Social Structure & Political organisation

The issue of Lycurgus (the Great Rhetra) - LEGENDARY LAW-GIVER: was the legendary law giver of Sparta although Sparta’s laws were not

written down introduced laws c. 650BC- RHETRA: a Rhetra is a pronouncement reflecting the oral tradition of the Spartans and their

laws, often based on oracles - EUNOMIA (‘good order’): this was the concept underpinning all of the reforms meaning

good order of and good government, emphasised to the duty and obedience to laws - ORACLE: some accounts state that he received the laws from the Delphic Oracle or asked for

her approval: The establishment of a sanctuary to Zeus and Athena Organisation of the community into social units called phylai and obai the creation of a gerousia of 30 members the appointment of two kings an assembly and procedures for holding assemblies

- MODERN HISTORIANS SKEPTIC: differ on whether or not Lycurgus ever really lived they suggest he may have been an amalgam of people who helped develop Sparta’s constitution over time

Roles and Privileges of the two Kings- ROYAL FAMILIES: the two kings were drawn from the two royal families (Agiads + Eurypontids)

the kingships were hereditary as they claimed descent from Herakles - SHARED POWER: the 2 kings both shared power neither king could take action without the

consent of the other the reasons for this season included: The dual kingship was designed to prevent any king from gaining too much power

- ROLE: they were expected to fulfil many roles including: Chief priest Commander and chief of the army Judge and lawgiver

Performed many social duties e.g. supervision of betrothal and marriage of heiresses and the adoption of orphans

Could initiate laws + policy

- PRIVILIGES: these privileges included: They were chief priests of Zeus They were served first at public diners/religious celebrations and were given double rations Seats of honour were reserved for them at public games 100 personal bodyguards on campaign

- 5TH CENTURY BC LAW: Sparta passed a law requiring one king to remain in charge at Sparta whenever the other king led the army to war

Government: Ephorate, Gerousia, Ekklesia - TOTALITARIAN: it was a political system that controlled

every aspect of their lives

Ephorate - EPHORATE: these were the five magistrates ephors one from

each obai (territorial region) had to be over 30 years of age

- ANNAULY: there establishment was attributed to Lycurgus and they were elected annually they could not be re-elected

- COUNTERBALANCE: they were a democratic counterbalance to the power of the aristocracy represented by the gerousia and the kings

- ROLES: they had many roles including: Were chief administrators and executives of the

state Advised the kings and kept a check on royal powers Decided which units would be mobilised in times of

war Called meetings of the Gerousia and the Ekklesia Received foreign ambassadors

Agoge: in charge of the training and education system

Controlled over Spartan magistrates Were responsible for most civil and criminal cases Could arrest and imprison a king Could banish foreigners from the state

Gerousia

- GEROUSIA: this was the council of elders and consisted of 30 members (28 elders + 2 Kings) it was initially an advisory group to the kings over the age of 60

- ARISTOCRATS/WEALTHY: but in practice most families came from a small circle of wealthy aristocratic families

- IGNORE VOTES: the kings could ignore the vote of the general assembly if it decided - PASSED THROUGH EKKLESIA: had to pass laws through the Ekklesia - ROLES: they had many roles including:

Prepared the business and agenda for the assembly Numerous judicial functions: in particular tried cases that involved the kings, and had the right to impose

penalties of loss of citizenship rights, death or exile Deliberated on public policy

Laws passed onto the Ekklesia: they were not constrained to accept the votes of the Ekklesia and could reintroduce a rejected on later for a revote

Ekklesia- EKKLESIA (Apella): was the assembly attended by those, over the age of 30 who held full

citizenship they met monthly - ROLES: there main roles were

Elected the ephors, elders of the Gerousia and other magistrates Was responsible for passing measures put before it e.g. appointments of military commands, decisions about

peace or war Voted by acclamation it could initiate legislation only vote yes or no presided over by kings, Gerousi, Ephors

Social Structure: Spartiates, Perioeci, ‘inferiors’, helots - ORIGINAL GROUPS: when the Greeks first lived in settled conditions

society was based on the following grouping: The Tribe: a large group of families claiming descent from a common ancestor The Clan: a smaller group of families who were part of the tribe Phratry (brotherhood): another smaller grouping within the clan sometimes

structured to religious purposes Oikos (household): the single family unit

- THEREE DISTICT SOCIAL CLASSES: by the 5th century there were three distinct groups: Spartiates: homoioi meaning equals and peers Peioiki (dwellers around): meaning dwellers around Helots: meaning people captured from the marshes serfs owned by the Spartan

state

Spartiates- SAPARTIATES (homoioi): they were a highly trained warrior class, holding all political power and

were male Spartan citizens and essentially the ruling elite of Sparta: Ownership of Public land: referred to as kleros Birth: a full Spartan peer with all the rights of citizenship and had to prove that he was descended from the

earliest sons of Herakles or the conquerors Syssitia: membership in a military mess and the sharing of common meals Agoge: successful completion of education and military training requirements Full Time Soldiers: they were banned from trade as they were full time soldiers

- EQUALITY (homoioi): all aspects of life were to be equal

- EDUCATION SYSTEM (Agoge): A Spartinate had to be brought up in the Agoge and had to contribute food from his estate to the communal Mass

Kleros - KLEROS: all land controlled by the Spartans were divided into allotments, each Spartan held an

equal portion of the land (kleros) - STATE ALLOTMENTS: could be given by the state or inherited from ones father

Perioeci- PERIOECI (dwellers around): these were outlanders/neighbours who were free but did not have

the rights of Spartan citizens they were scattered throughout Lakonia, Messina and the coastline of Sparta

- SELF GOVERNING COMMUNITIES: they lived in their own largely self-governing communities but they had to obey Spartan laws and fight for Sparta when required

- MIXED ORIGION: it is probable that the people were of mixed origin- ECONOMIC ROLE: played a vital economic role in Spartan society they monopolised all

trades , businesses, manufacturing and professions they could use gold and silver currency - RESPECTS TO DEAD KING: when a Spartan king died it was expected that representatives of the

Perioeci community be sent to pay their respects - MILITARY SERVICE: this was a major obligation even though they did not undergo the same

training as the Spartiates they were expected to provide Hoplites for the army

Inferiors- INFERIORS: within Laconia there were groups at various times who were not Spartan citizens,

perioeci or Helots but were not considered Spartan citizens: Partheniai: these were the children of unmarried Spartan citizens they were sent to an off colony in Italy Mothakes: these were non-Spartan boys who were adopted as play mates for Spartan boys Hypomeious: these included those who failed to show sufficient courage, and other Spartinates who were too

poor to contribute to the mess Tresantes (cowards):these were criminals or cowards deprived of voting and other privlliges has to go

unshaven and wear a special dress Neodamodeis: Helots who had been freed for serving Sparta in battle were called neodamodeis

Helots- HELOTS: these were slaves of the Spartan state, there were estimated to be 170,000-224,00- CONTEXT: when the Spartans took control of the entire Laconian plain in the 8th century they

reduced the status of the population to Helots there were two types of Helots: Messinian: were the most denigrated and exploited and posed the main threat to Spartan society Laconnian: were relatively co-operative and generally loyal to Sparta

- ROLES: the Helots were not owned by individuals but the state they had many roles including: War: they acted as servants to Spartinates in times of war units of helots, such as lightly armed slingers, took

part in skirmishes e.g. battle of Platea 479BC 35,000 psiloi (light infrantry) Farming: the tasks of Helots were mainly agricultural as they were required to hand over half their produce to

their Spartinate masters

- TREATED BADLY: under law the Helots were enemies of the state and were treated badly: Humiliating Clothes: required to wear humiliating clothes

Annual Beating: they were given an annual beating Permission: they needed their master permission to marry and travel

Role of the Spartan Army - CHANGED TO MILTARY STATE: The army is Sparta underwent

changes between the 7th to 4th centuries 6th to 5th century: the Spartan army was composed of all Spartiate citizens End of the 5th century: non-spartiates began to perform military duties

- TRAINING (Agoge): training for the Spartan military began at the age of seven and continued until the age of 60 disci……, harder, suvive

- CONTROL OF HELOTS: they protected the extensive territory under their territory uprising- PELOPONNESIAN LEAGUE (hegemon): guaranteed aid to members of the league if they were

attacked by outsiders - PERSIAN WARS: they were allies with Athens when Persian invaded and were pivotal in battles

such as at the Battle of Plataea

Organisation of Army - DIVISIONS (morai): originally there were 5 divisions called morai drawn from the 5 tribal

regions or obai or Sparta estimated to be 500-900 men in each morai

- HIPPEIS (knights): this was a picked group of 300 men whose main purpose seems to have been to guard the kings

- HOPLITE: was a heavily armed infantrymen named after the shield they carried (the hoplon) the classical Hopite wore: A cloth tunic covered by a bronze breastplate Helmet made of thin bronze: it protected most of the face Bronze greaves: for protection of the lower leg Weapons: the hoplite carried a long spear (almost metres in length)

used for thrusting ad an iron sword

- PHALANX: Hoplites fought in a formation known as a phalanx, it was a massed formation of ranks of heavily armed soldiers

Control of the Helots: The military, Syssitia, Krypteia Syssitia- SYSSITIA: this refers to the common mess/meal the Spartans shared with one another in the

barracks; this was also referred to as ‘pheiditia’ (gatherings of men). - CONTRIBUTION: an important part of being equal was that each Spartinate had to make a

monthly contribution from his kleros to the military mess e.g. barley, wine, cheese, figs and a sum of money for meat or fish

- MIXED GROUPS: the Spartans were dived into groups of about 15 with mixed ages so that younger generations could learn from elders

- TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT (loyalty + co-operation): these were important for the training and development of young men as at the messes political discussions and stories of great deeds were also shared

- HELOT INFERIORITY: the syssitia was also used to emphasise the superiority of the Spartans and inferiority of the Helots

Krypteia- KRYPTEIA: these were the secret police force of Sparta used to control Helots - EPHRORS RECRUITED: the force was run by the ephors who recruited young men and sent

them out to for a year to spy on Helots Plutarch says this was part of their training - KILLING OF HELOTS: they were authorised to kill Helots especially those who appeared to have

the kinds of qualities that might fit them to lead a helot rebellion

Artisans, Helots Periokoi (dwellers around) - PROFESSIONALS/MERCHANTS/INDUSTRIES: were professionals, merchants, trade and crafts

workers of Spartan society they monopolised all trades, businesses and professions Miners/metal workers: through these metals they developed weapons and armour Manufactures: all goods such as furniture, armour and weapons Fishermen: the fishermen, shipwrights and naval personnel at Gytheum were perioki Clothing: shoes purple garments and other objects of wood and iron

- CURRENCY: they could use gold and silver currency

Helots - GOVERNMENT PROPERTY: were the property of the Spartan

government, attached to state owned land (kleroi) they were controlled by Spartinates however not owned

- FARMING: the main economic role they played was in the food production and farming: Military Activities: this freed Spartans from needing to work the land allowing

them to focus on military activities and training Sysstion: also allowed them to contribute to the mess each month

- HELOT WOMEN DOMESTICS: Helot women did the spinning and weaving and there domestic activities which freed Spartan women to follow their privileged lifestyle

Educational System: Agoge - AGOGE: this was the system of education and discipline used to in order to train Spartans into

warriors as well as teach them the values of Spartan society e.g. obedience to the law, comradeship, bravery, self sacrifice, loyalty and patriotism

- STATE/EPHORS: the Agoge was run by the Spartan state, supervised by the ephors exercising total control over the boys between the ages of 7-20

Timeline of a Spartans Life ( Agoge –Education) Birth - INSPECTED: ten days after birth, male children were inspected by the ephors

- KILLED: if they were unsatisfactory they were left on mount Taygetus to die

0-7 yearsPaides (Children)

- MOTHER: they were brought up by their mothers until the age of seven

7-12 yearsMeirakia (youngsters)

- ENTERED AGOGE: entered the agoge and lived in communal barracks - AGELAI: the boys were organised into agelai meaning teams and began their

training in sports and military skills - PAIDONOMOS: these men aided by the eirens armed with whips constantly

enforced punishment - ARTS (patriotism): the boys were taught martial music, poetry and dances from

the age of 10 to instil patriotism into the boys - READING + WRITING: they were also taught basic reading and writing

12-18 yearsepheboi (adolescents)

- DISCIPLINE: this was intensified through things including: going barefoot, exercising naked, having short hair, sleeping on rushes, one garment of clothing

- SELF RELIANCE: this was encouraged by feeding boys minimum rations encouraging them to steal food however not get caught

- TRAINING CONTINUES: training intensifies and continues learning games of endurance and skill

18-23 years - EIREN (prefect/overseer): enrolled as an eiren a stage similar to cadet corps it involved supervising younger boys and enforcing punishments

- SERVE IN ARMY: they could now serve in the army but not in the front line - KRYPTEIA: encouraging them to carry out violence against the Helots, beat or

murder victims - SYSSITION: they could apply to join the syssiteia and once admitted had to

contribute monthly to the mess - MARRY: could marry, but had to visit his wife in secrecy and return to the

barracks at night

23-30 years - HOPITE ARMOUR: they were given their full hoplite armour - FRONTLINE: they could now battle in the front line and were full time soldiers

30 years - FULL CITIZENSHIP: they became full citizens with voting rights in the assembly - HOME: they could live at home but had to share meals in the barracks - KINGS BODYGUARDS: the best 300 fighters would be drawn as the bodyguards of

the kings

Role and Status of Women: land ownership, inheritance, education- HELOT WOMEN: they did most of the work in Sparta - CHARACTERISTICS OF SPARTAN WOMEN: general characteristics of the women in Sparta

include: Greater Freedom: enjoyed greater freedom than other Greek women mingled freely with men and acted

without male supervision Natural Beauty: were known for their natural beauty, grace and strength did not wear jewellery or cosmetics Exercise/Healthy: were properly fed and encouraged to exercise to produce girls who would become fit

companions and mothers of warriors No household: were not confined to the household like other Greeks were responsible for managing the kleroi

in their husband s absence

- NOT CITZENS: they were not citizens but they played important roles in Spartan society however enjoyed social and economic status unknown elsewhere in Greece

- MORE POWER THAN OTHER GREEKS: through sayings collected by Plutarch it is believed that Spartan women had more power than other Greek women

- MILITARY VALUES: they played a massive role in perpetuating Spartan military values e.g. “Another woman handed her son his shield and exhorted him, ‘Son, either with this or on this” (Plutarch)

Land Ownership & Inheritance - INHERIT/MANAGING LAND: they could inherit and control property and they could act without

male supervision Spartan women played an important role in managing households and estates while their menfolk were away, “nearly two fifths of the whole country [Sparta] are held by women” (Aristotle)

- DOWRY: as a dowry Spartan women received half as much property as their brothers recieevd as inheritance

- KLEROS: with men spending much of their time in training, hunting and on campaign, women played an important role in managing the household and kleros supervising the Helots in managing the estates roles included: Choosing animals for Breeding Approving cultivation patterns Obtaining appropriate seed and stock

Education - STATE EDUCATION: like boys Spartan girls were educated in age groups by the state - EXCERCISING/PHYSICAL TRAINING: their physical training included throwing the javelin and

discuss, wrestling and running even exercising naked at times this was so that they would rear strong Spartan men

- READING/WRITING: their education included some reading and writing, as there is evidence that at least some Spartan women were literate e.g. it included studies of poetry, singing and dancing

- PURPOSE RAISE SPARTAN SOLDERS: the key purpose of their education was to fit them to produce and raise Spartan soldiers

Glossary- RHETRA: a Rhetra is a pronouncement reflecting the oral tradition of the Spartans and their

laws, often based on oracles EUNOMIA (‘good order’): this was the concept underpinning all of the reforms

- TOTALITARIAN: it was a political system that controlled every aspect of their lives EPHORATE: these were the five magistrates ephors one from each obai (territorial region) had to be over 30 years of age

- GEROUSIA: this was the council of elders and consisted of 30 members (28 elders + 2 Kings) it was initially an advisory group to the kings over the age of 60

- EKKLESIA (Apella): was the assembly attended by those, over the age of 30 who held full citizenship they met monthly

- SAPARTIATES (homoioi): they were a highly trained warrior class, holding all political power and were male Spartan citizens and essentially the ruling elite of Sparta:

- KLEROS: all land controlled by the Spartans were divided into allotments, each Spartan held an equal portion of the land (kleros)

- PERIOECI (dwellers around): these were outlanders/neighbours who were free but did not have the rights of Spartan citizens they were scattered throughout Lakonia, Messina and the coastline of Sparta

- INFERIORS: within Laconia there were groups at various times who were not Spartan citizens, perioeci or Helots but were not considered Spartan citizens: Partheniai: these were the children of unmarried Spartan citizens they were sent to an off colony in Italy Mothakes: these were non-Spartan boys who were adopted as play mates for Spartan boys

Hypomeious: these included those who failed to show sufficient courage, and other Spartinates who were too poor to contribute to the mess

Tresantes (cowards):these were criminals or cowards deprived of voting and other privlliges has to go unshaven and wear a special dress

Neodamodeis: Helots who had been freed for serving Sparta in battle were called neodamodeis

- HELOTS: these were slaves of the Spartan state, there were estimated to be 170,000-224,00- HIPPEIS (knights): this was a picked group of 300 men whose main purpose seems to have been

to guard the kings - HOPLITE: was a heavily armed infantrymen named after the shield they carried (the hoplon)- PHALANX: Hoplites fought in a formation known as a phalanx, it was a massed formation of

ranks of heavily armed soldiers - SYSSITIA: this refers to the common mess/meal the Spartans shared with one another in the

barracks; this was also referred to as ‘pheiditia’ (gatherings of men). - KRYPTEIA: these were the secret police force of Sparta used to control Helots - AGOGE: this was the system of education and discipline used to in order to train Spartans into

warriors as well as teach them the values of Spartan society e.g. obedience to the law, comradeship, bravery, self sacrifice, loyalty and patriotism

- PAIDONOMOS: these men aided by the eirens armed with whips constantly enforced punishment

- EIREN (prefect/overseer): enrolled as an eiren a stage similar to cadet corps it involved supervising younger boys and enforcing punishments