At that time, the stability and fitness regimes were admired. Of course this could not last forever, there is always someone stronger. I have seen criticism ab

At that time, the stability and fitness regimes were admired. Of course this could not last forever, there is always someone stronger. I have seen criticism about child soldiers. This is relative and not comparable to todays child soldiers. In some regions you did not even have to be aged 10 to get married. What the western and rest of world is doing today with soldiers is no less despicable. Either they are forced to serve via mandate or often out of economical desperation, only to be deployed as cannon fodder because the politicians failed to come up with a diplomatic solution. Many if them aged 18-20, those are kids, not professional mercenaries. Hell, at least in some places the kings rewarded soldiers with some land parcels. Yes Sparta was an oligarchy with fascist taint. One could argue at least they did not follow the Janissary procedure(read that and tell me how that compares to spartan recruitment). It is easy to condemn past violence and lifestyle from the peaceful environment in the 21st century. I have seen the argument that Turkish immigrants are not easy to immigrate in Germany. Do you know how their parents from the first wave were welcomed and treated? These will not integrate in this lifetime. But their kids do and will, most of them. Try talking to them. Successful immigration is a 2 way road.