Expert: Irulan Serena - 3/29/2008

Question
Hi Irulan,
I am doing a class project on the spartans and how their culture made them good warriors.  I dont know if this is your area of expertise but I hope you can answer a few questions for me.

1)When did the spartan race begin?

2) Where did they get their name?

3)How were the warriors trained?

4)What was their religion?

5)How did the geology at the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC)
help the Spartans?

Thank you,
Nicholas Wyatt
8th Grade Class
LBJ Middle School
Melbourne, FL

Answer
1)When did the Spartan race begin?

It is believed that the original ancestors of the Spartans were Dorians who invaded the Peloponnese region around 1000 B.C. The Dorians were one of the three ethnic groups of the ancient Greeks. They came from central Greece and swept into the Peloponnese, defeating the original inhabitants of this region. It is thought that this invasion was not a singular event but more likely a successive influx of different groups of Dorians. It is also believed that these Dorian invaders eventually settled down into four separate villages, two of which became the more dominant of the four. Over time, all of these villages united together and formed what would become known as the city-state of Sparta.

2) Where did they get their name?  

I have found  no information which gives an explanation of the origin of the name Sparta.

3)How were the warriors trained?  

The following website will be helpful on this topic.  
 
http://www.essortment.com/all/greekwarriorsp_rwhv.htm


4)What was their religion? The same as the rest of ancient Greece…they worshipped the same gods, however, Mars, god of war was the main god worshipped.

5)How did the geology at the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC)
help the Spartans?   

The narrow pass enabled them to use a few soldiers to fend off enemies.

See following site for more information:

http://joseph_berrigan.tripod.com/ancientbabylon/id28.html

Hope this helps,

Iru