Sparta and the Greek World

Module code: AH3015

In this module we will treat the ancient warrior society of Sparta in a wide spatial and temporal frame, avoiding the pretence of a seamless narrative—unsupportable given the incomplete evidence—by selecting key aspects from different phases of Spartan history over a long period. 

Topics covered

• Kingship and government
• Sparta’s relations with the outside world (e.g. the rest of the Peloponnese, Athens, the Greek colonial milieu, and Persia)
• Landscape change in Sparta’s territory
• Aspects of society and culture: art, literature, religion, gender etc
• The transformation of Sparta into a Roman provincial city.