Spartan living conditions. Spartan educational system

A woman who has once felt the happiness of motherhood, deep down in her soul, always wants to relive these wonderful moments of anticipation and the first meeting with the baby. Some representatives of the fair sex think about getting pregnant again immediately after the birth of their first child, others need time to make such a decision, while others plan for another child only when the first one starts going to school.

But things don't always work out the way you want them to. Quite often, women who have had no problems conceiving their first child realize that they are unable to become pregnant with their second child. What can we say about those representatives of the fair sex for whom the birth of their first baby was not easy.

There are several main reasons why you cannot get pregnant with a second child quickly.

When can you talk about infertility?

It is worth recalling that such a diagnosis is made only after two years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive a child. For women over thirty years of age, this period can be reduced to one year.

A doctor can make a similar diagnosis in advance when a lady complains: “I can’t get pregnant with a second child!” And only after some research is carried out, the verdict is confirmed or refuted.

When is the best time to get pregnant with your second child?

Experts have found that the most favorable age for conception is in the range from 20 to 29 years. It is at this point that a woman is at the peak of her reproductive age. She is quite strong physically and mentally, the body has completely completed its formation and is prepared for the birth of a new life.

If you are thinking about having a second baby and are in this age range, then take action.

Of course, you can have a child after 30 years. Some women succeed in this even after 40. However, it must be remembered that at this age the body begins to rebuild and prepare for menopause, the number of eggs decreases, and ovulation no longer occurs every month.

Why the second child?

Quite often, after the birth of their first child, women soon plan a second pregnancy. Why can some people conceive the first time, while others have to wait months or years for another miracle? There may be several reasons for this. Let’s try to understand each in detail and answer the question of how to quickly become pregnant with a second child.

The first reason: breastfeeding

If you just recently became a mother and are feeding your child with breast milk, then this is great! You have chosen the most best option food for your baby. However, this may become an obstacle to conceiving a second baby. Let's figure out why this happens.

When does a representative of the fair sex develop breast milk, the production of many hormones is blocked. The body directs all its strength to produce prolactin. It is he who is responsible for ensuring that you have enough milk for the baby. Thus, the production of estrogen and progesterone (without which pregnancy is impossible) is greatly reduced.

There are situations completely opposite to this one, when a woman has unprotected sex life, hoping that it will prevent her from getting pregnant breast-feeding and will soon learn about his new position.

Second reason: restructuring of the body

It happens that a woman is unable to become pregnant with a second child due to recent childbirth. During gestation female body is under extreme stress. All organs work with redoubled force. A woman's uterus undergoes enormous changes.

All the severe wear and tear of the body prevents re-conception from taking place. Human nature is designed in such a way that the body will not “work” to its detriment. This is why re-pregnancy does not occur.

The next reason why you can’t conceive a second child: stress

When your little child is growing up, you worry about him every minute. Did you fall and break your knee? Broke a toy and got upset? Every little thing can make you worry. What can we say about those cases when the child does not obey, throws tantrums or gets sick.

When you were planning your first baby, all these worries and stress did not exist. You lived quietly for your own pleasure, and that is why conception occurred so easily. Now the situation is different. You have to learn to live in this stressful situation.

Another obstacle to having a second baby: health problems

Perhaps after this you have some problems with your reproductive system. There may also be hormonal imbalances. Or is it your partner? After all, men also do not get younger every day, and sooner or later the quality of their sperm begins to deteriorate.

Some banal pathologies can cause you to go to the doctor with the problem: “I can’t get pregnant with a second child!”

Psychological fixation

When a woman has the idea of ​​giving birth again, she doesn’t see or hear anything around her. All she does is repeat: “I want to get pregnant with my second child!” What is it like for a man in this situation? Quite often, women do not understand that at these moments they become fixated on planning, calculating and conducting endless tests. A man is a male by nature, he is used to achieving. But when sex life goes strictly according to schedule, he no longer feels like that leader.

In this case, the reason why not to get pregnant with a second child lies in psychology. married couple. A man can also be scared off by a woman’s obsessive desire to have another child. That is why it is necessary not to focus on your problem, especially if your planning period is still very short. Just relax and live for your pleasure.

If you still have the desire to monitor and control the work of your body, then try to do it less noticeably. Don't constantly tell your partner about your auspicious days. Keep it suspenseful.

Lack of pregnancy after cesarean section

Quite often after the birth of the first child, by caesarean section a woman has problems conceiving again. In this case, you need to contact a competent specialist.

You certainly need a series of examinations. It is necessary to find out what condition the uterus and the scar on it are in, whether there is abdominal cavity adhesive process, which quite often is a complication of surgical interventions and in some cases leads to infertility.

Also, during the operation, an inflammatory process could begin, which sometimes causes the absence of a long-awaited second pregnancy. When planning, it is necessary to remember that at least two years must pass from the moment of birth by caesarean section. Before conceiving again, it is necessary to conduct a series of examinations by a specialist.

What to do to conceive a second baby?

What should distressed women do? Will it really never be possible to have a second child now? There is always a way out.

First, you need to remember how long you have been planning your pregnancy. If this range does not exceed one year, then just sit back and wait.

In the case when planning lasts more than a year, and there is still no good news, it makes sense to consult a doctor. First you need to visit a gynecologist. Tell him about your fears and say the main phrase: “I can’t get pregnant with a second child!”

Surely, after hearing everything the specialist will prescribe a series of examinations for you. It is worth saying that in these cases a man is required to undergo only one test - a spermogram. And for women there is a more detailed list. That is why it would be logical to start with examining the man.

If the reason for the lack of pregnancy is identified, the doctor will prescribe you the necessary treatment, after which you will soon become happy parents, but already of two babies.

Conclusion

So, if you have a problem and you say to yourself: “I can’t get pregnant with a second child,” it may be worth changing your attitude towards the current situation.

Think about the fact that some couples wait years for the birth of their first child, and there are cases when families are completely infertile. Remember that you already have a little child. Hug your baby more often and talk about your love for him. Direct all your efforts to conceive a second child in a different direction. And you will see that the baby will not keep you waiting long.

If you are not pregnant for a long time, contact a specialist. He will answer all your questions and help you solve the problem.

Give birth and be healthy!

This article talks about How children were raised in Ancient Sparta.

The rules of Spartan education applied equally to all citizens of Sparta without exception. The exceptions were representatives of royal origin. Similar rules were followed for 400 years from the 7th to the 4th centuries. BC.

Every boy born in Sparta underwent so-called health control. He was carefully examined at the edge of the abyss in the Taygeta gorge. If he did not meet certain criteria, he was thrown straight from the mountain.

The surviving strong babies went through a harsh school of life. They were forced to become accustomed to hardships from infancy. The babies slept in a hard cradle.

At the age of 7, boys were required to enter a military camp. There the true school of life awaited them. The weak simply could not stand it and died.

The education system for young Spartans was gradual and consisted of three components

Stages of education

First stage(from 7 to 15 years) assumed that the child acquired writing and reading skills. But the main thing was hardening the body. At the age of 14, the boy was initiated into the Eirens. This procedure involved the most stringent tests. Having entered the Eiren community, the boy was subjected to subsequent testing of fortitude and courage.

Second phase(from 15 to 20 years) consisted of little literacy training. Musical abilities were also developed in young men. But education took on increasingly harsh forms. Teenagers learned to starve and get their own food through theft. By the age of 20, young men received the title of warrior and full ammunition.

Third period- this is the path to acquiring the status of a member of the military community, endowed with equal rights.

The result of all three stages passed was that the young warriors had excellent command of the spear and sword, as well as all types of weapons of that time.

The life of young men during their upbringing

While young people were growing up, they constantly had to learn to overcome certain adversities. If they were caught stealing food, they were severely punished for their slowness.

The children were raised in the harshest conditions. All year round, despite the cold, the boys walked without shoes, wearing a light short tunic. The skin was so rough that they did not feel pain and climbed mountains, clinging to them with their bare feet.

Every year strength duels were held. The goal of the fight was to push the subject off a steep cliff directly into the water. During a fight, absolutely any techniques were allowed; several people had the right to attack one. It was only forbidden to use weapons.

On the festival of Artemis, young men were mercilessly flogged in the temple of the goddess. Screaming in pain was considered a great shame.

Spartan education aimed to produce a warrior capable of surviving and acting in any conditions. This explains why How children were raised in Sparta.

At the same time, subjects such as dancing and singing were included to raise morale. But the Spartans were not taught mathematics. History claims that they were not taught rhetoric, but nevertheless, the Spartans knew how to express themselves beautifully and succinctly.

Has Spartan education in Greece survived to this day?

Sparta, also called Lacedaemon, is a state of ancient Greece located on the Peloponnese peninsula. People inhabited the Eurotas Valley there. The origins of the development of this state are unknown, since in those days chronicles were not yet kept. Numerous legends about the people of Sparta, its laws, foundations and education have been preserved in the memory of generations.

It is known that the citizens of Sparta had to obey the authorities without hindrance and follow the rules established by it. Throughout his life, the Spartan was under constant government control. Some customs and foundations of the ancient Spartans will seem very wild to contemporaries. Other virtues have survived to this day. Such as the idea of ​​raising a respectable man or woman who gives birth to strong and healthy children.

Who are the Spartans?

The rulers made four demands on the inhabitants of this country:

Both parents of the infant must be residents of Sparta.

The presence of a land allotment (kler) and helots (slaves) working on the land and in the house.

Training and successful completion of the Spartan school.

Unquestioning adherence to the laws of the country and complete submission to the authorities.

Every man had to become a real and worthy warrior, and every woman had to become a healthy and strong mother of beautiful and strong children. The Spartans lived in an aristocratic country whose population was huge. Most of the residents are forced laborers. No equality or universal brotherhood. The land never belonged to people; they had no private property at all. The economic system was built on primitive communal laws. This applies to the period 8-7 centuries. BC. From now on, there were some changes in the country's political system, but minor ones. They consisted of strengthening the power of the ruling community. In ancient Sparta there were 2 leaders. Why? It is known that the city was formed by 2 tribes:

Archean;

Dorian.

There was a national assembly and a council of elders. And later there were 2 rulers at the head of the state. They were chosen every 8 years not by popular vote, but by fortune telling by the stars. The heads of state had an army, they received most of the trophies brought from military campaigns.

According to one of the customs, daughters of any kind married their fathers' brothers. They tried so hard to preserve family property. There were cases of unification of clan clergy (lands).

Youth education system

By the 8th century BC. In Sparta, a unique system of raising boys was formed. But only children of the indigenous inhabitants of Sparta of all classes could go through this school. Representatives of the lower strata of the population were thus given the right to “get out among the people” and receive full citizenship. The royals did not obey this order.

Attending school (in groups - angels) was considered a privilege among the inhabitants of Sparta. Boys were sent to state education in ageli from the age of 7. The girls stayed at home, but played a lot of sports and learned to use weapons.

The study groups were led by older young people (agelarchs). Each angel had its own name. They were led by the eldest (pedon). He was chosen from among the adult and respected Spartans. Pedonom had a couple of assistants.

Not all boys managed to live to the age when they were sent to special education. According to legend, in ancient Sparta there was a custom to get rid of weak, ugly and sick newborn babies. It happened like this: a couple of weeks after birth, the parents took the child to the elders for judgment. Children with physical disabilities were thrown into the abyss. Complete children were returned to their parents. Often families in which sick children were born fled from Sparta in order to save their children’s lives.

The elders paid the closest attention to the health and physical condition of the children of royalty. The slightest deficiency led to the removal of parents from high positions and the exclusion of their descendants from power.

Children received tests from infancy. They lay in cradles on hard bedding. The school of survival began literally at the time when the child stood on his feet. There were no shoes, the Spartans walked barefoot and undressed until they were 12 years old. Few lived to see seven. We slept on straw in both hot and cold weather. How can you avoid getting deathly ill here? I had to put nettles in the bedding. So, getting burned, they warmed up. After 12 years, children were dressed in light clothes.

Exercises in the Spartan school consisted of physical activity, acquiring skills in using a sword, spear and other weapons. For each action the student received a grade. Strict military discipline reigned in the “barracks”. They found food themselves. Food had to be stolen and even killed for it. If a Spartan was caught in a robbery or other act, he was severely beaten, but not so that he would not do this in the future, but so that he would show more dexterity and cunning in the future.

No intellectual development other than the ability to learn songs. It was believed that they united the boys and developed a military spirit in the team. The concept of “Spartan patriotism” was in first place. At the same time, slaves were humiliated as best they could. One of the ways Spartan boys enjoyed themselves was beating and oppressing helots. Another fun thing was raids on neighboring slave villages, the strongest inhabitants of which were killed. They took the cattle.

Education at the Spartan school lasted 10 years. As soon as the boy turned 17, he came home and prepared for the most important and final test. It consisted of going to the high-mountain temple of Artemis and making a sacrifice. The priests tied the young man and beat him until the first drops of blood with whips. Those who endured the ordeal in silence were pardoned. Those who made sounds were beaten to death. This was done for the sake of selecting the strongest for life in Spartan society.

What about today?

The principles of the current education of Greek youth are far from Spartan. The glory of this state spread throughout the world back in ancient times, but some of its laws even then puzzled residents of different countries.

The basis of the education of the Spartans is strict military discipline, punishments for significant offenses have survived to this day, but only take place in military schools and are not as cruel as in Sparta. The principles of 10-year education and grading have been retained. Only now students do not receive laurel wreaths, but points according to a special system. At the end of the training there is no beating with rods, but an obligation to pass exams to test knowledge in the field of basic sciences.

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Choral art in ancient Greek theater

Choir is collective singing. People have been resorting to it since time immemorial. When ritual dances around the fire were accompanied by guttural cries. The tonality of the joint chant had a wide range and served to appease higher powers so that they would grant prey, weather and peace. With the development of civilization, the attitude towards singing also changed, which resulted in a separate direction. Gradually it absorbed different trends and became more difficult to perform. The increasing complexity of vocal parts led to the fact that it was not possible to perform a vocal composition without special skills and preparation. Professional performers began to appear in Ancient Egypt, Babylon and China.

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A unique historical heritage and decoration of the central part of Thessaloniki are the ruins of the Roman Forum. The forum, the heart of social life in antiquity, was built at the end of the 2nd century. BC. on the site of the former Macedonian agora. Until the 5th century it was the executive center of Thessaloniki, playing a major economic, political and social role in the life of the city, regularly gathering high-ranking, influential and authoritative personalities who came here to experience the rhythm of social life.

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The phrase “Spartan education” is world famous. A clearly thought-out and streamlined system of not so much raising children as building an entire society glorified the small ancient Greek state for centuries.

But few people know that strict principles, the purpose of which was to create a people who were combat-ready and ready for any hardship, led to the impoverishment of the culture and spirituality of Sparta.

According to many scientists, it was the “Spartan education” that caused the decline and disappearance of this state.

Spartan children

The system of raising boys in ancient Sparta (VIII – IV centuries BC) was called “agoge”, which meant “carrying away”.

Raising boys in a military-heroic spirit was considered a privilege, and therefore extended only to the children of full citizens of Sparta - the Dorians.

For all other “non-Spartan” children, going through this system opened up the prospect of obtaining citizenship, so whenever possible, parents gave their son “to be raised.” However, “education” is not quite the correct term.

It was Government program, designed to form a strong army capable of enduring the hardships and hardships of long campaigns of conquest. The life of a Spartan man from birth to old age was subordinated to these goals.

Plutarch, in his work “The Life of Lycurgus,” wrote that fathers brought newborn boys to the council of elders. They examined the child, and if he turned out to be healthy, they gave him back to his father to feed him. Along with the child, the father was entitled to a plot of land.

Weak, sick and deformed children, according to the testimony of Plutarch, were thrown into the abyss by Apophetes. Nowadays, scientists have proven that the ancient Greek thinker exaggerated.

During research at the bottom of the gorge in the Taygetos Mountains, no children's remains were found. The Spartans sometimes threw prisoners or criminals off a cliff, but never children.

Babies in Sparta grew up in hard wooden cradles. The boys were not wearing warm clothes. From a very early age they were forced to do physical exercises - running, jumping.

At the age of 7, boys were taken from home to orphanages. Here their childhood ended.

In the heat and on the coldest winter days, they exercised in the open air: they mastered military skills, learned to handle weapons, and throw a spear.

They had their hair cut bald, they never covered their heads, and they were not required to wear warm clothes either.

The young Spartans slept on hay or reeds, which they had to bring for themselves. Pupils often also had to get food on their own - by robbing neighboring areas. At the same time, getting caught stealing was a shame.

For any offense, prank, or oversight, the boys were severely punished - they were beaten with whips.

This is how the Spartans developed fortitude and perseverance. It was believed that the stricter the education, the better for the young men and the state as a whole.

Education was not valued in Sparta. A warrior should not be smart, but cunning. Must be resourceful, adapted to life and hardships.

The Spartans were taught to speak little and briefly - “laconically”. Nurturing feelings, imagination, teaching the arts - all this was considered a waste of time and a distraction of the warrior from his mission.

At the age of 18, the young man left the orphanage. From that moment on, he did not have to cut his hair or shave his beard, but continued to engage in military exercises. At the age of 20, the Spartan was transferred to a detachment of hierenes (young men).

And although he was already an adult, until the age of 30 he was still under the supervision of educators and improved his skills in military skills.

It is interesting that at this age the Spartans could get married, create their own families, but still did not completely belong to themselves.

One of the principles of Spartan education of young men was mentoring. It was believed that experienced husband and a warrior is able to teach a young citizen more than official science. Therefore, every Spartan of mature age kept a boy or youth with him, helping him develop his civil and military valor.

Spartan girls

The upbringing of Spartan girls, as Plutarch wrote, was similar to the upbringing of boys, with the only difference being that they did physical exercise without leaving their parents' home.

The development of body and mental fortitude was important for girls. But at the same time, girls were the personification of purity in Sparta; the attitude of boys and men towards them was respectful, almost chivalrous.

Young men competed for the attention of beauties at gymnastics competitions. From their youth, girls felt like full-fledged members of society, citizens, and took an active part in the affairs of society. Women were respected by men because they shared their passion for military affairs, their patriotism and their political views.

But despite all their social activity, Spartan women were at all times famous throughout Greece for their homeliness, ability to manage a household and maintain a home.

Sparta and its model of youth education left a big mark on world military affairs. It is believed that Alexander the Great used the principles of discipline of the Spartan army when creating his army. And modern infantry originates from Sparta.

Modern Sparta is a small administrative center in the south of the Peloponnese. Its population is no more than 20 thousand people, and the attitude towards children here is completely ordinary, they are adored and pampered in a completely Greek way.
Only a few ruins remind of the great past.

Archaeological sites, the ancient Acropolis, the sanctuary of Apollo - all this can be seen in the city of Gortyn, read.

Every person has at least once heard the phrase “Spartan upbringing,” which is perceived by us as a strict attitude towards a child. But why do we understand it this way? And was the upbringing of children in Ancient Sparta really so strict and harsh?

From this article you will learn

Spartan education system

From the seventh to the ninth centuries BC, Sparta practiced a whole system of raising their children. It was approved at the state level and concerned the sons of full citizens of the country (this did not include the royal family). The main goal of this system is to create a strong and invincible army that will courageously defend the territory.

For a child of the lower classes to go through this system of education was comparable to a gift and was considered a great privilege, at the end of which he was entitled to petition for full citizenship.

The system originated from the birth of a child. Immediately after birth, the baby was taken and taken to the abyss (a gorge in the rocks of Taygetus). There the child was examined for a long time to determine his health. If outwardly the baby looked weak and lethargic, he was thrown into a mountain gorge without shame. If the child looked strong, then from that moment on he was raised to be a real warrior and winner.

The road of each such selected child, without exception, to the rank of warrior was thorny, difficult and difficult. Many tests ended in death. From the moment of selection near the gorge, the children were placed in uncomfortable, rough and hard cradles. They did not know maternal care and affection.

The main stages that future warriors went through

The purpose of the Spartan camps, where slightly older boys were sent, was to raise strong, fearless, courageous warriors. This entire system in Ancient Sparta can be divided into three stages.

• Starting at seven summer age, the boys went to special camps that had an initial military focus, where they were taught this skill. This was the first stage. Here children were taught minimal literacy (writing, reading), Special attention paid attention to the ability to listen to the interlocutor and succinctly express their thoughts. At this initial stage, the selection of the best also took place. This was done by creating artificial quarrels that led to fights between students. Raising children also involved stealing food. But this had to be done in such a way as to remain unnoticed. Those who failed to do this received punishment in the form of blows with rods. Every year the conditions in the camp became tougher and harsher. At the age of 14, children were subjected to difficult and painful physical tests. It was a kind of initiation into the Eirens. Until the age of 15, children were tested in Spartan units.

• From the age of 15 until the age of 20, young boys were taught not only literacy, but also the basics of music and singing. But at the same time, education continued to become tougher. Food was obtained entirely by the students themselves. If for some reason they did not succeed, and the pupil remained hungry, he was severely punished with string. Often such bullying ended in the death of a young Spartan. But those who were able to achieve success in studies and military affairs were initiated into warriors by the age of 20 and given full weapons.
• At the age of 20–30, already mature Spartans became full members of the military community, mastered several types of weapons perfectly, and showed themselves well in battle.

Life of a Spartan

During the period of training in the camps, young boys often had fights without rules with each other. Here you could do whatever you wanted with your opponent, just not use any type of weapon. The arena was a platform that was surrounded by a moat with water. The winner was the one who threw his opponent into this ditch.

Raising Spartan children during their stay in the camps gave them not only strength male spirit, but also almost all military literacy, from martial arts to the ability to spy. If they studied songs, they were of a patriotic nature; dancing and music are one of the components of raising morale, setting the warrior up for constant struggle.

Lifestyle of the Spartans:

• life is like in a military camp;
• constant military action or preparation for it;
• children did not belong to their parents;
• complete isolation from the world;
• ignorance of crafts and sciences.

The Spartans treated women like knights. They were respected and valued. They have always been the personification of purity and worthy of the respect of men, as they shared their passion for military affairs.

A Spartan could only marry if the entire community allowed him to do so. Moreover, after the wedding, the young people did not live together for quite a long time, and often the woman gave birth to babies not from her husband. The children of the Spartans were treated as gorge, and if even one flaw was noticed, the child was killed. This is how more than one generation of warriors was raised.

Spartan girls

History says little about how Spartan girls were raised. Plutarch wrote that they did physical exercises without leaving home, but from an early age they were instilled with a love of development physical strength of your body.

From an early age, girls were considered full members of the military Spartan society, which gave them the right to take an active part in disputes and affairs at an older age. Raising girls also included housekeeping and the ability to keep the house clean.

At one time, Spartan women led an active social life and more than once influenced the course of history.