Sparta: The Militarized City-State of Ancient Greece

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Sparta was a key city state which was located on the Peloponnesian Peninsula in southern Greek, which today is referred to as Laconia. Sparta is historically known for their strong military training, warfare tactics, and numerous victories. This city state included full citizens known as the Spartans, the helots, and the Perioeci. The men of Sparta had a main obligation to become strong warriors, fight with their brothers, and protect against any invasions or attacks. The helots where owned by city state of Sparta. They came from Messenia and were forced into slavery after being invaded by the Spartans in c.735. The helot’s responsibilities included farming, being of help if needed during battles, used as nurses, and for any other task that need to be accomplished. Unlike many traditional slaves, the Messenia’s were given certain leeway. They had …show more content…

This means that the people of Sparta believed in not one, but multiple gods. During this time in Greek the primary god was Zeus. Zeus was the god of the sky as well as the ruler of Olympian Gods. The Spartans participated in religious holidays including Carneia, Enyalia, Gymnopaedia and Hyacinths. During the Carneia believed to happen in the month of August, Spartans were not allowed to declare war during this time. Carneia was celebrated in honor of Apollo Carneios. Spartans would chase a designated man and if caught, it meant good luck for the coming harvest. The Enyalia was an annual festival in which its main objective was a spring purification march of the army between the two halves of a scarified dog. Gymnopaedia involved the youth of Sparta, in which they would display their athletic and strong bodies, as well as dance. This was done to highlight and appreciate the beauty of Sparta. Hyacinths was a holiday of celebration and honor. On the first day the people of Sparta would celebrate the death of a hero and the second for the rebirth of a

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