4.19 Spartan Army & Soldiers Lesson for Kids

Imagine if your life as a soldier began at seven years old. In this lesson, you will learn about a famous army known as the Spartans, who started training their soldiers at this early age. You will further learn who the Spartan army was and why they were so successful against their enemies.

Born to Fight

I want you to think back to when you were seven years old. Many of you were in school, learning how to read, write, and do math. You probably enjoyed playing tag or other games with your friends. Being seven was fun, right? Now I want you to imagine being that same age, living in barracks, having little food, being beaten to be tough and fighting your friends daily, and going to school only to learn how to fight, with little reading and writing. Spartan boys, who were not the first-born son of a ruling family, left the care of their mothers and went to a military school known as the Agoge, and faced these types of experiences daily. The sole purpose for their education was to learn loyalty to their state and join the Spartan army by age 20.
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Text：I want you to think back to when you were seven years old. Many of you were in school, learning how to read, write, and do math. You probably enjoyed playing tag or other games with your friends. Being seven was fun, right? Now I want you to imagine being that same age, living in barracks, having little food, being beaten to be tough and fighting your friends daily, and going to school only to learn how to fight, with little reading and writing. Spartan boys, who were not the first-born son of a ruling family, left the care of their mothers and went to a military school known as the Agoge, and faced these types of experiences daily. The sole purpose for their education was to learn loyalty to their state and join the Spartan army by age 20.

1. Main points:

The text contrasts the typical childhood experience with that of Spartan boys, who at age seven were sent to the Agoge, a military school where they endured harsh conditions and training focused solely on preparing them for military service and loyalty to Sparta.

2. Questions:

• Comparative Analysis: How does the childhood of a Spartan boy in the Agoge differ from a typical modern childhood?
• Content Analysis: What was the main focus of education in the Agoge for Spartan boys?
• Socio-cultural Analysis: Why was it important for Spartan boys to learn loyalty to their state?

3. Further Discussion:

• How do you think the experience in the Agoge would shape the personality and values of a Spartan boy?

4. Answers:

• Comparative Analysis: "Living in barracks, having little food, being beaten to be tough and fighting your friends daily, and going to school only to learn how to fight, with little reading and writing."
• Content Analysis: "The sole purpose for their education was to learn loyalty to their state and join the Spartan army by age 20."
• Socio-cultural Analysis: The text implies that loyalty to the state was crucial in Spartan society, especially for those destined to join the army, but does not explicitly state why.

Who was the Spartan Army

All Spartan men were trained from the day they were born to become soldiers of the Spartan army.

Sparta was one of the most powerful places in Ancient Greece and was located in a valley in southeastern Greece. The Spartan army was at the center of Sparta and one of the most feared. King Leonidas of Sparta led these skilled, highly professional, and brave Spartan soldiers.

1. Main points:

The text highlights that all Spartan men were rigorously trained to be part of the highly skilled and feared Spartan army, led by King Leonidas, in the powerful city-state of Sparta in Ancient Greece.

2. Questions:

• Content Analysis: What was the main purpose of a Spartan man’s life from birth?
• Contextual Analysis: Where was Sparta located and what was its significance in Ancient Greece?
• Historical Analysis: Who was King Leonidas and what was his role in the Spartan army?

3. Further Discussion:

• Why do you think the Spartan army was so feared in Ancient Greece?

4. Answers:

• Content Analysis: "All Spartan men were trained from the day they were born to become soldiers of the Spartan army."
• Contextual Analysis: "Sparta was one of the most powerful places in Ancient Greece and was located in a valley in southeastern Greece."
• Historical Analysis: "King Leonidas of Sparta led these skilled, highly professional, and brave Spartan soldiers."

Picture of King Leonidas, leader of the Spartan army

Battling the Spartan Army

The Spartan army had a unique formation they used in battle that made them so victorious over larger armies. They used a phalanx formation, lined up side by side, locking their shields together and moving toward their enemies, stabbing with their long spears. The Spartan army practiced this formation on a daily basis and never broke the phalanx formation during their battles. Have you ever seen a game of rugby played? The players line up just like the Spartans did to battle other armies.

1. Main points:

The text describes the Spartan army’s use of the phalanx formation, a tactical arrangement where soldiers stood side by side, shields locked, moving as a unit with long spears, which was a key to their success in battles.

2. Questions:

• Content Analysis: What was the phalanx formation and how did it contribute to the Spartan army’s success?
• Comparative Analysis: How is the phalanx formation similar to the way rugby players line up in a game?
• Tactical Analysis: Why did the Spartan army practice the phalanx formation daily?

3. Further Discussion:

• Can you think of any other team activities where working closely together is important for success?

4. Answers:

• Content Analysis: "They used a phalanx formation, lined up side by side, locking their shields together and moving toward their enemies, stabbing with their long spears."
• Comparative Analysis: "Have you ever seen a game of rugby played? The players line up just like the Spartans did to battle other armies."
• Tactical Analysis: "The Spartan army practiced this formation on a daily basis and never broke the phalanx formation during their battles."

The Spartan army in the phalanx formation during battle

Every Spartan soldier had to be equipped with four battle items:

• Aspis – shield; the most important piece of equipment
• Dory – long spear
• Xiphos – short sword
• Crimson tunic – uniform to cover wounds and injuries

During battle, the biggest disgrace of any Spartan soldier was to lose his shield. Have you ever heard of ‘Captain America’? He carries a red, white, and blue shield with a star in it that helps protect him and defeat the bad guys. Every Spartan soldier carried a shield just like him, but their shield was made out of wood with a covering of bronze and weighed about 30 pounds.

A Spartan soldier

Lesson Summary

The Spartan army was a very feared and successful group of soldiers, using the phalanx formation to defeat many larger armies during their time. Spartan boys at age seven would attend the Agoge to prepare them for one day becoming a Spartan soldier, and defeating their future enemies in battle.