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Disillusioning of Xenophon with Sparta

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Added on  2021-02-20

Disillusioning of Xenophon with Sparta

   Added on 2021-02-20

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Ancient Greece - Sparta
Disillusioning of Xenophon with Sparta_1
TABLE OF CONTENTSINTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1QUESTIONS...................................................................................................................................11. Disillusioning of Xenophon with Sparta .................................................................................12. Significance of Cleomenes I reign for Sparta .........................................................................23. Analysis of Powell regarding role of women in Sparta ..........................................................34.Critical evaluation of Krypteia from the perspective of Trundle .............................................5CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
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INTRODUCTION Sparta which was known as Lacedaemon in ancient times became one of the mostdominant military force in the ancient Greece. The city played a significant role in history ofGreece and Greco-Persian war. The constitution and the social structure of the city was speciallyconfigured to optimize its military proficiency to focus on only military excellence and training.The report will evaluate the history and social traditions of Sparta from the perspective ofXenophon and several other philosophers and archaeologists (Roberts, 2017). It will not onlyunderpin the social trends but will also help to evaluate the extent of efforts made by Spartanstate for sustaining its power. QUESTIONS1. Disillusioning of Xenophon with Sparta The Lacedaemonion constitution is also known as the Spartan constitution. It can be saidthat Xenophon disillusioned Sparta. Though the Spartan constitution is a treatise attributed toXenophon, a well known Greek philosopher but it describes the ancient practices and institutionsof Spartans. Xenophon mentioned that at once Sparta was very powerful and populated city andthus the victory of city by using military forces during Peloponnesian war was obvious. Therewere several contradictory views presented by the Xenophon regarding Sparta (Alonso, 2017).He stated that one of the reason which lead Sparta to become most powerful city of Greece isthat the city accepted and adopted most of the laws proposed by the Lycurgus. It has been alsostated by Xenophon that Spartan boys were provided intense training so that they becomeSocrates. The training included strict regulations such as being hungry for long time, wearinglimited garments and remaining barefoots. Hence, the focus of the city was only to generateyouth for the military actions. These regulations were not part of the Lacedaemonian constitutionand thus it can be said that Xenophon does not consider them. Contrary to this Lacedaemonianconstitutional elements can be considered to have belief that the tough training was to onlytowards having the possessions. Though Sparta residents were not having possession of gold buttheir strict training was aimed at improving or boasting their possession. However, as per theview Xenophon the Sparta possession of Sparta citizens was not materialistic but it was forestablishing the superiority of the Sparta in terms of authority and power. Further Xenophon alsoneglect the extent of brutality which was demonstrated by the Spartans towards their slaves1
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(Dimitropoulos, Kosmas and Douvis, 2017). Xenophon also disillusioned the status of Helots inthe city. The free people who were not citizens of Sparta were also given strict punishments forthe awful duties. In Sparta the extent of cruelty towards free people was very high as they can bekilled or tortured any time or in any way by the Spartan citizens. However, there was no mentionof such actions of the Spartans by Xenophon. Thus, reticence of Xenophon can be easilyidentified because the routine assault activities of Spartans were discussed by the Lycurgus butthey were not taken into considerations by Xenophon. The women were means to be haveresponsible for giving birth to the child so that wealth and power can be inherited amongindividuals. The concept of marriage was thus considered as the profitability approach for this(Voutsaki and Cartledge, , 2017). In order to increase the wealth and number of slaves theSpartans often engaged in marriages and were very much dependent upon hiring of mercenaries.In order to have increased number of fighters in the war the salves were also forced and abusedto take part in the battles. However, these facts were also not evidenced or mentioned by Xenophon. Contrary tothis he stated that women played an important role in the Sparta and their focus was to exploretheir dominance over multiple households. While mentioning this aspect Xenophon completelyneglected the property issues or the perspective of enhancing wealth by means of marriage. Theconstitution also describes that the king is self sufficient constitution and thus traitourous kingswere also buried with the honour. Those kings were provided with the additional foods, personalmessengers and animals for their own benefits and happiness. However, Xenophon told that thekings were highly bounded to preserve their ruler ship and kingdom. This aspect was overtone byhim which also lacks the religious functionality. 2. Significance of Cleomenes I reign for Sparta Cleomenes I is one of the famous Spartan king during early 6th century. The king playedsignificant role in enhancing the role and influence of Sparta. Cleomenes played successful rolein bringing Peloponnesian league into the formal existence. Though Sparta was a powerful citybut it was far from other Greek cities and religious centres. The horizon of almost all Spartanrulers was limited to Peloponnese. However, Cleomenes had unique and contrasting approach.He had perspective that since the world does not revolve around only Peninsula so Sparta mustalso increase its interference beyond peninsula. 2
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