The Spartan Economy

When discussing the Spartan economy it is essential that the structure of Spartan society is explained. This structure directly effects Spartan economic production and its primary agrarian focus. The social structure of ancient Sparta was made up of three classes of individuals, the Spartiates, the Perioikoi, and the Helots. The Spartiates were native Spartans, those who had ancestry back to the first inhabitants of the settlement. The Homoioi—peers and equals—were at the top of the social pyramid, they were citizens with full rights, Spartiates. It was strictly forbidden for the Spartiates to engage in any economic activity at any time, rather they were devoted to military service and training. Family life for a Spartiate was limited, a

Firstly, he divided the land into nine thousand equal shares that were divided amongst the state and, the rest was divided up between the Spartiates. The Helots would be assigned to work on a given parcel for agricultural production. The second instrumental economic reform initiated by Lycurgus was the transformation of Spartan currency from gold/silver to iron of little worth. What this did was create an abundance of currency in Sparta, rather than relying on gold and silver, it created a system where accumulating massive wealth was nearly impossible. This reform was met with resistance from Spartan notables, the new currency essentially eliminated large personal wealth. The currency reform effectively eliminated external trade and commerce and created a system where Spartans were dependent on one another. The nature of the economic reforms would have ever-lasting consequences for the nature of the Spartan

Unlike the Spartan Agrarian based, exclusive economy, the Athenians practiced vast and complex external trade. This is reflected in the very make-up of the Athenian and Spartan militaries. Sparta was a primarily land based military with focus lying on Hoplite formations of infantry, whereas Athens had an extensive naval tradition in their military affairs. Attica had a considerable coastline on the south and east