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History of sparta downfall
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Sparta, an ancient Greek city-state, was most well-known for its militaristic lifestyle and its soldiers’ prowess in battle. Though war was an essential part of life in Sparta, many other aspects contributed to its society. Sparta’s origin, unique government, slaves, bold women, and warriors all shaped the legendary city-state and defined its culture.
In approximately 650 B.C., Sparta was formed in the Peloponnese peninsula in Laconia by several smaller city-states that joined together. Located near the fertile farmlands of the Eurotas River, the Peloponnese peninsula was an ideal area to establish a new civilization. Sparta, meaning “to sow,” was appropriately named because of its positioning in one of the only fertile valleys in Greece. After conquering its western neighbor Messenia, Sparta gained even more fertile land as well as the Taygetus mountain ranges. These mountains provided essential raw materials including timber and wildlife. As a result of the Taygetus range, Sparta was somewhat isolated from the rest of Greece. This is provides insight into why Spartan livelihood differed so greatly compared to other Greek city-states.
Sparta contained a four branch government system that was considered one of the most unique in all of Greece. Unlike the democracy of Athens, Sparta had a diarchy which consisted of two kings. These figures held little influence over the state and served more as a symbol of royal heritage. The second branch was the Gerousia council which acted as an advising body and held influence over court decisions. This council was comprised of the two kings and of twenty-eight elected elders who served a life term. The minimum age of an elder on the committee was sixty. The Ephors, the third b...
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...manage land and participate in social events and gatherings. Some even associated with groups of men at communal functions, which was rarely seen throughout most parts of Greece.
Spartan society was one of the most unconventional of all time. Men dedicated their lives to war, and women devoted their lives to bearing a strong child. Helots provided a source of labor for the citizens, while the government controlled almost every aspect of Spartan life. Each group had a distinct role in society, and in turn, helped to shape the state’s culture. The fertile lands of the Eurotas valley helped determine the agricultural lifestyle of the state, while the Taygetus mountain range provided natural borders to Sparta. Without any one of these factors or the parts they played, Spartan culture would have been tremendously different, and would not be the legend it is today.
Despite common belief, Sparta was not simply a horde of strong, vicious and primitive warriors living on the Laconian plain, on the right bank of the Eurotas River. Though this was the general impression there was much more to the civilization then just the agoge training system and soldiers. Helots and Perioikoi were two o f the most vital aspects of the Spartan empire upon which agriculture and the economy relied.
Prior, Plutarch accounts for the unequal social framework within Sparta, where tribal leaders owned vast domains of land, in great contrast to the average Spartiate. Furthermore, Hodgkinson suggests the success of social reform in Sparta stems from the redistribution of Messenian land and the Agoge; reinforcing the belief that dissent from this social order would threaten the established hierarchical status of the Spartiates.
Hellenic culture in the Spartan community was that of a humble elite. True Spartan culture is well captured in Xenophon’s work, Spartan Society, as he wrote of how this elitist society viewed not only themselves, but the other countries around them. This work shines light into the three-part worldview of the ancient, Hellenic Spartans of: humanism, idealism, and rationalism. As Xenophon begins to write over the whole of the Spartan society it can be seen how the Spartans lived out the worldview of this Hellenistic society. This living out of the worldview recorded in Xenophon’s, Spartan Society, illustrates their worldview through the noting of Lycurgus’ accomplishments and the contrast of the “other.”
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
The main summary of the book is “Plutarch's vivid and engaging portraits of the Spartans and their customs are a major source of our knowledge about the rise and fall of this remarkable Greek city-state between the sixth and third centuries BC.” “Through his Lives of Sparta's leaders and his recording of memorable Spartan Sayings he depicts a people who lived frugally and mastered their emotions in all aspects of life, who also disposed of unhealthy babies in a deep chasm, introduced a gruelling regime of military training for boys, and treated their serfs brutally. Rich in anecdote and detail, Plutarch's writing brings to life the personalities and achievements of Sparta with unparalleled flair and humanity.” This is only a small summary of
Like most Greek states of the Archaic and Classical Era, the Spartan city-state was a militaristic one. Sparta, however, took the idea to its extreme. In order to become the best soldiers, Spartan citizens had to dedicate their entire lives to the occupation. In fact to be a soldier – a hoplite – was the full infrastructure of Spartan society. While most Greek city-states looked down on labor, physical work, and even working for profit, they still had to work for a living, produce something. “The Spartans a...
Sparta was a key city state which was located on the Peloponnesian Peninsula in southern Greek, which today is referred to as Laconia. Sparta is historically known for their strong military training, warfare tactics, and numerous victories. This city state included full citizens known as the Spartans, the helots, and the Perioeci. The men of Sparta had a main obligation to become strong warriors, fight with their brothers, and protect against any invasions or attacks. The helots where owned by city state of Sparta. They came from Messenia and were forced into slavery after being invaded by the Spartans in c.735. The helot’s responsibilities included farming, being of help if needed during battles, used as nurses, and for any other task that need to be accomplished. Unlike many traditional slaves, the Messenia’s were given certain leeway. They had
Sparta was a city-state based on strict military ruling, at the age of seven a young Spartan would start out training and be trained into killing machines. When a Spartan baby is born, high elite Spartan soldiers would observe the baby to see if it was healthy and strong, if not the baby was ill and weak so it would be taken up a mountain and left there to die. This is just one example that shows how Sparta only wants a strong army and doesn't care about anything else. Strict rules of the government made it so that every Sp...
Sparta was a strict military city-state. The people were Dorians who conquered Laconia. This region lies in the Peloponnesus, which lied in southern Greece. The invaders turned the conquered people into state owned slaves, called helots. Since the helots greatly outnumbered their rulers, Spartans established a strict and brutal system of control.
Located in the fertile Eurotas valley of Laconia was Sparta, one of the most unique civilization’s the world has ever seen. This military driven society had many unorthodox conventions. Unlike other Greeks, they used iron bars for currency, their women were allowed to enjoy many of the same freedoms as their men, and their elderly were shown more respect than in other city-states. They employed two kings to help keep each other in check. One was appointed commander-in-chief on the military while the other served as a local ruler to take care of domestic matters. Under the rule of Lycurgus, Sparta became the strongest military power in all of Greece. The fierce warriors of this city-state transformed what it meant to be a Spartan. W.G Forrest
Athens and Sparta were both city-states in Classical Greece. While Athens embraced democracy, Sparta was a dictatorial fierce warrior state. Sparta was a militaristic community, Athens was a freethinking, and commerce minded city-state. Modern societies have modeled their government organizational structure and military discipline practices from lessons learned of these ancient city-states. There is much is to be praised regarding Classical Greece for their courage, their progressive thinking and the birth of democracy. However, I think it is important to remember that in both cases, Athens and Sparta were able to sustain their lifestyle on the backs of countless slaves, non-citizens and women and that there is a darker and less romantic side to the past.
Sparta had two kings and twenty-eight elders. This system was very important to maintaining their orderly, stable society since if a king died in battle away from home or was sick the other king would govern the country keeping it in order. There were not only the two kings but the twenty-eight elders who would also help govern the country and make laws. Within the oligarchy there was the citizen assembly. WIthout the citizen assembly laws could be passed that would not benefit the state or those who lived in the community. The citizen assembly ensured that the laws would benefit all except the slaves. (Helots) All citizens were men thirty years and older. At this age men were able to become citizens due to the facts that they had survived wars and were considered wiser from their experiences. Lastly but not least there are the five Ephors. The five Ephors were elected by the citizen assembly and their jobs were to make sure that the government was just and not corrupted. Their job was to observe laws and help maintain the king's authority. This is more effective than Athens political system since, rhetoric speakers in Athens would write their speeches somewhat based on people's emotions to be elected. While in Sparta you had to be elected and earn your place within government. In conclusion their oligarchy was important to the city-state's survival by
“No man ever proves himself a good man in war unless he can endure to face the blood and the slaughter, go against the enemy and fight with his hands.” The preceding was quoted from “The Spartan creed” by the poet Tyrtaeus. There are two authors in this primary resource reading which include Tyrtaeus as well as Xenophon, whom authored “The laws and customs of the Spartans”. These two works give great detail to the Spartan society. As history has presented it, Sparta was a smaller polis and yet was one of the most, if not most, influential societies in history. What we know of this culture comes to us from excavation of its heritage as well as literary works such as these. But are these “eyes” into history factual and creditable enough to base our own interpretations of such a masterful race? These writings are great resources for Spartan’s war enhanced values and societal customs, but lack in evidence of governmental affairs and religion. This lacking may have been due to both writer’s motives for their work.
Because of the tranquil times, the civilization’s society had more time to focus on writing, math, astronomy, and artistic fields, as well as trade and metallurgy. Out of all the city-states of Greece, two excelled over all the rest, Sparta and Athens. Even though they were the most advanced and strong civilizations, they were bitter enemies. While Athens focused mainly on the people’s democracy and citizen rights, Sparta were ferocious and enslaved its original inhabitants, making them unable to leave and kept under a close eye to prevent insurgence (History of Greece:The Golden Age of Greece). Additionally, Sparta had strict and trained soldiers that underwent intense physical exercising and instruction.
“Either with your shield, or on it.” These were the words said by Spartan women as their men left for war. The meaning is clear: either return with your shield, alive and victorious, or return as a corpse. There are no other options. This mentality of “Spartans never retreat, Spartans never surrender,” and a lifetime of physical training produced in ancient Sparta an elite caste of warriors who dominated classical Greece for centuries. The Spartans were greatly respected during their day, causing one exiled King to say “the Lacedaemonians, when they fight singly, are as good as any in the world.” Time has done nothing to soften the praise felt for the Spartan warrior. Innumerable video games, films, and novels have represented Spartans as invincible warriors, the valiant Spartan phalanx standing strong against a horde of unending barbarians.