Sparta and Utopia

I was sitting in history bright and early Friday morning (and not exactly "bushy tailed" because I have the flu...) trying to take notes. History has never been an interest of mine, but the professor is Dr Reigel and he is really funny and animated so he makes it a lot more thought provoking for me than I'm used to. He was describing Spartan society and I perked up. This sounds a lot like Utopia, I thought. All the citizens wear the same clothes, eat in a large group, worship the same basic way, equality is stressed as very important, and only a few select are chosen for a higher calling in the social order. All citizens were also trained in warfare. Of course there were differences from Utopia as well. Such as the tradition of exposing "unfit" babies and although the husband, after he married a wife which was chosen for him, did not move in with her, their housing was preplanned and group oriented like the Utopians'. Agriculture was also stressed as the only work acceptable for any Spartan. Separate "colonies" were sent out in the surrounding land and produced all the food for the city. Slaves were all captured enemies. Doesn't that sound familiar?

There were differences though. Sparta was a very fond of war and conquering. The slaves were treated very poorly. Dr Reigal did not mention much about the women and children, but I do not think that they were treated as fairly as Utopian women and children were. I wish I could have link to this information but it is very scattered in all of the sites I have found. Most of the information I am mentioning here is from my lecture on Friday. Here is one basic link but it references more of the warfare aspect of Sparta rather than just everyday customs. http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/SPARTA.HTM