Sparta / / Michael Whitby.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Edinburgh University Press Backlist eBook-Package 2013-2000
• VerfasserIn: Whitby, Michael,
• MitwirkendeR: Andrewes, A.,; Cartledge, Paul,; Cawkwell, G. L.,; Ducat, Jean,; Hodkinson, Stephen,; Parker, Robert,; Powell, Anton,; Shipley, Graham,; Starr, Chester G.,; Ste Croix, G. E. M. de,
• Place / Publishing House: Edinburgh : : Edinburgh University Press, , [2022]; ©2001
• Year of Publication: 2022
• Language: English
• Series: Edinburgh Readings on the Ancient World : ERAW
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (276 p.)

This volume introduces the reader to every important aspect of the society of Sparta, the dominant power in southern Greece from the seventh century BC and the great rival of democratic Athens in the fifth and fourth centuries. During this period Sparta evolved a unique social and political system that combined egalitarian structures, military ideals and brutal oppression, and permitted male citizens to focus on the practice of war. The system fascinated scholars at the time and has done so ever since: its outlines are clear, but because of the nature of the evidence almost all detailed aspects of Spartan social practices and constitutional affairs are open to debate.Michael Whitby introduces and presents some of the most outstanding contributions to the history of Sparta. Together they cover the key aspects of Spartan history and society: its problematic early history, social and economic organisation (especially the different categories of citizens and non-citizens), international relations and military achievements, religious practices and culture, the role of women, and sexual conduct and values. He has chosen them partly for their clarity and importance, and partly too for the questions they raise about the problems of studying Sparta - what evidence to consider, what precautions need to be observed in considering it, and what sorts of conclusions it is reasonable to draw. His intention is not to pretend that definitive answers can be offered to the main problems of Sparta but to encourage readers to formulate their own approaches and judgements with due respect for the limitations of the evidence and awareness of the benefits of informed speculation.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Freface -- Note to the Reader -- Abbreviations -- Glossary -- Maps -- Introduction -- PART I Early Sparta -- Introduction -- 1 The Credibility of Early Spartan History -- PART II Power and Government at Sparta -- Introduction -- 2 The Government of Classical Sparta -- 3 Trials at Sparta -- PART III The Spartiate World -- Introduction -- 4 Spartiate Landownership and Inheritance -- 5 Dining Groups, Marriage, Homosexuality -- 6 Social Order and the Conflict of Values in Classical Sparta -- 7 Spartan Wives: Liberation or Licence? -- 8 Religion in Public Life -- PART IV Perioeci and Helots -- Introduction -- 9 Perioecic Society -- 10 The Helot Threat -- 11 The Obligations of Helots -- PART V Sparta and the Outside World -- Introduction -- 12 Sparta’s ‘Foreign Policy’ -- 13 The Origins and Organisation of the Peloponnesian League -- PART VI Spartan Decline -- Introduction -- 14 The Decline of Sparta -- Intellectual Chronology -- Guide to Further Reading -- Bibliography -- Index