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The Spartans (TV series)

November 11, 2023

The Spartans is a three-part historical documentary series presented by Bettany Hughes and first broadcast on UK's Channel 4 on 17 November 2002.[1] The series subsequently premiered on ABC in Australia on 1 June 2003[2] and on PBS in the United States on 6 August 2003.[3]

The Spartans
Presented byBettany Hughes
Country of originUK
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes3
Production
ProducerLion Television Productions
Running time155 minutes
Original release
NetworkChannel 4
Release2002 (2002) –
2002 (2002)

A book, The Spartans: An Epic History by Paul Cartledge, accompanied the series.

Episodes edit

Part 1 deals with the arrival of the Dorian settlers into the Eurotas valley, with a discussion of the dark-age culture that lived there before, that of Menelaus and his wife Helen (known to history as Helen of Troy). Once established, the Spartans expand westward into Messenia, enslaving the entire population, eventually becoming the dominant power in Laconia. During this time Lycurgus transforms the Spartan constitution into the militarised state we know of today. Homosexuality among men and boys was mandatory. The training of Spartan youths is explained, from their enrollment in the Agoge system right through to their attainment of citizenship. The class structure of the Lacedaemonian state (Helots, Perioeci, and the soldier-citizens themselves) is also covered. The episode ends with the battle of Thermopylae, in which 300 Spartans, including their king, Leonidas, were killed in action defending Greece from a Persian invasion.

Part 2 opens with the retreat of the Persians, after Thermopylae and the battle of Salamis. Athens, which had been allied with Sparta against Persia, begins to experience an expanded economy (and democracy under the leadership of Pericles). His construction of the long walls - fortifications which connect Athens to Piraeus - is considered to be a hostile act by an increasingly paranoid Sparta, and is the basis for future discord between the two states. Meanwhile, Spartan marriage customs are discussed, and the differences in the role of women in Sparta and the rest of Greece is studied (Spartan women were relatively "free"). At the age of 12, a boy was paired with an older man, usually one of the unmarried warriors, aged between 20 and 30. He was a surrogate mother and father, as well as a teacher and mentor, but he was also a lover. The 464 BC Sparta earthquake caused massive disruption, allowing the Helots to revolt. A desperate Sparta asks Athens for help, only to change their minds once it is clear that Athens could side with the Helots. Sparta expels the Athenians and, eventually, war begins. The surprising surrender of a Spartan detachment on the isle of Sphacteria is a major blow to Sparta's reputation of invincibility.

Part 3 introduces Alcibiades, an Athenian statesman who defects to Sparta and becomes an adviser and strategist. In particular, he suggests that Sparta takes the war to Syracuse, in Sicily, during which Athens suffers a major blow (including the capture of their entire expeditionary force). The Spartan Lysander, chief of its naval forces, begins to rise in power, and he eventually defeats the Athenian navy (which enables him to blockade Athens) and finally ends the war by successfully invading and subjugating Athens. Agesilaus, who becomes one of the kings of Sparta, finally sees Sparta become the dominant power in Greece. But decadence and corruption follow, along with a drastic reduction in the number of Spartan citizens. In time, these events lead to an irreversible decline in Sparta's fortunes, leading to war with Thebes and, in 371 BC, the end of Spartan pre-eminence after the battle of Leuctra.

Home media releases edit

The series was released on VHS and Region 1 DVD by PBS Home Video on 27 April 2004. A Region 2 version was released by Dd Home Entertainment on 13 September 2004.

References edit

  1. ^ Chater, David (16 November 2002). "Television choice (Sunday 17 November)". Features. The Times. p. 39 – via EBSCOhost Newspaper Source Plus.
  2. ^ "Ancient Greeks in focus". TV Guide. Sunday Mail. Adelaide. 1 June 2003. p. T16 – via EBSCOhost Newspaper Source Plus.
  3. ^ Kennicott, Philip (3 August 2003). "Lords of Discipline: 'The Spartans' on PBS". Style. The Washington Post. p. N01 – via EBSCOhost Newspaper Source Plus.

Further reading edit

External links edit

November 11, 2023
spartans, series, spartans, three, part, historical, documentary, series, presented, bettany, hughes, first, broadcast, channel, november, 2002, series, subsequently, premiered, australia, june, 2003, united, states, august, 2003, spartanspresented, bybettany,. The Spartans is a three part historical documentary series presented by Bettany Hughes and first broadcast on UK s Channel 4 on 17 November 2002 1 The series subsequently premiered on ABC in Australia on 1 June 2003 2 and on PBS in the United States on 6 August 2003 3 The SpartansPresented byBettany HughesCountry of originUKOriginal languageEnglishNo of episodes3ProductionProducerLion Television ProductionsRunning time155 minutesOriginal releaseNetworkChannel 4Release2002 2002 2002 2002 A book The Spartans An Epic History by Paul Cartledge accompanied the series Contents 1 Episodes 2 Home media releases 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksEpisodes editPart 1 deals with the arrival of the Dorian settlers into the Eurotas valley with a discussion of the dark age culture that lived there before that of Menelaus and his wife Helen known to history as Helen of Troy Once established the Spartans expand westward into Messenia enslaving the entire population eventually becoming the dominant power in Laconia During this time Lycurgus transforms the Spartan constitution into the militarised state we know of today Homosexuality among men and boys was mandatory The training of Spartan youths is explained from their enrollment in the Agoge system right through to their attainment of citizenship The class structure of the Lacedaemonian state Helots Perioeci and the soldier citizens themselves is also covered The episode ends with the battle of Thermopylae in which 300 Spartans including their king Leonidas were killed in action defending Greece from a Persian invasion Part 2 opens with the retreat of the Persians after Thermopylae and the battle of Salamis Athens which had been allied with Sparta against Persia begins to experience an expanded economy and democracy under the leadership of Pericles His construction of the long walls fortifications which connect Athens to Piraeus is considered to be a hostile act by an increasingly paranoid Sparta and is the basis for future discord between the two states Meanwhile Spartan marriage customs are discussed and the differences in the role of women in Sparta and the rest of Greece is studied Spartan women were relatively free At the age of 12 a boy was paired with an older man usually one of the unmarried warriors aged between 20 and 30 He was a surrogate mother and father as well as a teacher and mentor but he was also a lover The 464 BC Sparta earthquake caused massive disruption allowing the Helots to revolt A desperate Sparta asks Athens for help only to change their minds once it is clear that Athens could side with the Helots Sparta expels the Athenians and eventually war begins The surprising surrender of a Spartan detachment on the isle of Sphacteria is a major blow to Sparta s reputation of invincibility Part 3 introduces Alcibiades an Athenian statesman who defects to Sparta and becomes an adviser and strategist In particular he suggests that Sparta takes the war to Syracuse in Sicily during which Athens suffers a major blow including the capture of their entire expeditionary force The Spartan Lysander chief of its naval forces begins to rise in power and he eventually defeats the Athenian navy which enables him to blockade Athens and finally ends the war by successfully invading and subjugating Athens Agesilaus who becomes one of the kings of Sparta finally sees Sparta become the dominant power in Greece But decadence and corruption follow along with a drastic reduction in the number of Spartan citizens In time these events lead to an irreversible decline in Sparta s fortunes leading to war with Thebes and in 371 BC the end of Spartan pre eminence after the battle of Leuctra Home media releases editThe series was released on VHS and Region 1 DVD by PBS Home Video on 27 April 2004 A Region 2 version was released by Dd Home Entertainment on 13 September 2004 References edit Chater David 16 November 2002 Television choice Sunday 17 November Features The Times p 39 via EBSCOhost Newspaper Source Plus Ancient Greeks in focus TV Guide Sunday Mail Adelaide 1 June 2003 p T16 via EBSCOhost Newspaper Source Plus Kennicott Philip 3 August 2003 Lords of Discipline The Spartans on PBS Style The Washington Post p N01 via EBSCOhost Newspaper Source Plus Further reading editHughes Bettany 1 December 2002 Move over Schama Spartan woman is here Features News Review The Sunday Times p 5 via EBSCOhost Newspaper Source Plus External links editChannel 4 webpage Transcript of Bettany Hughes online chat Sparta Pages review The Spartans at IMDb For more about Helen of Sparta see Helen of Troy Goddess Princess Whore by Bettany Hughes 2005 ISBN 0 224 07177 7 and see reviews on http www bettanyhughes co uk Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Spartans TV series amp oldid 1173972426, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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