Meet the Spartans

Sparta primary city of Peloponnesus

• agriculturally center of Greece• built around natural defences

Three distinct classesDorians SpartiatesConquered People Perioeci and Helots

Spartiates(full citizens)

25,000

Doria

ns

Conqu

ered

Peo

ples Perioeci

(“dwellers around”) 100,000

Helots(serfs)

250, 000

1 Spartiate to every 15 conquered people

Helots• descendants of people who had resisted to Spartan rule• forced to work on the land (more or less slaves)• could not be sold or killed

Perioeci• descendants of people who had surrounded to Spartan rule• lived in own towns around Sparta• free to trade and join army• no political rights• heavily taxed

Spartiates• Citizens of Sparta• only those born in the city (no outsiders• all served in the army• could vote on important issues

While other Greek city states sent out colonies to elevate financial problems. Sparta annexed Messenia to the West.

Problem: More serfs, Spartiates even bigger minoritySolution: permanent standing army

Lycurgus was the legendary lawgiver of Sparta, established the military-oriented reformation of Spartan society. All his reforms were directed towards the three Spartan virtues: equality (among citizens), military fitness and austerity.

Sparta becomes a military society whose primary purpose was to produce and maintain professional soldiers. There was no room for culture and individuality.

Life of a SoldierAt age of 7: Agoge

• removed from mother and put in Barracks\• drilled and displaced to be self reliant, tough and unthinking soldier

At 20: formal military training• expected to marry but ate, slept and trained with army At 30 -60: drafted for military service

Produced soldier that didn’t fear death and the most powerful killing machines the world had known

Spartan Woman• expected to fit to produce healthy babies• weak babies were left to die

Indoctrinated to expect their sons back “with their shield or on their shield”

To keep this rigid system intact foreign ideas were banned and travelling from Sparta was restricted

Two monarchs • ruled simultaneously• kingly, priestly and judicial powers• mass immigration (sea people?)

Ephors• had the real power• five elected overseers who presided over two legislative bodies

• 30 members• served for life• created legislation

• 30 members• voted on legislation