THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous

In the movie 300, King Leonidas famously pronounces "THIS IS SPARTA!" before kicking a messanger of Xerxes into an endless pit in defiance of the Persian Empire. As evidenced by the statue of King Leonidas pictured below, the Spartans were strong warriors and would likely be able to defend against incoming attacks from the Persians. However, the assertion that "this is Sparta," seems to speak more to the assertion of the Spartan culture and Spartan rule over that of the Persians.

The people of most cultures tend to prefer their own culture to that of others, simply because they are used to the functionings and traditions of that culture. This is not a specifically Spartan idea.

King Leonidas defended his people from the imposed rule of the Persians, protecting the Spartan culture from forced assimilation. But perhaps in today's globally aware world, people can be more open to experiencing new cultures and incorporating new ideas into their own culture.

Spending nearly the past two weeks in Athens, Greece has given a window into a cultural tradition different from my own Pacific Northwest upbringing. I have been able to notice both the similarities and differences in Greek and American culture. Hopefully after this cultural broadening experience I will be able to recognize the advantages and improvements cultures other than my own can supply to my understanding of the world and my participation in the world.

Our time on mainland Greece has also provided this class with the opportunities to visit a couple of historically significant locations for the Greek culture. Last week we visited the ancient city of Delphi to learn about the lifestyle of the ancient Greeks. Today we had the great fortune to visit the Byzantine town and fortress of Mistras, which happens to be situated atop a mountain overlooking what is believed to have been the location of Sparta. These experiences have educated me on the evolving traditions and workings of the Greek culture, and hopefully the ability to apply that knowledge to comprehending my own and other culture. These experiences have truly made me a world traveller with the ability to understand, comprehend and appreciate other cultures for what they are.