The Riddle of Ancient Sparta: Unwrapping an Enigma - Professor Paul Cartledge

00:00 // Introduction: The Enigma of Sparta 01:35 // The Peculiar Nature of Spartan History 03:25 // Foundational Myths and the Role of Lycurgus 06:05 // The Making of the Spartan Mirage 09:42 // Sources: Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon 13:15 // Spartan Society: Rigid Equality and the Agoge 16:55 // Women in Sparta: Freedom and Function 20:20 // The Role of the Helots in the Spartan System 23:50 // Perioikoi and Spartan Economics 26:18 // Military Might and the Hoplite Ideal 30:00 // The Contradictions of Spartan Foreign Policy 33:20 // Kings, Gerousia, and the Spartan Political Machine 36:42 // The Role of the Ephors and Checks on Power 39:55 // Spartan Religion and Sacred Kingship 43:10 // The Decline of Spartan Power 46:50 // Sparta After the Classical Period 50:30 // The Roman Fascination with Sparta 52:40 // Modern Receptions and Misinterpretations 55:15 // Final Thoughts: Sparta’s Enduring Legacy Ancient Sparta has been handed down in a tradition radically conflicted and confused by rival political and social ideologies. A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, one might say. This Spartan tradition is still alive and lively today. This lecture seeks to shed light rather than heat, by assessing just how odd (different, exceptional, peculiar) Sparta really might have been. The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/the-riddle-of-ancient-sparta-unwrapping-an-enigma Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/ Website: http://www.gresham.ac.uk Twitter: http://twitter.com/GreshamCollege Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greshamcollege Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/greshamcollege