Athenian and Spartan Military Recruitment Flashcards
When would Spartans start their military training?
At the age of 7, when they entered the Agoge
Who would inspect Spartan babies to decide if they lived or died?
The Gerousia- a council of elders
What would a Spartan do after completing his Agoge training?
- Try to get elected into a syssition
- To gain access, every member of the syssition would have to vote to let him join
What would happen once a Spartan joined a syssition?
- Live in barracks with his mates and eat with them each night
- On campaign they would share a tent and fight alongside one another
How long would you be a Spartan soldier for?
Until the age of 60
- Typically younger men would be sent out on campaign though
Who was expected to serve in the Athenian military?
-All adult citizens
- Over 60’s were exempt
What did Athenian men have to do to be considered a citizen?
Undergo two years of basic military training
What would the state do during a campaign?
- Pay a basic wage to soldiers
- Money would be drawn from taxes and spoils of war
Why were Athenian soldiers of a lower quality than Spartan soldiers?
- Not given state support, so they had less time for training because they still had to work
- No strict entry requirements
How was the Athenian army divided?
- Divided into 10 regiments, once from each of the 10 tribes
- Helped to promote a sense of community
What was Athenian recruitment impacted by?
Wealth
- Soldiers had to provide their own equipment
- Rich men were recruited into the cavalry
- Middle-class men would be Hoplites
- Poorer men would serve as lightly-armoured infantry or as rowers
Who was recruited into the Athenian navy?
- Poorer classes, as you didnt need any equipment
- Slaves and mercenaries
Who paid for triremes?
- A wealthy citizen, who had to pay for it as a ‘super tax’
- They’d be called a Trierarch, and it would have been seen as an honour
