Sparta HSC questions 2001-2008
2005
(a) Name TWO Spartan
kings.2
(b) Identify TWO
geographical features of
ancient Sparta.2
(c) Outline the role of the
Krypteia in Spartan
society.5
(d) Describe the main
features of Spartan
cultural life. 6
(e) With reference to
Source 9 and other
evidence, explain the
organisation of
2006 2007 2008
(a)Name TWO gods/goddesses  (a) Name TWO ancient authors who   (a) Name TWO natural resources of 
wrote about Sparta. 2
worshipped at Sparta. 2 Sparta. 2
(b) Who was Lycurgus? 2   (b) What was the syssitia? 3 (b) Who were the helots? 3
(c) Describe the role of the agoge in  (c) With reference to Source 15 and other  (c) Describe the roles and status of 
sources, describe the main features of  women in Spartan society. 8
the education of Spartan boys 5.
Spartan religious festivals. 8
 
(d) Outline the main roles of the  (d) With reference to Source 14 and 
Spartan kings.6   (d) Explain the importance of the army  other sources, explain the 
in Spartan society. 12 significance of Lycurgus’ reforms to 
(e) With reference to Source 13 and  Spartan society. Lycurgus, who gave 
other sources, explain the  Awaiting copyright  them the laws that they obey, and to 
Source 15: Statue of Apollo found in  which they owe their prosperity, I do 
significance of women in Spartan 
society.10 Laconia  regard with wonder; and think that 
he reached the utmost limit of 
wisdom. For it was not by imitating 
other states, but by devising a system 
utterly different from that of most 
others, that he made his country pre­
eminently prosperous. Source 14: 
Xenophon, Constitution of the  
Lacedaemonians, 12
2001
(a)Name TWO Spartan kings. 2
(b) What were TWO leisure
activities in ancient Sparta? 2
(c) Describe the role of the
helots in Spartan society. 5
(d) Outline the main features of
the Spartan education system. 6
(e) With reference to Source 9
and other evidence, explain the
Spartan system of government.
10
Source 9: Plutarch, Life of
Lycurgus
After dedicating a temple to
Zeus Skullanius and Athena
Skullania,
forming phylai and creating
obai, and instituting a
Gerousia of
thirty including the founder-
leaders, then from season to
season
apellaze between Babyka and
Knakion so as to propose and
withdraw. But to the people
should belong the right to
respond as
well as power.
phylai tribes
apellaze to celebrate a festival
of Apollo
–
2002
(a) Name TWO geographical
features in the region of Sparta.2
(b) What were TWO roles of Spartan
women?2
(c) Describe the roles of the
krypteia in Spartan society.5
(d) Outline the roles and privileges
of Spartan kings. 6
(e) With reference to Source 9 and
other evidence, explain the roles of
the perioikoi
in Spartan society. 10
Source 9: Plutarch, Plutarch On
Sparta
[The perioikoi] enjoyed free status
and managed the internal affairs
of their own communities. . . .
few, if any,
Spartiates practised a manual
craft; the commercial and
economic role of the perioikoi
must have become a very
important one
2003
(a) Name TWO resources of ancient
Sparta. 2
(b) Who were the helots? 2
(c) Describe the main leisure
activities in Spartan society. 5
(d) Outline the main features of the
Spartan economy. 6
(e) With reference to Source 9 and
other evidence, explain the main
features of Spartan religion. 10
Source 9: Photograph of Artemis
Orthia Sanctuary showing
remains of archaic temple and altar
2004
(a) Name TWO Spartan festivals.
2
(b) Who were the military elite?
2
(c) Outline the main features of
Spartan land ownership and
inheritance. 5
(d) Describe the roles and
privileges of the Spartan kings.
6
(e) With reference to Source 9
and other evidence, explain the
significance of the
Spartan educational system. 10
Source 9: Xenophon,
Constitution of the Spartans
(Chapter 2)
And instead of their clothes
serving to make them
delicate, Lycurgus
required them to become used
to a single garment all year
round, the
idea being that thereby they
would be better prepared for
both cold and
heat.
On the other hand, while he
did not allow them to take
what they
required effortlessly, to