Ancient Sparta – Geography

Ancient Sparta - Geography

Who were the Spartans?• 1600-1000BC1000BC – Mycenaean civilisation• Trojan War• 11 th Century BC – Dorian invasion– Military skill– Iron weapons• Settled in Laconia• Eurotas River• Herakleidai – foundation myth

The Foundation of Sparta• By 10 th Century BC - Doric settlements inEurotas valley• 9 th Century BC – 5 villages joined togetherthto make city of Sparta• By 750BC – Sparta needed more land– c.735-716BC 716BC – First Messenian War– c. 640-620BC620BC – Second Messenian War

The Geographical Setting

ResourcesStonePorphyryMarbleMinerals& OresIronCopper & tinLead & clayFood &AnimalCropsSheep, goats, pigs,Chickens, bees,hare and wild boar

The Site of Sparta• Eurotas River valley• Four komai (villages):– Limnai– Pitana– Kynosoura– Mesoa• Polis formed• Amyklai added• Lakonia/Lakedaimonians

• Visit google maps and look at thetopographical images of the area aroundSparta and Laconia. Note the protectionafforded by the mountains.