War The Greek city-states were often at war over control of their regions. Occasionally they banded together to fight an outside invader like the Persians.
Most Greek men had to serve as soldiers sometime in their life. Athenian men trained to be soldiers from about age 18-20. People living in the city of Sparta began their military training at a very young age. When they turned 7, Spartan boys moved away from their family home and lived in army barracks. Have you ever heard the expression "a Spartan existence?" That means someone who lives without any comforts.
	These fragments from a Greek painted vase show us a soldier preparing to leave for war.