Human Heritage: A World History

"Spartan Warriors"

Introduction
As you read in this chapter, Sparta was a military nation primarily interested in becoming the strongest city-state in Greece. To accomplish this, Spartans had strict and unusual dictates that created fighting men and strong women. The Spartans expected hostile environments for their warrior citizens, and so they trained their youth to become survivors under the harshest conditions. Even today, the word "Spartan" means strict, severe, and self-denying. To read more about the Spartan people and their love of warfare, go to the Legion XIIII-Ancient Greece Brought to Life Web site.

Destination Title: Legion XIIII-Ancient Greece Brought to Life Web Site

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Directions
Start at the Legion XIIII-Ancient Greece Brought to Life Web site.

• Browse through the site, taking notes as you go.
• Read through the information, and then answer the following questions.

1			What was unique about Spartan shields?
2			After the battle, how was the shield a symbol of the soldier's valor?
3			Describe the harsh treatment of Spartan boys while they were being trained for warfare. What was the purpose of the harsh treatment?
4			Describe the training that Spartan girls received. What was the purpose of the training?
5			How would your school change if it adopted a Spartan disciplinary system? On a separate sheet of paper, list what you think the changes would be, including changes to classroom rules, teacher and student interaction, and the goals of education within your school.