Ancient History- Sparta Summaries
Option 1
Greece: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC
1. The Geographical Setting:
1.1 The Geographical Setting, Natural Features and Resources of Ancient Sparta: * Sparta situated in Eurotas Valley in the heart of Laconia
- One of the most fertile plains in Ancient Greece.
- Eurotas River flowed through the valley.
-Mountain ranges surrounded the valley; >Eurotas Mt range to the west >Pernon Mt range to the East >Arcadian Mt range to the North
- Varying climate, Hot it summer and cold in winter with snow covering the surrounding mountains
-Rainfall was light but adequate
* Sparta consisted of 5 villages, 4 of which were situated along the Eurotas River
- This provided a water supply for the villages.
-The 5th village, Amyclae, was located 5km south of the other villages.
* Laconia was captured by the Dorian people in the 10th century BC
- They took control of the land and forced the original inhabitants into 'Helots' or state owned serfs.
- These 'Helots' farmed many resources such as barley, wheat, olives, figs, horses, sheep, grapes, cattle, goats and pigs
- The mountains surrounding the villages provided a wealth of timber, wild animals, iron and other minerals.
2. Social Structure and political organisation:
2.1 The issue of Lycurgus the lawgiver
* Little is known about the precise development of the Spartan system
-This is mainly due to the Spartans mysterious ways and lack of written documentation
-According to Plutarch and many other ancient sources, the framework for the complete Spartan system including military and constitution was the work of a mysterious law giver known as Lycurgus
* Lycurgus was a shadowy figure whose existence itself is highly speculative.
-Many historians do believe that Lycurgus did exist as the sole creator of the Spartan system, however, these historians do argue on the time period which he existed
- Other historians believe that the creation of the
Greece: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC
1. The Geographical Setting:
1.1 The Geographical Setting, Natural Features and Resources of Ancient Sparta: * Sparta situated in Eurotas Valley in the heart of Laconia
- One of the most fertile plains in Ancient Greece.
- Eurotas River flowed through the valley.
-Mountain ranges surrounded the valley; >Eurotas Mt range to the west >Pernon Mt range to the East >Arcadian Mt range to the North
- Varying climate, Hot it summer and cold in winter with snow covering the surrounding mountains
-Rainfall was light but adequate
* Sparta consisted of 5 villages, 4 of which were situated along the Eurotas River
- This provided a water supply for the villages.
-The 5th village, Amyclae, was located 5km south of the other villages.
* Laconia was captured by the Dorian people in the 10th century BC
- They took control of the land and forced the original inhabitants into 'Helots' or state owned serfs.
- These 'Helots' farmed many resources such as barley, wheat, olives, figs, horses, sheep, grapes, cattle, goats and pigs
- The mountains surrounding the villages provided a wealth of timber, wild animals, iron and other minerals.
2. Social Structure and political organisation:
2.1 The issue of Lycurgus the lawgiver
* Little is known about the precise development of the Spartan system
-This is mainly due to the Spartans mysterious ways and lack of written documentation
-According to Plutarch and many other ancient sources, the framework for the complete Spartan system including military and constitution was the work of a mysterious law giver known as Lycurgus
* Lycurgus was a shadowy figure whose existence itself is highly speculative.
-Many historians do believe that Lycurgus did exist as the sole creator of the Spartan system, however, these historians do argue on the time period which he existed
- Other historians believe that the creation of the