The Spartans

Short History Of...

Noiser

History

4.7 • 4.9K Ratings

🗓️ 24 July 2022

⏱️ ? minutes

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Summary

In 480BC, the Spartans secured their place in history when 300 of their soldiers fought to the death against the mighty Persian army at Thermopylae. Their reputation for brutal decisiveness and simple living have been admired for thousands of years. But what about the darker side of Spartan ideology, a society that culled weak babies, forced children to fight, and enslaved its neighbours? Was Sparta really a utopia? Or was Aristotle right when he said that Spartans simply made men into machines? This is a Short History of the Spartans. Written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Dr Andrew Bayliss, Associate Professor of Greek History at the University of Birmingham, UK, and author of The Spartans: A Very Short Introduction. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Now available for Apple and Android users. Click the Noiser+ banner on Apple or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started with a 7-day free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by National Rail.
0:03.2	Picture it, the view of the British countryside from your window seat.
0:07.2	The excitement of knowing you're on route to see someone you love.
0:10.3	The smokers are satisfaction you get knowing that you're not stuck in traffic.
0:13.8	It's a great feeling.
0:15.6	Whether it's wild weekends, Sunday surprises, anywhere adventures.
0:20.1	Get closer to the people, places and things you love with rail.
0:24.2	Nothing beats being there.
0:26.2	It is the year 480 BC, late summer on the mainland of Greece.
0:35.2	A legion of soldiers stands in formation in the morning sun.
0:39.2	Already brutally hot, the earth under their leather-bound feet is hard and cracked.
0:44.6	The only sound is a scream of cicadas.
0:47.7	The air smells of wild time and spilt blood.
0:52.6	Being lionadus walks among the ranks of these men, his fellow Spartans.
0:57.9	Their cloaks are scarlet and their breastplates are bronze, bright shocks of colour against
1:03.0	the arid landscape.
1:06.5	Here on a narrow pass hemmed in by rugged hills, King is resolute and restless as he waits
1:13.0	for battle to recommence.
1:16.0	His men are part of an alliance of Greek city-states who have spent two days fighting the Persians,
1:22.2	a mighty army that attacked from the east.
1:25.5	The invaders outnumber the Greeks by at least 20 to 1, and maybe as many as 40 to 1.
1:33.1	The Greeks are holding them off, but for how much longer?
	...

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