Life in Ancient Greece

Resource type: Video
Name of resource : “300” /

(Wikimedia Commons)

Description: This resource is teaching tips on using movie ‘300’ (Warner Bros. Pictures) to teach the ancient life in Sparta, a Greek city-state. The teachings tips suggested 4 video segments to be employed to facilitate the discussion on Greek education, military establishment, geographical features and value of life.

Teaching objectives:

Allow the students to gain further understanding of the education, military affairs, and geography of the Greek city states through the movie “300 (2007)”;

Help the students to develop comparative skills through the movie;

Allow the students to learn to develop a more positive value through the movie (resolutely and unfalteringly fighting to death for dignity, for the freedom of the whole of Greece).

[Information I]

Segment 1

Disc 1[01:05] after this baby boy is born… [03:50] or else he can never return

  1. What is the result of the examination for Spartan babies when they are born?

Suggestedanswer:

If they are too thin, too weak, and sick or crippled they would be abandoned.

  1. When they are old enough to stand up, what training would they receive?

Suggested answer:

They would experience the training for combat.

To be taught never to cower, and never surrender.

To die in battle, protecting Sparta.

  1. At what age would the child be taken away from his mother to enter the violent world of jungle justice, using their brain and will powers to face different dangers?

Suggested answer: At the age of 7.

Segment 2

Disc 1[22:40] All men are here? ……[24:40] to Thermopylae, march!

  1. How many Spartans followed King Leonidas to fight the Persians (in the Battle of Thermopylae, 17 -19 September, 480 BC)?

Suggestedanswer: 300.

  1. Who in the governmentwould not authorise King Leonidasto fight the battle?

Suggested answer: Ephors,the priest, and the overseers said that Sparta must not go to war during their religious festival.

Segment 3

27:25 -28:46

  1. After watching the film segments, what are the differences between the Spartans and other Greek fighters?

Recommended answer: The Spartans are fearsome brave soldiers by profession, and the other Greeks fighters are potters, sculptors, and ironsmiths.

  1. Refer to the map and watch the film segments, try to analyse the geography and communication of Sparta.

The Greek peninsula is mountainous and there is a scarcity of flat plains, transport and communication are both difficult.

Segment 4

Disc 1[44:30] Earthquake. No, it’s the enemy coming... [49:00]

  1. What advantages do they have in the battle field?

Suggested answer: They have courage, stratagems, and unity.

Reviews

Do you think the 300 Spartans’ dyingwas meaningful?

Suggestedanswers:

It was meaningful.

They died in battle protecting Sparta.

They died protecting their country, land, freedom, and dignity.

They died for their king.

Or

It was meaningless.

They were all slaughtered; it was too brutal, and too stupid.

Segment 5

Disc 2[53:30] “Remembering us”are their wishes… [56:00]

  1. Howmany Greeksfought in the Greco-Persian Wars a year later?

Suggesteded answer: 10,000Spartan fighters and 30,000 freeborn Greeks.

[Information II]

(4).Conclusion:

Athens / Sparta
Geography / Located in coastal region on the Greek peninsula / Located in inland mountainous region on the Greek peninsula
Political system / Democratic institutions / Oligarchy
Military / Mainly relying on the navy / Mainly relying on the army
Education / Valuingknowledge, direct much attention into culturaleducation. / Valuing military power,direct much attention into militaryeducation.