Spartan Society Geography and Topography Geographical Features l

Spartan Society Geography and Topography

Geographical Features l l l Sparta was well situated 200 metres above sea level. Northern end of the alluvial plain of Lakonia. To the west of Sparta lay the Taygetus mountain range To the east of Sparta lay the Parnon mountain range To the north were the Arcadian mountains Eurotas river provided much-needed water

Geographical Features contin. l l l l The Lakonian plain (14 km x 5 km) enabled people to grow all the food needed Climate: one of extremes: cold in winter, hot in summer Mountain ranges remained snow-capped throughout the year Lower wooded slope provided excellent hunting grounds and valuable timber. Mountains formed a natural barrier to valley of Spartans were able to mine iron and lead, grow barley and olives, cultivate orcards and vineyards and graze sheep. Gytheum, the Spartan port in the Lakonian Gulf, provided shellfish for dye to colour Spartan clothing.

Resources: Minerals and ores Stone • Porphyry – a hard green stone • Marble – quarried from Mt Taygetus • Iron • Copper and tin imported for bronze-making • Lead and clay RESOURCES Food animals Crops - barley, wheat, grapes, figs Sheep and goats – for wool, meat and dairy products Pigs – for meat and black broth (soup made from pigs’ blood) Chickens – for eggs Bees – for honey Hare and wild boar – hunted in wild areas