Sparta | History, Location, Population, Map, & Facts | Britannica
: At age seven, Spartan boys were removed from their homes and entered the agoge , a state-run training program designed to break personal ties and forge absolute loyalty to the state. Training involved physical competition, meager rations to encourage cleverness (stealing food was expected but punished if caught), and intense social pressure to never show weakness. Sparta
: Women in Sparta enjoyed more freedom and status than those in most other Greek cities. They were encouraged to exercise and compete in sports, under the belief that strong mothers would produce strong Spartan sons. Sparta | History, Location, Population, Map, & Facts