CLAS/HIST3001 Sparta
Lawgiver and Archaic Culture (C40) Like oikistes of colony, semi-legendary figure In literature, consolidation of tradition was Homer, whose genius was over-estimated In polis life, lawgiver is equivalent? > Skepticism about their historicity
Lawgiver and Archaic Politics Same political troubles create lawgiver and tyrant one person made responsible for 'fixing' the state likely imposed on elite complex relationship between self and elite Yet opposite in our estimation: Tyrant is arbitrary and personal political force Lawgiver establishes universal and cooperative political force
Review of Archaic Polis Boule, demos, rhetrai basileis (kings) still name of some offices demarchos, kosmos apparently people's representative
The Greek Idea of Politeia Politeia = abstract noun relating to polis 'essence of a polis' Poorly translated as 'constitution' Comprises all aspects of polis life, not just Often omits details of mechanisms of power or roles of actors Many various politeiai available in framework described above Depending of idea of 'demos' and of justice
Sparta Represents an extreme politeia Often contrasted and in conflict with Athens Major protagonist state until near end of course Greatly admired for most of West's history
Material Obscurity & Difficulty of Evidence “If, for example, Sparta were to be deserted and only the temples and foundations of the buildings remained, I imagine that people in the distant future would seriously doubt that Sparta's power ever approached its fame. . . The Spartans never developed one metropolitan area or built lavish temples and buildings but rather lived in scattered settlements in the old-fashioned Greek way.” Thucydides 1.10 = Pomeroy p. 133 What aspects of polis development did they cut short?
Early Archaic Culture Votive offerings to Artemis Orthia, including this dramatic mask Poetry of Alkman speaks of choruses of girls and their feelings for each other Why was this development diverted?
Pressures of Growing Population and Wealth Colonization / urbanization in rest of Greek world Not entirely practical for inland power (only one colony) Conquest of nearby peoples (in Lakonia), becoming helots, hereditary subjects of Sparta Other inequality as periokioi, “those who dwell around” Free but without full participation in state Note inequality is not specifically contrary to Greek politeia
Messenian Wars (C45) Expansion of inequality inherent in Laconia Over the Taygetos mountains
Evidence for Messenian Wars Poetry of Tyrtaeus, available in fragments only Said to 'flourish' c. 650 BC Says first Messenian war in time of his father's father (- 60 yrs?) How does this tie into evidence for foundation of Sparta's only colony, Taras (C46)?
Allies Against Sparta in Second Messenian War
Lycurgus / Lykourgos For purpose of eunomia (good order: see Hesiod's ideas) One tradition puts him very, very early (C47 b) Likely Lycurgan reforms dated to 2nd Messenian War
Lycurgus' Rhetra What is nature of state? (C48) What two phases of political invention can be seen (C49)? The kings (C50) The gerousia (C51) The ephors (C52)