Sparta-1.Context

Question 1

Historical Context of Ancient Sparta

Answer 1

-Descendants of Doric people from the North(hence beef w Athens)
-Sparta was originally 5 Villages called ‘oba’
-900-720BC’MessenianWars’: attacked Messenia reducing its population>doubling Sparta’s agricultural resources
>re-organised social/political systems into Military State

Question 2

Geographical Context

Answer 2

^north=Arcadian Mt
>east=Parnon Mt Range
<west=Mt Taygetus
-200m (+)sea level
—>mt ranges formed natural barrier (=isolation) to spartan Valley-Formed by Eurotas river
-water supply from streams of Mt Taygetus

Question 3

Resources of Ancient Sparta

Answer 3

-surrounding mt ranges
+
-conquest of Messenia
+
-Gytheum Port
———————————
>STONE
-(limestone, marble Porphyry-greenstone)
>FOOD
-(crops, animal, fish, bees)
>MINERALS
-(Iron, Lead, clay, copper/tin for bronze making)

Question 4

Significant Sites of Ancient Sparta

Answer 4

SANCTUARY OF ATERMIS ORTHIA
-Godess Artemis Orthia
-significant place of worship
-ceremony of young boys trying to steal cheese placed on the altar(rite of passage)
——————————
TEMPLE OF ATHENA
- dedicated to the goddess Athena
-located on the acropolis of Sparta
——————————-
THE AMYKLAION
-Amykles/Amyclae is a village in Laconia
-hill used as religious centre
- Throne of Apollo Amyklaios
——————————
THE MENALION
-hero shrine of Menelaus and Helen of Troy (5km from Sparta)