Sparta Star System

Sparta contains 27 resources.

Sparta was one of the most prominent city-states in ancient Greece, and it's particularly known for its unique societal structure and military prowess. Here's a brief overview:

1. Geographical Location: Sparta, also known as Lacedaemon, was located in the southeastern Peloponnese, in a region known as Laconia.

2. Society: Unlike other Greek city-states like Athens, which championed democracy, Sparta was primarily a military oligarchy. It had two hereditary kings from two royal families who ruled simultaneously, serving both religious and military roles. There was also a Council of Elders (or Gerousia) and an assembly, the Apella. Another unique group in Spartan society was the Ephors, five annually elected officials who held significant sway over many aspects of governance.

3. Education: Spartan boys began their military training at a young age in a system known as the "agoge". This rigorous training program was designed to mold them into the perfect warriors. Girls also received physical training, though not as intense as the boys, to prepare them for the role of motherhood and to support the military society.

4. Helots: The Spartans were supported by a class of serfs known as the Helots. These individuals primarily came from subjugated regions and worked the land for the Spartans. They greatly outnumbered the Spartans, leading to fears of revolt and resulting in the Spartans developing a militaristic society to maintain control.

5. Military Prowess: Sparta is perhaps best known for its military strength. The Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE, where 300 Spartans led by King Leonidas I made a heroic stand against the Persian army of Xerxes I, is one of the most famous episodes in ancient military history.

6. Rivalry with Athens: The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) saw Sparta and its allies pitted against the Athenian Empire. The conflict, which lasted for decades, ended with a Spartan victory, but both city-states were left weakened and were eventually overtaken by the Macedonian Empire under Philip II and his son Alexander the Great.