Final answer:
Spartan children were subject to a strict and rigorous upbringing designed to create skilled warriors and resilient citizens. Boys underwent severe military training from the age of seven in the agoge, while girls were trained in martial skills and household management. Spartan life was centered around military discipline and readiness for war.
Step-by-step explanation:
Life in Sparta for children was dominated by the state education system called the agoge, which started at the age of seven for boys. Spartan boys were trained to be soldiers and lived in barracks, enduring a strict and rigorous regimen that included combat, maneuvering, and physical endurance. From an early age, boys were made to endure hardship, malnutrition, and severe discipline to make them fearless warriors. Young girls, although allowed to stay with their parents, were also educated in martial skills and household management, preparing them to run estates and contribute to the state's military-centric society.
The Spartan society was a military hierarchy, geared towards continuous war readiness. Boys who were deemed unfit or had deformities were left to die, a stark testament to Sparta's emphasis on physical and martial excellence. Young Spartan men officially became citizens at the age of twenty if they passed the required assessment and continued to live lives dedicated to military service, with formal political participation commencing at thirty.