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=**__Sparta and Corinth __**=

By: Beau Allen and John O'Dell

Some Background Information:

Sparta was one of the greatest city-states on the mainland of Greece. It was located in the southern Greek region. The failure of Sparta eventually became inevitable because of poor relations with other cities, a declining birth rate, and a fear of serf revolt. War was very prominent in Sparta. Sparta was one of the most important city-states, along with Athens.

GOVERNMENT:

The Spartans had two kings that were heirs to the throne. One king came from the Agiad Family and the other king came from the Eurypontid Family. Both kings had priestly obligations and they also both had the power to make war. A Spartan constitution called the Great Rhetra was written by the 600s B.C. The primary authority was given to a council of elders. A citizen's assembly was given the power to veto any legislation that was proposed by the council. The citizen's assembly was made up of all male citizens over the age of 35. The kings were mainly in charge of the military.

RELIGION: The Spartans worshiped the same gods and godesses of Mount Olympus that all of the other Greek city-states did. Religion was important to all of the Greeks and Ares, the god of war was very important to the Spartans. We know this because of their extremely warlike mentality and of the way they took other people by fear.

ECONOMICS:

Spartan economics depended on their helots, or slaves, along with other conquered people to farm their land and help produce goods. Their slaves basically had to do everything to do with the economics, because the Spartans really didn't care for anything that didnt have to do with the military. ART & ARCHITECTURE       Unlike common beliefs and assumptions, Sparta was not lacking in art and architecture. Their two most famous architecture pieces was the Menelaion and the Amyklaion. Between 650 and 550 B.C. Sparta had its golden age in art. Their main artistic form was bronze crafting. IN this time period atleast 9 sculpters were known by name and their makings were thought to be of high diplomatic gifts and reached each corner of the known world. Also they were known for their poetry and singing and is even said that they would sing into battle. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY         Sparta did have many machines and things of technology and science, but they used their slaves to do work for them and that in itself was a good enough "invention" for them. They used the slaves to farm, make the things needed, and to well all the chores regular spartans would have to do. The only problem with that is what some people fear with robots, when they got to many slaves or "helots" (a 7:1 ratio) they started to rise up and be harmful, and when this happened it created more of a mess than what would have been if spartans did things themselves. EDUCATION    When boys turned seven year old they were shipped of to the spartan military program to be trained to obey every word and command. This rigorous schooling or training did not end until the boy or now man was 30. Women did not have the sam exact training as boys but it was still difficult. At age seven like their brothers they would be sen toff to a sisterhood and do training and schooling. At the age eighteen the girls would try to pass a physical fitness test, and if they did pass they were assigned a husband. If they didn't pass they would be thought upon as "middle class" and not good enough. But unlike other city states in ancient greece they got move around the city as they pleased. Resources: Sacks, David. "Sparta." Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World, Revised Edition. Revised by Lisa R. Brody. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE49&iPin=EAGW0487&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 3, 2010). SingleRecord Ancient Greece and Rome, Volume IV. SingleRecord: Visual Education Corporation, 1998. Print.http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/ls201/greece4.html Ancient Greece and Rome, Volume II. Princeton: Visual Education Corporation, 1998. Print. Corinth Facts [|education] [|education for girls] [|spartan art] [|science and technology]