Thomas PedenMr. SchoonWorld HistoryDecember 4, 2013Spartan LifeIn the 7th century, in ancient Greece, a fierce group of warriors called the Spartans were the best at warfare. But life for the Spartans was not easy. As children their strengths were tested. Children would be bathed in wine instead of water to test their reaction and belief that it will make them strong. If a child was born sick, he would most likely be left on a nearby hill or used as a slave. If the child passed the inspection to see if he was healthy, he would be kept to soon become a warrior. Children were taught not to fear darkness or loneliness, and were often ignored when they cried. At the age of seven Spartan males were taken away from home and placed in military barracks, young soldiers were instructed in scholasticism, warfare, stealth, hunting and athletics. At the age of 12, recruits were stripped of all clothing except a red cloak and forced to sleep outdoors on beds they had made from reeds. To prepare them for life in the field, boy soldiers were also encouraged to gather and even steal their own food, although they were punished if caught. Spartans were encouraged to fight and inflict pain on other recruits. At age 20 Spartans faced a difficult test to graduate from college and become citizens. The soldiers received aristocratic citizenship. If they failed the test they became middle class. Lessons were based on achievement rather than birth. If the young men passed, they continued to live in the barracks and train as soldiers, but they had to marry to produce new young Spartans. The state gave them land, which was tended by slaves. At the age of 30 the Spartans could finally live with their families, but they still had to train. Finally at the age of 60 a Spartan... middle of paper... and peace was maintained. The Spartans were not content simply to send aid to Sicily; they also decided to wage war against the Athenians. The Corinthians, Spartans, and other members of the Peloponnesian League sent further reinforcements to Syracuse, hoping to drive out the Athenians; but instead of retreating; the Athenians sent another hundred ships and another 5,000 troops to Sicily. Under Gylippus, the Syracusans and their allies succeeded in definitively defeating the Athenians on land; and Gylippus encouraged the Syracusans to build a navy, which was able to defeat the Athenian fleet when they attempted to retreat. The Athenian army, attempting to retreat overland to other friendlier Sicilian cities, was divided and defeated; the entire Athenian fleet was destroyed and virtually the entire Athenian army was sold into slavery.