Spartan Reflections by Paul Anthony Cartledge


Spartan Reflections
Title : Spartan Reflections
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0520231244
ISBN-10 : 9780520231245
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 288
Publication : First published January 1, 2001

The complex and distinctive Spartan tradition has been a prominent theme in western thinking from antiquity to today. Sparta is also one of a handful of ancient Greek cities with enough existing evidence for historians to create a realistic social portrait. Over the past quarter-century Paul Cartledge has established himself as the leading international authority on ancient Sparta. Spartan Reflections is a superb collection of his essays—two are published here for the first time, and the rest, often difficult to locate, have been revised and updated for publication in book form. Giving us a real sense of what Sparta was like as a culture, these essays constitute a fascinating introduction to and overview of ancient Spartan history and its reception. This collection, unique in breadth and scope, will be an essential source for anyone interested in this idiosyncratic society.

Cartledge brings us up to date on what is known about the most important and intriguing aspects of Sparta: its military development, questions of gender and sexuality, and the difficult problem of artistic and literary aspects of Sparta. We learn about the institutions that distinguished Sparta from other city-states, including its religion, education process, degree of literacy, secret service, unusual system of servitude, and institutionalized pederasty. Throughout, Cartledge also makes important comparisons with Athens, helping us grasp what is really striking about Sparta.

Cartledge's writing is clear and engaging as he draws from myriad sources both ancient and modern, as well as from political and cultural theory. These essays, together with their magisterial bibliography, demonstrate his remarkable scholarly and intellectual range. Spartan Reflections will be an important source on the most significant issues in Sparta scholarship today as well as a fascinating look at this culture for general readers.

A Selection of the History Book Club

Spartan Reflections Reviews

  • Ann

    I guess I was expecting more...reflection. It's a good, solid collection and full of important information on Spartan culture and politics with some analysis, but not really. It's fine. Definitely better than The Spartans.

  • Robert

    This is about a hundred times better than the book ("Spartans")he wrote for PBS.

  • Jenn Phizacklea

    As with the Regional History of Lakonia, this book is full of interesting information for the academic enthusiast of Sparta.

    There are many carefully argued essays on a variety of subjects related to the lives of the Spartans during the classical period, and I found so much to think about and explore here.

    Cartledge’s writing style is honestly very much my cup of tea; easy to read but full of detail.

  • AnnaRae Martin

    A little confusing but still help with paper :)