Life in Ancient Greece: Spartan Men and Women
Life in Ancient Greece:
Spartan men and women
Bernice Gelin Professor Shepardson
November 18, 2008
World History
The ancient city of Sparta has had a lasting impression on the world today. Sparta was a model of discipline, conformity, militarism, and virtue. It was a prominent city state, but its society was unique from typical life in Greece. Sparta was a military state, believing in having only the strong and not the weak to maintain the army. At the time of birth, every child considered a property of the state, especially males. If a male child appeared deformed, the infant was left on a mountain at a place called the Apothatae. Spartan values of the state led them to develop uncommon roles of its people than typical Greek life.
The Spartan system astonished and puzzled other Greeks who didn’t understand it and either saw it as barbaric and disapproved or commended them (Michell, H., 41). To begin with, Spartan women were unlike any other Greek woman of her time. They can be similarly compared to modern day women. They were famously known for their beauty, grace despite not wearing jewelry or ornate fashion and also the liberties they shared with their men counterparts. Spartan women were more dominant in their society than Athenian; women and lived lives away from men due to the Spartan social construct.
Reared from childhood, females were taught to read write, arts, the customs and tradition of Spartan culture to insure the continuation of the Sparta’s system. Girls were encouraged to be physically and emotionally strong to serve the state by marriage and be able to produce strong healthy male soldiers. Spartan girls competed in athletics at the same time as the boys and may have done so in the nude before a mixed audience. All aspects of education were important because women needed to oversee domestic responsibilities, control property, agriculture needs, and business investments. They served
Spartan men and women
Bernice Gelin Professor Shepardson
November 18, 2008
World History
The ancient city of Sparta has had a lasting impression on the world today. Sparta was a model of discipline, conformity, militarism, and virtue. It was a prominent city state, but its society was unique from typical life in Greece. Sparta was a military state, believing in having only the strong and not the weak to maintain the army. At the time of birth, every child considered a property of the state, especially males. If a male child appeared deformed, the infant was left on a mountain at a place called the Apothatae. Spartan values of the state led them to develop uncommon roles of its people than typical Greek life.
The Spartan system astonished and puzzled other Greeks who didn’t understand it and either saw it as barbaric and disapproved or commended them (Michell, H., 41). To begin with, Spartan women were unlike any other Greek woman of her time. They can be similarly compared to modern day women. They were famously known for their beauty, grace despite not wearing jewelry or ornate fashion and also the liberties they shared with their men counterparts. Spartan women were more dominant in their society than Athenian; women and lived lives away from men due to the Spartan social construct.
Reared from childhood, females were taught to read write, arts, the customs and tradition of Spartan culture to insure the continuation of the Sparta’s system. Girls were encouraged to be physically and emotionally strong to serve the state by marriage and be able to produce strong healthy male soldiers. Spartan girls competed in athletics at the same time as the boys and may have done so in the nude before a mixed audience. All aspects of education were important because women needed to oversee domestic responsibilities, control property, agriculture needs, and business investments. They served
Bibliography: Jones, A. H. M. Sparta. Cambridge: Harvad University Press, 1967. Michell, H. Sparta. Cambridge: Unversity Press, 1952. Warfford, Anita Angeline. “The Development and Impact of Gender Roles in Sparta.” The Catacombs. 12 Oct. 2008 < http://home.triad.rr.com/warfford/ancient/spartagen.html>.