What was it like to live in Sparta? (Or in Olde-School history-jargon: "Which of the following best characterizes ancient Sparta, and why?) -- Free democracy? Proud, secure oligarchy? Killer (in a couple meanings of the word) Warrior state? Oppressive tyranny? You could add a few more, I think.

       We have gathered together a number of sources concerning Classical Sparta: the lecture, Burns, Herodotos (Demaratos dialogue & on Thermopylae), Plutarch (Life of Kimon) and the piece in Sherman by Xenophon. The secondary sources (Burns, Markowski) differ. The primary sources (Herodotos, Xenophon, Plutarch) need interpretation -- yours -- in order to sort out some direction. For example, why do you think one secondary source has it 'right' rather than the others? What evidence (primary sources) make you think so? Is there a preponderance of evidence on one or another side?

      This will form the basis of our discussion on Sparta: What exactly do each of the secondary sources say -- how do they interpret Classical Sparta? What evidence supports this or that interpretation, and how so? For example, consider Burns' interpretation of Sparta in comparison with the interpretation in the primary source concerning Demaratos.  Hmmmm....   In other words, what do you think about this question, and what evidence and reasons make you think this way? (This IS the historical method at work.)

         A sub-question here, but it will come up again, later: Kimon found Sparta a 'happy place' -- for an Athenian, that's quite a jump! How did he? What about Spartan life attracted Kimon. (He was the last hope for peace between the two states, the last possible person who might have averted the long, bloody, tragic Peloponnesian War.) So keep Kimon in your thoughts for now, and for later.