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Ancient Sparta was built on the Evrotas River so that a fresh water source would be available.
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The Sparta way of life was one without luxury. In order to be accepted as full citizens of Sparta one had to endure deprivation and hardship.
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Despite the hardships self-imposed by the Spartans, there has been evidence that they owned beautiful works of art and jewelry.
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The Spartans had a strict moral code.
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Babies that were not judged as fit for future use as a soldier they were abandoned on a hillside. If strangers did not pick them up they would die of exposure.
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Spartan babies were often bathed in wine instead of water. They were not picked up when they cried very often in an effort to make them tough.
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Sparta boys were sent to live in army barracks when they were only seven years old.
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Women did not fight in the army but were required to participate in physical activity to ensure good health and strong babies.
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Boys were encouraged to scavenge and steal for their food. If caught however they were punished - not for the theft - but for being caught doing it.
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Sparta had two kings - the Assembly and the Gerousia.
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Spartan men were soldiers until they were 60 years old.
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There were never more than 10,000 Spartans.
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Any Sparta citizen who was in poor fitness or overweight risked being ridiculed and thrown out of the city.
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Spartans drank wine but did not like drunkenness. They were known to make the Helots drink until drunk and then use their behaviour as an example for children.
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Because of the Spartans dedication to their army and to battle they were often able to defeat much larger armies.
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Only two deaths would result in a marked headstone. Only soldiers who died in combat during a battle that was victorious, or a woman who died giving birth could be buried with a marked headstone.
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Sparta rose to power in 650BC.
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Between 492 and 449 BC the Spartans fought the Persians, leading the Greek city states because of their military strength.
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During the battle of Thermopylae the Spartans, only 300 strong, fought off hundreds of thousands of Persians.
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Between 431 and 404 BC the Spartans fought Athens, beating them in the end.
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Sparta remained an independent city-state until 146 BC when the Roman Empire defeated them.
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