This is Sparta: Fierce warriors of the ancient world - Craig Zimmer

In ancient Greece, violent internal conflict between border neighbours and war with foreign invaders was a way of life, and Greeks were considered premier warriors. Sparta, specifically, had an army of the most feared warriors in the ancient world. What were they doing to produce such fierce soldiers? Craig Zimmer shares some of the lessons that might have been taught at Spartan school.

1. Which Greek historian did not write about ancient Sparta?

2. At what age did young Spartan boys get sent to the Agoge?

3. The Spartans prized physical perfection above all else. What did teachers at the Agoge not encourage?

4. The Agoge also focused on other areas of study to help make their boys into better warriors. What subject was not part of the curriculum at the school?

5. Girls also received an education. What was the reasoning behind this?

6. In 1859, scientist Charles Darwin presented the idea that nature had a natural selection to keep the better adapted organisms thriving and get rid of poorer adapted ones. Soon after reading Darwin’s work, Herbert Spencer, an English Philosopher, coined a phrase “survival of the fittest” meaning only the strong survive. Do you think Sparta proves this theory to be true? How or how not?

7. Spartan boys were built to become the perfect warriors. What methods were used at “Spartan School” to build them up both body and mind? Why is this mix important in building better warriors?

8. Why were women so important to Sparta’s success?