14 lectures on 7 compact discs

The Spartans form one of the enduring coordinates of Western culture—an enduring and inspiring “farthest north.” No one was more devoted to courage and to duty; no one trained with greater commitment and enthusiasm to achieve his ends. And no one was committed more thoroughly and relentlessly to the annihilation of self and of self-regard in service of the greater communal good. The Spartans were oppressive to the local “helots” in particular. The Spartans were narrow-minded, and narrow-minded by design. But what they did no one ever did better, and they did it with signal success for centuries on end; at once inspiring and appalling the hundred generations or so that have followed. On the basis of such achievements, the ancient Spartans surely deserve our attention, and, I say, deserve our duly qualified respect as well.

Listening Length: 7 hours and 42 minutes