, it avoided silver and gold coins and instead used iron bars that nobody else would want. Why did they avoid using silver and gold coins?
What is because they had a tendency to attract foreign merchants?
Instead of using gold and silver coins (which might attract foreign merchants), Spartans used heavy bars made of this metal.
What is iron?
This term refers to a tight, dense military formation where soldiers moved together as one, protected by overlapping shields and forward-pointing spears.
What is a phalanx?
Unlike Athenian women, Spartan women had more political rights, including the ability to do this with land.
What is own land?
Instead of using a show of hands or written ballots, Spartan citizens in the Assembly showed their approval or disapproval for proposals by doing this.
What is shouting?
Although Spartan women did not fight in wars, they were encouraged to take part in footraces and other sports for this specific reason.
What is so that they would be healthy mothers?
At what age were Spartan young men legally allowed to marry, though they still had to sleep in the military barracks?
What is age twenty?
While the Athenians required two years of military training, the Spartans required this many years.
What is twenty-three years?
This legendary Spartan leader supposedly replied that a "wall of men" would protect the city more effectively than a wall of bricks.
Who is Lycurgus?
Because Sparta was an inland, landlocked city-state, it generally had a small navy or none at all, relying instead on this:
What is an army?
When someone suggested that Sparta build a protective wall around the city, this legendary Spartan leader supposedly replied that a "wall of men" would protect it more effectively.
Who is Lycurgus?
This English word, meaning concise or using very few words, comes from Laconia, the territory where Sparta was located.
What is laconic?
When teenagers' food rations were cut in the barracks, they were forced to learn how to find food for themselves by doing this.
What is stealing?
This group outnumbered Spartan citizens by perhaps twenty to one, which was a major reason why all Spartan men were forced to be warriors.
Who are the helots?
The government of Sparta is generally classified as this type of system, though it also contained elements of a monarchy, aristocracy, and limited democracy.
What is an oligarchy?
When a Spartan woman heard that her son had died in battle, she refused to weep and proudly declared that she bore him so that he might do this.
What is die for Sparta?
While Athenian visitors enjoyed banquets with good food and wine, Spartan cooks were ordered not to make food too tasty, prompting one visitor to famously joke that this was the reason why.
What is they aren't afraid to die in battle!
When a hostile city-state threatened, "If we defeat you, we will destroy your city," a Spartan famously responded with this single-word reply.
What is "If"?
Upon hearing the news that her son had died in battle, a Spartan mother refused to weep and proudly announced this reason for her reaction.
What is "I bore him so that he might die for Sparta, and that is what has happened, as I wished"?
According to the text, a great Athenian statesman explained that Athenians saw no conflict between strength and beauty, stating: "Our love of what is beautiful does not lead to extravagance; our love of the things of the mind..." finish the rest of his quote.
What is "...does not make us soft"?
When a hostile city-state threatened the Spartans by saying, "If we defeat you, we will destroy your city," a Spartan famously gave this single-word reply.
What is "If"?