The Spartan Way

From Junior Scholastic

By Sean Price

Sparta was the strongest city state in ancient Greece for more than 200 years. It dominated Greece. That was because of the army that they had. Spartan men had to join the army when they were seven. They were not allowed to show pain and the boys did not even live with their family. The government was as nice to the little Spartan boys as to their slaves and if the boys did something bad they got whipped and were not allowed to show any pain. The army barely gave them any food so they had to steal provision, which means that they had to steal food and other supplies. Man in Sparta could leave the army when they were 30 years old.

   In Sparta they had oligarchy unlike in Athens where they had democracy. In Sparta there were few records to study for the historians. Sparta had a very strict government. When there was a baby born one of the eldest came to look at the baby. If it did not look strong enough then it was left behind on a mountain side to die. If you want to be a government leader you need to be over 60 years old.
Here is one quote why the Spartans were so strong: "After eating the spartan food I understand why they were so willing to die in the battle." I like this quote because it is funny and it describes how the Spartans had to live. They did not live in luxury. You can see that from this quote. This quote was by a visitor.
Sparta´s end was when the city state Thebes crushed the city. That was 371 B.C.