Spartan+Society

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Part II Ancient Societies: Option I Greece: Spartan society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC
Principal Focus: The investigation of key features of Spartan society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC, through a range of archaeological and written sources and relevant historiographical issues.
 * 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, perioeci, ‘inferiors’, helots
 * role of the Spartan army
 * control of the helots: the military, syssitia, krypteia
 * artisans, helots
 * educational system: agoge
 * role and status of women: land ownership, inheritance, education


 * 3 The economy**
 * land ownership: agriculture, kleroi, helots
 * technology: weapons, armour, pottery
 * economic roles of the periokoi (‘dwellers around’) and helots
 * economic exchange: use of iron bars, trade


 * 4 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