Military Flashcards
(19 cards)
Who is the army commander in Sparta?
King
The king is accountable to the ephors and can be punished for failures.
What powers did Agis have while at Declea with his army? (According to Thuc)
“He could send troops, raise fresh forces, and levy money.”
From whom do all decisions in the Spartan army stem? according to Xen?
“all decisions stem from the king”
[Xenophon, Lac Pol, 13.10]
What is the role of ephors during a military campaign? According to Xenephon
To ensure appropriate behavior
[Xenophon, Lac Pol, 13.5]
What law was passed regarding Agis’s command of the army? And who tells us this?
He must have 10 advisers to lead an army.
[Thucydides, 5.63]
What was the ratio of Helots to Spartans during battles? According to Herodotus
7:1
Example: Platea had 5000 Spartans and 35,000 Helots [Herodotus, 9.28]
Why were Spartans glad to send Helots out of the country? According to Thuc?
They feared a revolution.
[Thucydides, 4.80]
Who comprised the rest of Brasidas’s army? According to Thuc
“The rest of his army were mercenaries”
The force included helots and mercenaries [Thucydides, 4.81]
What happened to the Helots who fought with Brasidas? According to Thuc
They were given their freedom.
[Thucydides, 5.34]
What is a reason for Spartan superiority in warfare?
Spartan Mirage and Helot Threat- The agoge
They did not chase fleeing opponents, benefiting their strategy.
What was the Spartan approach to pursuing enemies? According to Plutarch
They did not chase fleeing opponents.
This led to higher desertion rates among enemies [Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos, 22]
What was the purpose of most Spartan institutions according to Thuc?
“most Spartan institutions have always been designed with a view to security against the Helots”.
[Thucydides]
What does the Agoge system aim to create?
Strong loyal soldiers
It instills values such as obedience and endurance.
What did Tyrtaeus say about dying in battle?
“it is a noble thing for a man to fall in the front line”
[Tyrtaeus 10]
What was directed towards the military education of Spartan boys? According to Plut
“their education was directed towards the habit of instant obedience, endurance of pain, and military success”
[Plutarch, Life of Lykourgos, 16.6]
What did Lykourgos decree about Spartan clothing according to Xen?
“decreed that they should habitually wear one garment all the year round”
[Xenophon, Lac. Pol, 2]
What food allowance did Spartan boys receive? According to Xen
They weren’t given much food but could try to steal more.
[Xenophon, Lac Pol, 2]
How do Spartans view war according to Plut?
“war brought relief from their training for war”
Who are considered the true professionals in war according to Xenophon?
“Lakedaimonians alone are the true professionals in the overall conduct of war”
[Xenophon, Lak. Pol, 13.5]
