DSBcB40 Ancient Sparta

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Bc. Jiří Kouřil, M.Sc., Ph.D. et Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Bc. Jiří Kouřil, M.Sc., Ph.D. et Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 8:00–9:40 C11
Prerequisites
! DSBcB040 Ancient Sparta
Basic knowledge of the history of ancient Greece.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The subject is concentrated on the history and development of Sparta from the eldest times and legends to the death of Sparta. The goal of the subject is to introduce the students to the history, reforms, education systems, politics, demography, wars and persons of ancient Sparta, their festivals, "sports" and games, art of war and mentality. After finalization of this subject, the students will be orientated in the political system, historic evolution and system of education of the youth in Sparta on the background of historical events.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- objectively look on the history and evolution of Sparta,
- compare education system, mentality and political setup of Sparta with other poleis and with the ones of the present,
- understand some ideals, which formed Spartan society and mentality,
- understand some specialist terms,
- orientate in the primary sources and specialist literature dealing with this topic.
Syllabus
  • 1) Mythological origins of Lacedaemon, the oldest history, the Leleges, arrival of the Dorians,
  • 2) The first Messenian war, conquest of Amycles and surroundings, wars against Argus (Phaedon), the battle of Hysia (669/8 BC),
  • 3) The second Messenian war and the influence of the Olympic agonothesia on the layering of powers, Aristomenes, Rhodian aristocracy x the fall of Messenian athletics and Spartan replace of their hegemony at Olympia,
  • 4) Lycurgus´ laws, the change over of constitution, the influence of the new constitution and genetics on the Spartan somatotype,
  • 5) The development until Graeco-Persian wars and the role of Sparta, the third Messenian war,
  • 6) The Peloponnesian war and the Peloponnesian League,
  • 7) Agesilaus, the hegemony of Sparta and the loss of their positions,
  • 8) The epilogue – the Spartans in the role of the mercenaries, the decay and the destruction of Sparta,
  • 9) The Spartan colonies, Spartan warfare (Xenophon),
  • 10) The lifestyle of Spartans, the oligarchy? versus the Athenian "democracy", the isonomia-isomoiria,
  • 11) Sport and games in Sparta, the role of Olympic victor,
  • 12) The role of Sparta in other history (Machiavelli, Campanella, Rousseau, Nietzsche, …).
Literature
    required literature
  • PAUSANIAS. Cesta po Řecku. Vyd. 1. Praha: Svoboda, 1973, 581 s. URL info
  • PAUSANIAS. Cesta po Řecku. 1. vyd. Praha: Svoboda, 1974, 428 s. URL info
  • HÉRODOTOS. Dějiny. Edited by Bořivoj Borecký, Translated by Jaroslav Šonka. Vyd. 3., V nakl. Academia 1. Praha: Academia, 2004, 548 s. ISBN 8020011927. info
  • THÚKYDIDÉS. Dějiny peloponnéské války. Edited by Václav Bahník. Vyd. 2., v Odeonu 1. Praha: Odeon, 1977, 595 s. URL info
  • XENOFÓN, nar. 430-425 př. Kr. Lakedaimonské zřízení (Obsaž.) : Řecké dějiny. info
  • PLÚTARCHOS. Životopisy slavných Řeků a Římanů. Translated by Václav Bahník. 2. vyd., V AK 1. Praha: Arista, 2006, 856 s. ISBN 8073400790. info
  • PLÚTARCHOS. Životopisy slavných Řeků a Římanů. Translated by Václav Bahník. 2. vyd., V AK 1. Praha: Arista, 2007, 840 s. ISBN 9788090376144. info
  • XENOFÓN. Vzpomínky na Sókrata. Translated by Václav Bahník. Ve Svobodě vydání I. Praha: Svoboda, 1972, 450 stran. URL info
  • XENOFÓN. Anabaze. Translated by Jaroslav Šonka. Praha: Odeon, 1974. info
  • Antické válečné umění. 1. vyd. v tomto souboru. Praha: Svoboda, 1977, 618 s. URL info
  • OLIVA, Pavel. Sparta a její sociální problémy. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1971, 339 s. info
    recommended literature
  • BRADFORD, Alfred S. A prosopography of Lacedaemonians from the death of Alexander the Great, 323 B.C., to the sack of Sparta by Alaric, A.D. 396. 1. Aufl. München: C.H. Beck'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1977, viii, 499. ISBN 3406047971. info
  • CARTLEDGE, Paul. Sparta : heroická historie. Translated by Jarka Stuchlíková. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2012, 277 s. ISBN 9788020020796. info
  • HABAJ, Michal. Sparta vs. Athény : dějiny peloponézskej vojny. Vydanie prvé. Trnava: Univerzita sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Trnave, 2017, 257 stran. ISBN 9788081058554. info
  • PETTERSSON, Michael. Cults of Apollo at Sparta : the Hyakinthia, the Gymnopaidiai and the Karneia. Athen: Svenska Institutet i Athen, 1992, 170 s. ISBN 9179160271. info
  • Spartan women. Edited by Sarah B. Pomeroy. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002, xvii, 198. ISBN 9780195130669. info
  • TIGERSTEDT, Eugène Napoléon. The legend of Sparta in classical antiquity. Uppsala: Almquist & Wiksell, 1978, 78 s. ISBN 9122002588. info
  • The Shadow of Sparta. Edited by Anton Powell - Stephen Hodkinson. New York: Routledge for The Classical Press of Wales, 1994, vii, 408 p. ISBN 0415104130. info
Teaching methods
Lecture, discussion.
Assessment methods
A collective discourse, a test.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2019, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2019/DSBcB40