Wars, Warriors and Weapons
Sparta is well known for its military focus. All male citizens were part of the army. At the age of 7 boys started their training as warriors. They were taught battle strategies and were kept to the peak of fitness. they were taught to read and write but the primary focus for education in Sparta was war. At the age of 20 boys had completed their training and were ready to join the army. they were now part of a 'brotherhood' and were known as Hoplites.
Weapons used by the Spartans were spears, short swords and a shield called the Aspis which was big enough to carry a wounded commrade on and required great strength to use.
The main battle the Spartans fought was the Peloponnesian War. The battle occurred between 431-404 BC. The war was fought between the Athenians and the Peloponnesian league lead by Sparta. The Peloponnesian league was a coalition of the Thebes, Corinth and Sparta. The war was divided into 3 parts: The Archidamian War, The Sicilian war and The Ionian or Decelean War. The war commenced when the Thebans launched a surprise attack on Plataea, who were a partner of Athens. The war ended when Athens surrendered.
The Peloponnesian War remodelled the entire Greek state. The Athenian empire, which was a stronger side prior to the war, was reduced to a mere slave of Sparta. After the war, Sparta was the ruling state of Greece. The war destroyed the economies and brought poverty and sufferings to the state. Athens could never gain its prosperity that it had before the war.
A great hero of the Peloponnesian War was Lysander. He persuaded the Great Kings son, Cyrus, to help Sparta and he was responsible for the final defeat of the Athenian navy.
Sparta's strength and bravery in battle is recognised around the world and is the Spartan legacy.
Sparta is well known for its military focus. All male citizens were part of the army. At the age of 7 boys started their training as warriors. They were taught battle strategies and were kept to the peak of fitness. they were taught to read and write but the primary focus for education in Sparta was war. At the age of 20 boys had completed their training and were ready to join the army. they were now part of a 'brotherhood' and were known as Hoplites.
Weapons used by the Spartans were spears, short swords and a shield called the Aspis which was big enough to carry a wounded commrade on and required great strength to use.
The main battle the Spartans fought was the Peloponnesian War. The battle occurred between 431-404 BC. The war was fought between the Athenians and the Peloponnesian league lead by Sparta. The Peloponnesian league was a coalition of the Thebes, Corinth and Sparta. The war was divided into 3 parts: The Archidamian War, The Sicilian war and The Ionian or Decelean War. The war commenced when the Thebans launched a surprise attack on Plataea, who were a partner of Athens. The war ended when Athens surrendered.
The Peloponnesian War remodelled the entire Greek state. The Athenian empire, which was a stronger side prior to the war, was reduced to a mere slave of Sparta. After the war, Sparta was the ruling state of Greece. The war destroyed the economies and brought poverty and sufferings to the state. Athens could never gain its prosperity that it had before the war.
A great hero of the Peloponnesian War was Lysander. He persuaded the Great Kings son, Cyrus, to help Sparta and he was responsible for the final defeat of the Athenian navy.
Sparta's strength and bravery in battle is recognised around the world and is the Spartan legacy.