Sparta and Other Greeks Flashcards
Why is there little evidence of Sparta?
There is lack of archeological or literary evidence. They built little and wrote less. Spartans discouraged their citizens from writing things down.
Where is the only evidence we have of Sparta from?
The work of Athenian historians, playwrights, poets and philosophers.
Why cant we always accept the information from outside Sparta?
It was probably biased against what to them was a foreign and threatening society.
Who wrote about women and education?
Aristophanes, Xenophon and Plutarch.
Why would these writers be biased?
They didn’t approve of Spartan society.
Why was Xenophon an exception?
He was impressed with the society. He was an admirer of the system and he tried to write positively about it in reaction to all the criticism it received from other writers.
What did Aristotle write about?
Education and government.
How is Aristotle’s work important?
It has information about the political structure in Sparta.
What were Sparta’s relations with non-Spartans like?
Often tense and troubled.
Why were relationship difficult?
They were suspicious of the outside world, believing that by interfering with other Greeks might unsettle the status quo in their territory.
What did Lykourgos apparently ban?
All foreign travellers traveling to Sparta and the inhabitants of Spartan territory from travelling beyond its borders.
How did other Greeks feel towards the city?
It was treated with suspicion.
How did they feel towards the society?
They respected and feared the Spartans’ superb military machine, however there were aspects of their society which left them uneasy.
How did Greeks feel about the helots?
They felt uncomfortable with the fact that Sparta enslaved other Greeks. It made them fear they were next.
Why was their fear towards the Spartan education system?
Greeks thought it was barbaric to send young children off to military boarding school at the age of 7.
