At a time when the powerful Greek city grew, philosophers have pondered the nature of things, warlike Sparta lived their daily lives.The main occupation of the inhabitants of the city has always been a preparation for an attack.The specter of war constantly hovered over Sparta.Residents were not going to make new trips, they want peace, but in case of danger from other cities and countries they wanted to be prepared.All the forces of the Spartans went to protect the conquered land: the plain of the valley Eurotas and Messinia.And they guarded these areas are not from their neighbors, who robbed them, and from the slaves who live in these areas, and always ready to revolt.
Ancient Sparta numbering 9,000 had 200,000 slaves-helots who bowed their heads to the ground, but never lost hope of release.For example in the year 464, when the city was destroyed by an earthquake, helots rushed there, but not in order to save the lives of their masters, and to kill them.But, thanks to the foresight of the king Archidamus, who built a phalanx of the surviving soldiers, slaves retreated.After that, it took more than 10 years of bloody war, in order to once again lead the helots into submission.
After the subordination of slaves ancient Sparta, which had Dorian related community, Megara and Corinth was involved in a war with Athens.After long battles, the long battle belligerent State defeated the State of thinkers and philosophers.However, it has not only brought great fame, but also big trouble.The fact that immediately after winning office in Sparta came hoplites who despised "black" and recognize only their own kind.This is not like the big traders and members of the lower classes, they constantly attempted to change the power.Therefore, the government of Sparta was forced to defend himself from the people.
ancient Sparta, which history holds many military victories, was defeated for the first time in 371 Thebans.In this battle, the new system was used for constructing the phalanges ("oblique order").During the battle, killed the king of the Spartans Cleombrotus and once fearless army panicked and fled from the battlefield.But this did not stop the Thebans.They moved to Sparta and the Spartans showed their fighting power.As a result, the Thebans won the Messinian plain.
can say that after this battle Ancient Sparta began to lose its power.Among the once "equal" the Spartans began to appear "smaller".Many people began to sell their land becauseThey found themselves in need.While the men tried to maintain combat power of Sparta, women began to engage in usury.They bought the land for debt.Thus began the stratification of society, there was a wealthy aristocrat.All of lesser importance was given to the military training of the younger generation.
Only a hundred years later the leaders of Sparta realized that there is no one to defend the city, and took efforts to restore order yore.The land was redistributed, debts canceled, rows of soldiers were supplemented by strong and periekami helots.But the aristocracy of the city was afraid of new orders, the revolution began, which encouraged the Macedonians.So in 221 the Spartans suffered another defeat, but not at the hands of the Thebans.
Spartan educational system
militancy State paid much attention to the protection of the city from internal and external enemies.To this end, it has developed a system of education, which consisted of 3 stages:
- Education of boys from 7 to 12 years.At this stage, children are grouped.They played and studied.But teachers are constantly making sure that children were fighting among themselves.So they identified the strengths and weaknesses of their wards.
- From 12 to 20 years old boys were united in groups, where they led the senior boys.At this stage there were no games, all attention was given military training.
- From 20 to 30 years, the Spartans were united in sissitii - the group consisting of usually about 15 people.They continued to be engaged in military training in his circle, but is now able to start a family, engage in some household chores.
Apparently, ancient Sparta paid great attention to the training of these warriors to protect their state.
