Option I Greece: Spartan society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC
Principal Focus:
371 BC, through a range of archaeological and written sources and relevant historiographical
issues.
The investigation of key features of Spartan society to the Battle of LeuctraStudents learn about:
1 The geographical setting
– the geographical setting, natural features and resources of ancient Sparta
– significant sites: Sparta
2 Social structure and political organisation
– the issue of Lycurgus (the Great Rhetra)
– roles and privileges of the two kings
– government:
ephorate, gerousia, ekklesia– social structure: Spartiates,
– role of the Spartan army
– control of the helots: the military,
perioeci, ‘inferiors’, helotssyssitia, krypteia– artisans, helots
– educational system:
agoge– role and status of women: land ownership, inheritance, education
3 The economy
– land ownership: agriculture,
– technology: weapons, armour, pottery
– economic roles of the
– economic exchange: use of iron bars, trade
kleroi, helotsperiokoi (‘dwellers around’) and helots4 Religion, death and burial
– gods and goddesses: Artemis Orthia, Poseidon, Apollo
– myths and legends: Lycurgus and the Dioscuri
– festivals:
Hyakinthia, Gymnopaedia, Karneia– religious role of the kings
– funerary customs and rituals
5 Cultural life
– art: sculpture, painted vases, bone and ivory carving
– architecture: Amyklaion, Menelaion, the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia
– writing and literature: Alcman and Tyrtaeus
– Greek writers’ views of Sparta: Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Aristotle,
Pausanias, Plutarch
6 Everyday life
– daily life and leisure activities
– food and clothing
– marriage customs
– occupations.