Education in Sparta Did the Strengths Outweigh the

Education in Sparta: Did the Strengths Outweigh the Weaknesses? Overview: In this packet you will find a set of documents, both primary and secondary sources regarding the education, training, and lives of ancient Spartans. After reading and analyzing the documents you will be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of this ancient system, and then decide if it was a favorable choice for the Spartans in ancient Greece. Name: ______________ Color: ________ Date: _______

: The Agoge System Content Notes: Document Analysis 1. How many years did a Spartan boy spend in the agoge? 2. What evidence in this document to suggest that Spartan boys developed stronger attachments to their agoge troops than to their families? 3. What Spartan values are suggested by this document? 4. Judging from this document, what were the strengths of Spartan education? 5. Judging from this document, what were the weaknesses of Spartan education?

Document B: Life in the Military Content Notes: Document Analysis 1. What clothing did Spartan boys wear? 2. What was the reason for small rations of food? 3. What was the reason for encouraging the boys to steal? 4. What was the reason for whipping the boys who were caught stealing? 5. Judging from this document, what were the strengths of Spartan education? 5. Judging from this document, what were the weaknesses of Spartan education?

Content notes: Document Analysis 1. What was the krypteia? 2. Who were the helots? (see Background Essay) 3. According to Plutarch, what was the Spartans’ justification for killing helots? 4. Judging from this document, what were the strengths of Spartan education? 5. Judging from this document, what were the weaknesses of Spartan education?

Content notes: Document Analysis 1. According to Plutarch, what were Spartan children taught regarding: a. the importance of reading: _____________________________ b. treatment of any boy or man who is older than you: ____________________ c. working with one’s hands: ______________________________ d. the importance of money: ______________________________ e. travel: ______________________________________ f. attending plays: __________________________________ g. music: ______________________________________ 2. Sparta was always very concerned about being attacked – both by outsiders and by the helots. How did the Spartan attitude toward the seven topics from question #1 address this concern about security? a. Less time on reading means more time for ___________. Also, reading can lead to ________ which might challenge the _____ of Spartan law b. ______ for ______is good training for military training c. Becoming a good carpenter takes away the focus on _____ fitness and _______ training d. Money, and trying to get more of it is distracting and can also lead to _________. A strong Sparta depends on military _____ and absolute togetherness, not _____ divisions e. Attending plays leads to too much _______ and ________. It distracts from the main task at home which is homeland ________and solid discipline. f. Music builds _______ and _________ -- it is a weapon of battle 3. Judging from this document, do you think the strengths of Spartan education were greater than the weaknesses?

Content notes: Document Analysis 1. How would you describe the figure shown in the photograph? 2. According to both Xenophon and Plutarch, what was the purpose for training Spartan girls to wrestle, run, and throw? 3. What were some of the privileges (freedoms) of the women in Sparta? 4. Judging from this document, what were the strengths of Spartan education? 5. Judging from the document, what were weaknesses of Spartan education?

2. Sparta was always very concerned about being attacked – both by outsiders and by the helots. How did the Spartan attitude toward the seven topics from question #1 address this concern about security? a. less time on reading means more time for ____________ also, reading can lead to ________ which might challenge the _____ of Spartan law b. ______ for ______ is good training for military _________ c. becoming a good carpenter takes away the focus on _____ fitness and _______ training d. Money, and trying to get more of it is distracting and can also lead to _________. A strong Sparta depends on military _____ and absolute togetherness, not _____ divisions e. Attending plays leads to too much _______ and ________It distracts from the main task at home which is homeland ________and solid discipline f. Music builds _______ and _________ -- it is a weapon of battle 3. Judging from this document, do you think the strengths of Spartan education were greater than the weaknesses?