In a myth it is said that there was a Spartan boy, the story goes, stole a pet fox cub and hid it under his cloak. When the boy was caught, he calmly denied everything even though the fox had bitten and scratched him terribly. The boy showed no pain, but soon slumped over dead from his wounds. To the Spartans the boy represented the qualities that they held dear: strength, deceit of an enemy, and fearlessness about death. Sparta needed a strong army because of Messenia a country they had conquered because of it's fertile soil for farming because all men had to be soldiers. The people from Messenia had to provide half of their crops to Sparta. Both city-states Athens and Sparta left legacies that are still part of the modern world. In Athens, great artist and thinkers built the foundations of Western culture. Sparta, on the other hand, was a secretive place run by an oligarchy of rich families.; Spartans didn't keep many written records and left few ruins for historians to study. Almost everything we know about Sparta is second-hand, from enemies or viditors.
Citizens of Athens had an eye for art and literature. In the 5th 4th centuries B.C., Athens was the center of Greek culture. Only about 10% of Spartan men were full citizens known as equals. Their job was to serve as soldiers in the Sparta's army. The city elders inspected all newborn babies. The babies that looked sick were taken up to a cave on a mountainside and left there to die. At age 7 all boys were taken from their homes and begin their military training. Boys were whipped for making the slightest mistake, and were expected to show no pain. They always had to be barefoot and wore only a cloak, even in the winter. The boys in Athens were given long educations, Spartan boys were taught only the basics of reading and writing. "The boys also steal whatever food and other supplies they can, thereby learning how to pounce skillfully on the guards that were asleep or keeping guard carelessly" written by a historian who lived in ancient times. "But a boy would be beaten and goes hungry if he was caught." Men became full citizens at age 30. Then they could vote, or hold public office.
All Spartan men ate their meals at the army mess halls, not with their families. One visitor said after eating Spartan food, he understood why they were so willing to die in battle. The main job of Spartan men was to be soldiers, the main job of women was to have children. They believed that physically fit women had strong babies. Spartan girls were just as athletic as the boys. They learned to wrestle, throw javelins, and exercise daily. Spartan women weren't allowed to wear jewelry, perfume, or nice clothes. Spartan men were not allowed to do manual labor outside of their jobs as soldiers. When men weren't working they were sing and dancing, having feasts, on hunting expeditions, physical exercise's, and having conversations." The Perioeci, were allowed to be free but had no rights they lived in their on town some of them became rich but not many. Helots were slaves who were owned by Sparta's government, teenage boys patrolled the country roads and would kill any helot they saw traveling at night. They also killed more intelligent or stronger helots. Its said some opposing armies crumbled at the very sight of Spartan soldiers walking toward them. Sparta conquered Athens in the Peloponnesian War. Without it's army Sparta's power collapsed. Visitors went to watch the little boys be whipped without showing any pain. People still admire Sparta today, and several U.S. towns are named after it.
Citizens of Athens had an eye for art and literature. In the 5th 4th centuries B.C., Athens was the center of Greek culture. Only about 10% of Spartan men were full citizens known as equals. Their job was to serve as soldiers in the Sparta's army. The city elders inspected all newborn babies. The babies that looked sick were taken up to a cave on a mountainside and left there to die. At age 7 all boys were taken from their homes and begin their military training. Boys were whipped for making the slightest mistake, and were expected to show no pain. They always had to be barefoot and wore only a cloak, even in the winter. The boys in Athens were given long educations, Spartan boys were taught only the basics of reading and writing. "The boys also steal whatever food and other supplies they can, thereby learning how to pounce skillfully on the guards that were asleep or keeping guard carelessly" written by a historian who lived in ancient times. "But a boy would be beaten and goes hungry if he was caught." Men became full citizens at age 30. Then they could vote, or hold public office.
All Spartan men ate their meals at the army mess halls, not with their families. One visitor said after eating Spartan food, he understood why they were so willing to die in battle. The main job of Spartan men was to be soldiers, the main job of women was to have children. They believed that physically fit women had strong babies. Spartan girls were just as athletic as the boys. They learned to wrestle, throw javelins, and exercise daily. Spartan women weren't allowed to wear jewelry, perfume, or nice clothes. Spartan men were not allowed to do manual labor outside of their jobs as soldiers. When men weren't working they were sing and dancing, having feasts, on hunting expeditions, physical exercise's, and having conversations." The Perioeci, were allowed to be free but had no rights they lived in their on town some of them became rich but not many. Helots were slaves who were owned by Sparta's government, teenage boys patrolled the country roads and would kill any helot they saw traveling at night. They also killed more intelligent or stronger helots. Its said some opposing armies crumbled at the very sight of Spartan soldiers walking toward them. Sparta conquered Athens in the Peloponnesian War. Without it's army Sparta's power collapsed. Visitors went to watch the little boys be whipped without showing any pain. People still admire Sparta today, and several U.S. towns are named after it.
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