Education of Boys Flashcards
What did boys not learn?
Much reading or writing, any literature or philosophy,
How much did they learn to read?
Only enough to train them for basic literacy.
What did they learn?
They spent time developing physical strength and obedience. Musical was also important.
What were boys taught to do with music?
They were taught the value of precise movement and teamwork, which would be vital in situations when they were grown up.
Who were Eirenes?
19-20 year old Spartans who had recently graduated from the Agoge.
He was the paidonomos?
He was the headmaster of the Agoge, he was always a Spartan warrior with a great record.
What happened as soon as a baby was born?
It was inspected by a committee of elders and if considered too weak or deformed, it was left to die of exposure on the slopes of Mt Taygetus.
What happened if they weren’t left to die as babies?
They had to survive a harsh infancy.
Why were babies bathed in wine not water?
It was believed to be a test for epilepsy.
What else happened to babies?
They were often left in the dark on their own.
As babies grew up what weren’t they allowed to be?
Fussy with their food.
Why did Spartans do this to their babies?
They didn’t want weak babies as they wouldn’t be great warrior.
What happened to a boy at age seven?
He was sent off to the city’s boarding school known as the Agoge.
Where did the boys live?
In communal barracks and were divided into packs, each led by prefects, known as Eirenes.
What were boys constantly under?
Supervision.
What could the Eirenes do?
They were armed with whips, and could punish boys for any offence.
At what age did training become intense?
14.
Why did boys train barefoot?
So they could run faster, scale heights more easily and clamber down cliffs.
How many cloaks were they allowed per year?
One - whatever the weather.
What was boys appearance like?
They cut their hair short and generally played naked.
Why was food rationed?
To make them used to doing without as on military campaign it would be like that.
What was the result of this rationing?
Forced to steal to get more. If they were caught they were beaten for stealing carelessly.
At this age what were boys given?
A male lover who acted as a role model.
If the youth cried out, who was punished?
The older lover.
At what age was it believed boys would become rebellious?
18-19.
How was this rebellion prevented?
Boys were worked even harder, and were kept very busy.
How was respect for elders emphasised?
When walking the streets youths had to keep their hands in their cloaks, stay silent and keep their eyes fixed on the ground ahead of them.
How did the Spartan education prepare boys for life in the army?
- Barefoot at all times.
- Played naked.
- Food was rationed.
- Had to steal but punished if caught.
- Good survival skills.
- Obedience.
- Love of Sparta.
- Loved each other.
- Teamwork.
Describe the duties of the Krypteia?
- Go out in the countryside with minimal rations and live off the land.
- Hide in the day and patrol the countryside at night.
- Kill any helot they see as a threat to Sparta.
- Terrorise helots as an incentive for the others to behave.
- Become efficient killer.
Explain why the Spartans treated the helots harshly?
- Keep them in a state of fear and oppression to stop them rebelling because they outnumbered the Spartans.
- They had rebelled before and the Spartans were fearful of further uprisings.
- They were slaves in their own land.
- The Spartans needed the helots to work the land to support the Spartans so that they could concentrate on the military.
- The Spartans needed more land so they took over the fertile soil in Messenia.
- The women were not considered inferior to men and not given menial tasks so the helots had to do them.
- Spartan population was small so they needed the extra labour.
Explain how the Eirenes contributed to the education system?
- Acted as pack leaders for the younger members of the agoge.
- Role models for younger boys.
- Set a good example.
- Punished younger boys with whips to instill obedience.
- Got boys to show off their learning by getting them to sing songs.
- Asked the boys questions to make them think about what they had learnt.
- Encourage competition.
What activities did boys take part in during the Agoge?
Basic literacy, running, climbing, survival, fighting, dance, team games, hunting, stealing.
