Sparta: Society, government, education

Sparta: Society, government, education

1. Geography / History

   • Used to be inhabited by the Mycenaeans.
   • Mycenaean civilisation destroyed by fire.
   • Dorian people arrived (may have been responsible for the fire).
   • They claimed to be descendants of Hercules.
   • Four villages grew which joined together to form a polis.
   • Land is surrounded by mountains.
     • Isolated
     • Private
     • Well defended
   • It is not close to the sea but has a river
   • The city is quite bare - not elaborate.
   • Communities living close by were called 'perioikoi'.
   • They had internal control over their affairs but had to conform to Spartan policy and give them troups.
   • The region of Lakonia was conquered which led to the creation of the Helots.
   • What the Greeks though of Sparta
     • Without war they had nothing to do.
     • Women had large influence.
   • Southern Greece - Southeast Peloponnese
     • Banks of Evrotas River in Laconia
     • Bounded by Mt. Taygetus and Mt. Parnon.
   • Background basically

2. Social Structure

   • Spartan Men and Women were at the top.
   • Inferiors
     • Lived in Sparta but had fewer rights.
       • Had to give seat up for a Spartan.
     • Not slaves, not citizens.
     • Categories
       • Partheniai - Illegitimate children of Spartan fathers and helot mothers.
       • Mothaces - Sons of helots, adopted for playmates of Spartan boys.
       • Neodamodeis - Helots who had won freedom from their courage in battle.
         • Some of these were killed though.
       • Tresantes - Spartans deprived of citizenship for acts of cowardice.
   • Perioeci
     • Dorian origin
     • Settlements lived around Sparta.
       • 80-100
     • Called upon to give men for war.
     • Made everyday items for Spartans.
       • Clothes
       • Shows
       • Furniture
       • Metalwork
       • Fishermen
     • Good quality of life so did not rebel.
   • Helots
     • Slaves
     • There were loads of them; 10-20:1
     • Conquered Messenians & Original Achaean inhabitants of Laconia.
     • Duties
       • Farmers on Spartan estates.
         • Kept surplus profits.
       • Household slaves.
         • Women were nurses.
       • Baggage-handlers and skirmishers at war.
     • Kept in line brutally however there were some minor revolts.
     • Rights
       • Forbidden to leave certain area
       • Routinely humiliated.
       • Spartans spread terror to stop revolts.
       • At the start of each year, Heltos would get rounded up and killed.

3. Goverment

   • 2 Kings
     • Equal Power
     • One would go to war whilst the other would stay behind
     • Religious leaders
     • Prevents 1 from getting too much power
     • Political and social influence
     • Huge funerals
     • Command army
     • Sons did not go to agoge
     • Every 9 years they are confirmed as kings, by the Ephors looking at the stars
     • 2 Ephors went with them on military campaigns
     • Can be removed if war goes badly
     • Descended from Hercules
   • Gerousia
     • 28 elders and 2 kings
       • Over the age of 60
         • = Senile
     • Appointed by acclamation
       • Corruption
       • Listener may get it wrong
     • Prepare debate bills for the assembly to vote on
     • Judges in criminal cases
     • Small selection pool as most men died in war
   • Ephors
     • 5 of them
       • Only last 1 year
         • Weeds out coruption
           • But they don't get very good
     • Check on stars every 9 years about kings
     • Go with kings to war
     • Young - more people to pick from than Gorousia
     • Chosen by acclamation
     • Decide number of troups to go on wars
     • Dealed in foreign affairs, education, goverment, security
     • Shared powers between 5 of them
   • Ecclesia
     • All men over 30
     • Met once a month to vote
     • Ephors could stop vote, Gerousia could change vote
     • Just a vote, no discussion

4. Women

   • Important part of Spartan society.
   • Brought up equally with boys
     • Fed equally
     • Cared for equally
   • Intense physical training
   • No weaving or spinning
   • Danced and sang naked at processions
   • Married at 18
   • Learnt how to manage estates
   • They were brought up to be strong and healthy
     • To bear strong children
     • Believe in Spartan ideals
   • 'Thigh-flashers'
   • Mingled with men and took part in sports
   • Kings looked to their wives for advice
   • Didn't vote
   • What would Greeks have thought?
     • Shocked at freedom and education
     • Shocked at power
     • Surprised at equality
     • Could'nt wear jewllery or make-up
     • Disgusted at sexual behaviour (children with other men)
     • Admirred fitness and beuty
   • Name on gravestone IF they died in childbirth
   • Education
     • Taught how to manage estates
     • Physical
     • How to hunt
   • Marriage
     • Married at 18 (not rushed)
     • Cut hair short and dressed like men as people are used to having sex with other men
     • Seperated after marriage for a couple of days
   • In the home
     • Ran household
     • No housework (helots did it)
     • Excersized a lot

5. Education

   • Birth
     • When a baby is born, its father will take it to the council of elders for inspection.
     • If it was weak it would be taken to the 'place of rejection' near the slope of Mt. Taygetus.
     • It was common to abandon children in Ancient Greece but only the Spartans had a specific place.
   • Early Years (Nursery)
     • The Spartans would bathe their children in wine. This would strengthen healthy babies but kill weak ones.
     • Babies were not given arm clothes and were left alone at night.
     • As they grew they were taught to not be fussy about their food and not to cry.
   • Primary School (7-14)
     • Boys left home at 7.
     • They lived together at the agoge (barracks).
     • The agoge was run by the paidonomos (headmaster) who would be a fearsome warrior.
     • Many of the staff were 20yr old eirens, who had been outstanding students themselves.
     • Taught how to fight.
     • Singing/fighting/sporting contests.
     • Basic reading and writing.
   • Secondary School (14-18)
     • Barefoot at all times.
     • Were given one cloak to last the entire year.
     • Cut hair short and played naked to strengthen bodies.
     • Only allowed to bath a few times a year.
     • Broke reeds for the River Evrotas to make their beds.
     • Given little food.
       • This meant a lot of stealing. If they got caught then they would be whipped.
     • At this age they took a male lover.
       • Older man was a mentor and educator.
       • If the child cried out during a fight, the older man was punished.
   • University (18-19)
     • Lycurgus was worried about boys of this age as they were the most likley to rebel.
     • Were worked hard and watched carefully.
     • Respect for elders was emphasised when walking youths were expected to stay silent and keep their eyes fixed on the ground.
   • Girls
     • Intense physical training
     • No weaving or spinning
     • Learned basic literacy (to help with running the household)
     • Can cope when men are at war

6. Lycurgus

   • Famous king of Sparta.
     • May be fictional.
   • Ruled Sparta for 8 months and left to allow his nephew to become king. Later returned to Sparta bringing new laws.
   • His biography was written by Plutarch.
   • Lycurgus traveled to the oracle at Delphi who gave him instructions on decrees he should make.
     • Education
     • Goverment
     • Economics
     • Morality
   • He established the Gerousia to stabilise Sparta.
   • Land was redistributed so each Spartan got a farm; worked by Helots.
   • Money
     • Gold and silver were banned.
     • Legal currency was low valued brittle iron dipped in vinegar.
       • So Spartans could not buy expensive things.
   • Eating
     • All citizens ate the same in mess halls.
     • The rich dined with the poor.
     • Community
   • Houses
     • Ceilings were made with axes, doors were made with saws.
     • All houses looked the same (rough)
     • People are equal and don't get jelous
   • He did these things so that Spartans would not love pretty things but focus on keeping the Helots at bay.
   • Legacy
     • When Lycurgus was happy he made his friends take an oath that they would keep up his laws until he returned.
     • The Orcale of Delphi said he had acted well.
     • Commited suicide and his laws were upheld for 500 years.
   • A man called Alcander put out his eye. Lycurgus forgave him and Alcander became his greatest follower. Lycurgus used to throw his eye at people during debates.
   • Mocked bachelors.

7. War

   • Battle of the 300
     • 100000-250000 Persian soldiers led by Xerxes.
     • The Spartans and some Greek allies met the Persians at the hot gates where they had rebuilt a wall.
       • (300 Spartans, 6700 Allies)
     • Using the phalanx, they held the Persians off for two days.
     • Ephilites told the Persians about a mountain goat pass which led them past the Spartans.
     • 1500 including 300 Spartans stayed to face the Persians.
       • Half-blind man returned to fight.
     • They all died.
       • Fought over Leonidas' body.
     • Later Persia was defeated by Greece.
   • Persian Wars
     • Battle of Marathon (490BC)
       • Fought against Athens and lost (even though it was 5:1).
     • Battle of Salams (480BC)
       • Greek ships conquered Persian ships.
     • Battle of Plataea (479BC)
       • Athens and Sparta fought side-by-side and won.
   • Tactics

8. Other Stuff

   • Syssitia
     • Group of 15 men who ate and fought together.
     • Age 20 to join.
     • Voted by putting bits of bread in a jar.
     • Failure to secure a membership meant social rejection.
     • Paid monthly ration of goods to feed your syssitia.
       • Communism
     • What they ate
       • Black Soup (famous for bad taste)
       • Pork
       • Cheese, figs, fish
     • Everything said here was confidential
     • Had to dine there every night.
   • Krypteia
     • Secret Police
       • Like the SS
     • Children of 18-19. Strongest.
     • Murdered Helots.
     • Every year the Ephors declared war on the Helots. The Krypteia did the killing.
     • Made bots acustomed to killing.