Alexander the Great, one of the most famous leaders in history, found balance between war and diplomacy, creating an empire the Spartans will forever have fallen short of reaching. Starting as a city-state in the southern Peloponnese, Sparta faced both internal and external opposition. Spartan fear of being overpowered by servant helots, and later Athens, generated the development of a very specific form of education for Sparta’s defense. Did educating in war tactics rather than academic studies prove beneficial against the costs? No, Sparta’s education decimated its chances of surviving by not planning future growth, not promoting alliance with neighboring city-states, and by training citizens solely in battle. Sparta’s lone fixation on protecting …show more content…
There were no true studies on math and literature, other than the basics, and once young Spartans learned the rudimentary their curriculum education stopped. The majority of “education” relied on creating courage and sustainability in harsh environments by restricting young boys from adequate food and clothing and enveloping them in military settings from the age of seven. (Doc. A) Sparta’s training was perfect for developing one the world’s greatest armies, yet completely useless in creating a lasting empire with supporting infrastructure. Considering that Spartan boys were not permitted to take up other jobs, the nation was compiled completely of soldiers. (Doc. D) The lack of other castes and work opportunities eliminated the flow of commerce and culture that develop with proper trade. Having no ebb and flow into the city, Sparta managed to survive ephemerally, yet the lack of backbone structure of the city meant that once the army fell the entire city would follow in suit. In conclusion, the lack of balance between diplomacy and hostility led to the failure of Spartan culture once the city needed more to rely on then an army. Although, while Spartan education failed to provide support for a lasting future, having a strong military force allowed Spartan citizens to not only survive, but thrive through the city-state’s brief