Reflection On The Spartan Pre-Race

The spartan military was one of the most feared militaries in the greek society. They trained their citizens in discipline and honor. Their entire culture was based on war. The spartans began in the mycenaean age(1600 Bce to 1100 Bce).

In this research paper I am going to talk about how the Spartan Military influenced our society. You are sure to expect to learn about how it affected how we live on an everyday basis. Also, on how it affected the way the U.S military runs/works. Sparta's military has caused many influences on our modern-day society. This includes on how our military works and fights to how we live every day. In the next paragraph I am going to give a little back ground on how Sparta's military training went.

The ‘Ephor’s’ were a part of the Ancient Spartan constitution. The Ephor’s were an order of five high magistrates elected by the people to represent the will of the people; they were replaced on an annual basis by vote to prevent one person becoming to power hungry or powerful.

The race had already been postponed from a previous date, and after having to wait an extra week for our highly anticipated home invite, our entire team was stirring by the time the day finally befell us. It was a reassuring feeling to be able to warm up on the course knowing that every step of the 3.11 mile course had been imprinted into from the time I had started running on it the summer before. Granted the weather wasn’t perfect by any means and the course’s condition was already less than stellar, but I could make do, to be honest I was too excited to even let it

1st-         A positive aspect of the Spartan Code was the idea to train their young beginning at a young age, by giving power to the state to control the youth. This allowed many of the children to have an equal opportunity in the situation given although they did not have many options. They could all be taught the same concepts, and this would create more unity among the people which was very important, although the method by which they took action upon this was somewhat controversial.

However, I chose this specific event because I show up every year and really enjoy coming to watch. Not only is it thrilling, but it also keeps me from staying home. I will continue to attend to this event in the future because every year it is different. I surely do not plan on missing any of it. The sensation of the Kennett Delta Fair Parade is something I look forward to every year.

Based on the legendary battle of Thermopylae, 300 shares the tale of 300 Spartan warriors who were driven by honor and duty to take a stand against 1 million Persians. Despite being defeated and having all odds faced against them, the Spartans put up quite the battle and damaged Persia’s self-confidence. The Spartans were able to get as far as they did within the battle because of their honor and duty towards one another and to Sparta itself. Looking at the film by Zack Snyder, a rendition of the comic series created by Frank Miller, it is obvious that honor and duty are depicted in more ways than one within the Spartan people.

Spartan society is claimed to be brutish, cruel and short and this is partially true because Spartan infants had to prove their fitness, male Spartan children had to undergo military style programs but on the other hand in Spartan society, women had more freedom and rights than the other Greek cities. The first evidence of Spartan society being brutish ,cruel and short lasting is that Spartan infants had to prove their fitness. When a Spartan baby is born, male or female they would be tested on their fitness, The way the baby's were tested was to inspected for illness and physical defects. If the baby manages to succeed the test they will be looked after for the next 7 years by their parents but if the infant was sick or was considered to be weak they would be abandoned in the

I woke up thinking this is the day, the day that I would have to try my best. On October 21, 2017 in Rapid City, South Dakota the day of my biggest cross-country race had come. It was state. I felt very thrilled and nervous that the day had come.

Almost an hour later, we pulled into our parking spot and walked to the golf course. My coach gathered all the information I needed. My teammates and I walked to a tree to set our stuff down and there we watched the bigger schools finish their races. I could tell it rained a lot since my feet sunk into the ground, and felt wet as I pulled them out. This made me look at the course where the other state participants were running on. The course was covered with moist looking mud and grass.

In the 7th Century BC a new era of warfare strategy evolved. Before this new strategy, foot soldiers (known as hoplites) engaged in battle in the form of one mob for each army which on the command of their generals runs at each other and proceeds to hack blindly at the enemy with little to no direction other then to kill the enemy in front of them. This proved to be very messy and the tide of battle depended mostly on emotion and size of an army. In the name of strategy and organization, the phalanx was developed. A phalanx is simply defined as a line formation with its width significantly larger then its depth. The depth of the phalanx is a variable which some suggest was decided by the army itself rather then by the leaders of the army.

Before the Spartans were known for their military might, they were just another Greek City-State. The Spartans took pride in their artistic skills, especially Spartan poetry . A key event in the rise of Sparta was the conquest of Messenia in the 8th century . After the conquest of Messenia, the Messenian citizens were made slaves, or Helots as the Spartans would call them . After dealing with a Messenian slave revolt, a Spartan called Lycurgus created a set of laws which all Spartan citizens had to follow . The goal of the laws was to make the Spartan citizens professional soldiers that were capable of fighting off any enemies or potential slave revolts . The helots outnumbered the Spartans and were used for any number of tasks so that the Spartans’ time and focus would be solely devoted to military training. The use of Helots to do ordinary tasks like taking care of the crops, house and meals, was the spark that allowed for the formation of the Spartan military culture.

Even with the financial difficulty. One of the many runners last year quoted "last years' experience was life-changing for her." So many people contribute their time, energy and creativity. It is what keeps the race ongoing and consistent every year. One of my targets is for the proceeds from the race is to cover the expenses. A priority is the course runner safety and to do so is reasonably support them on the course and to provide a great running experience. "I also like the idea of contributing somewhat to the community by providing a health-promoting activity. And I really like the running community. I find them to be a friendly and appreciative people." (Heck, 2017.) With the understanding of the communities and who are living within the communities, the majority is Native Americans. Majority of the Navajo Nation, Natives are diagnosed with diabetes. They are 1.6 times higher in death rate and 110% increase is diagnosed 15-19 years of age on up. Showing and motivating them to come and contribute to the race will hopefully change their lives in some way to become better, healthier and motivated. Many of the young children are diagnosed and helping them would change their future in their culture and keep it strong and going.

Sparta was one of the most powerful city-states in Greece and in order to increase a food supply, the Spartans turned to their bordering country Messenia. In the eighth century B.C. the Spartans conquered the Messenians and set up a new type of social system. The Messenians would work the soil to supply the Spartans with the food supply, which would leave the dominating class available for a life of military training. The Messenians outnumbered the Spartans and without a strong hold the lower-class citizens would eventually overtake them by physical force.

Sparta was, above all, a military state, and emphasis on military fitness began at birth, imprinted through society and the political system. The education of the Spartan male children prove that the military and war was constantly a huge part of Spartan society, and the laws and systems that Sparta was governed by, only enforced the militaristic attitude into the society of Sparta. That the Spartans needed to be ready for war is proved by the discord between the Spartiate and the helots, who outnumbered and under ranked the Spartans.