Sparta Military Influence On Society

In Sparta, the influence of the military on society was quite significant. In 650BC, Sparta became the dominant military force in Ancient Greece. Sparta achieved this through military cost, proficiency, their exceptional focus on training and excellence within their military. Sparta was a very strict society compared to others at that time in history. Males had strict rules growing up, yet it was even stricter for the everyday life of a soldier. While males had strict rules, women still had similar rules to follow. However, males were groomed from the day they were born. The strict rules of the Sparta military defined the gender roles and shaped society.

Life growing up as a male during Sparta was very different from how males grow up today.
Men would marry girls by kidnapping them but not when they were young when they were in their prime, this didn't happen to all women. When women would get married they would shave their heads for the wedding and once wedded would keep it short, they also were clothed in sandals and a man’s cloak. After getting married women would be left on a pallet lying down in the dark (Lefkowitz and Fant, unknown). Men would leave their wives after spending a short time with them, heading back to their quarters where they would walk back in a dignified way, this was so they could sleep with their other comrades. Women would meet secretly with their husbands during the night time, this was so the husband didn’t get shame if someone found her in his room. The wife would come up with a plan so they could meet in secret. This would go on for a while until they had kids and then he would see his wife in the daylight. Women would wear a belt above their hips so if it was taken off it would emphasise their desire for sex (http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/wlgr/wlgr-greeklegal99.shtml, unknown). If a man fancied another man’s wife he would ask if he could sleep with her so they could have kids and they could be part of some of the best