Ancient History HSC > Greece: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra 371BC

Features and structure of the Spartan education system: the Agoge

The Spartan education system was designed to produce a class of warrior citizens. It trained Spartan boys to evolve into fearless and loyal soldiers.

Please explore the following Internet sites and answer the five questions that follow. Email your report to your teacher or utilise this template and submit your report in person.



Spartan youth training

 

1. Definitions of Agoge @ (i) Wikipedia (ii) Glossary at USYD

2. Sparta Revisited-Education. This article deals with the role of Spartan education as a component of developing the civic sensibilities of its youth. This is a general article.

3. Sparta - The Training of Youth. Another article that looks at the education of Spartan youth. This secondary source provides a general view.


4. Review This article is a review of The Gymnasium of Virtue: Education and Culture in Ancient Sparta by Nigel M. Kennell. The review is written by Antony G. Keen.

5. Education in Ancient Greece. This web site reviews the education of youth in Sparta and Athens.

6. Education in Ancient Times. This article is part of the excellent Winged Sandals site hosted by the ABC in Australia.

7. Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians Chapter 2. This article exaimines in detail the role of the tutor or paidonomos in Greek education.

8. A sample essay concerned with Spartan education.

9. Spartan ubringing. This description is taken from the NSW HSC online web site.

10. Training and Education in Sparta vs. WWII Germany. This essay compares the system of education in Sparta with that of Nazi Germany.

11. Spartan values. Some info on Spartan education here.

12. Classical Greek Shield Patterns. This is interesting albeit off task. Located in Japan too.

13. The Spartans. A nice little site at Channel 4 in Great Britain. Pdf version.

14. A page about Spartan history with a section devoted to Spartan upbringing.


1. “The Spartan education system was designed to develop a homogenous warrior class of citizen soldiers." Analyse and discuss the statement above with reference to the processes and function of the Spartan education system.

2. Why do you think the Spartan system of education was established?

3. What was the purpose of the paidonomos in Spartan education?

4. What do you think were the key stages of the education of a Spartan youth?

5. Do you think Hitler may have been inspired by the education system of Sparta? Explain.