Ancient Societies - Sparta

In these notes, I have incorporated both detailed information and reliable sources that you can use in your exams and assignments! For more insight, I have included the following topics:

• Geographical Setting, Natural Features and Resources of Ancient Sparta
• Significant Sites: Sparta
• Social Structure and Political Organisation
• The Great Rhetra: The Issue of Lycurgus
• Roles and Privileges of Two Kings
• Government: Ephorate, Gerousia, Ekklesia
• Social Structure: Spartiates, Periokoi, Inferiors, Helots
• Education System: agoge, syssitia, composition of army
• Control of Helots: The Military, Syssitia, Krypteia
• Role and Status of Women; Land Ownership, Inheritance, Education
• The Economy
• Land Ownership: Agriculture, Kleroi, Helots
• Economic Roles of the Periokoi and Helots
• Economic Exchange: use of iron bars, trade
• Cultural Life
• Gods and Goddesses: Artemis Orthia, Poseidon, Apollo
• Myths and Legends: Lycurgus and the Dioscuri
• Festivals: Hyakinthia, Gymnopaedia, Karnia
• Religious Role of the Kings
• Funerary Customs and Rituals
• Art: Sculpture, Painted Vases, Bone and Ivory Carving
• Architecture: Amyklaion, Menelaion, The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia
• Writing and Literature: Alcman and Tyrtaeus
• Greek writers' views of Sparta: Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Aristotle, Pausanias, Plutarch
• Everyday Life: Daily Life and Leisure Activities, Food and Clothing, Marriage Customs
• Occupations

NOTE: THIS IS THE ENTIRE SYLLABUS WITH SOURCES