When one studies the history of Sparta, it is difficult to conclude that this society was not one of history’s strangest. Maybe due to design by a man names Lycurgus than through developing naturally.
In the last few centuries, quite a few societies have been constructed by committees, and there have been many more failures than successes. The history of Sparta can serve as an example of both a success and a failure, and it would be helpful to remember these ancient people whenever we opt to design anything, such as a business or family.
In a time when cities were typically surrounded by walls to protect them from the latest conquering horde, Sparta needed none. Each and every male citizen was trained literally from birth to be a hardened, world-class soldier.
In English, the term “Spartan” has connotations of discipline and frugality. A Spartan room, for example, might contain nothing but a table and chair. This is an accurate description of the Spartan way of life. In the mind of a historian, however, the meaning of “Spartan” leans more towards “brutal” and “militaristic.” Sparta was a society designed...