The Greek Polis- Sparta

The Classical Polis The Physical characteristics of a polis may be expressed by a formula: asty + chora = polis Asty is the Greek word for the city proper, the core of the polis Chora means the region or district, in our formula, it refers to the agricultural hinterland around a polis A polis, therefore is always an urban core and a rural zone: Athens + Attica = Athenian polis; Sparta + Laconia = Spartan polis The urban area usually has an agora (market area), temples, a building where public decisions were reached, and entertainment facilities, such as theaters and stadiums Some poleis has a natural fortification: acropolis Aristotle believed that people “naturally” lived in poleis. He and his pulis studied more than 100 Greek poleis. The amount of variation from one to another could be considerable.

Sparta One outstanding feature of the Spartan system were the social classes The homoioi (the equals) were adult male Spartan citizens over the age of 18. They had substantial rights of political participation, which was unusual at so early a date The periokoi (dwellers about) were what we would call “resident aliens”. These people were not citizens but enjoyed basic protection. There are many theories about just who they were The helots (state slaves) were, essentially, conquered Messenians; the helots belonged to Sparta and not to individual Spartans There were two Kings, drawn from the same two families, who had veto power over each other. One was usually at home while the other was away with the army

Sparta There were two deliberative councils All equals belonged to the Assembly. The body could propose laws, wars, or treaties but could not legislate by itself Real power was vested in a council consisted of the Kings, the ephors, and equals over the age of 60. This body could ignore or act on suggestions from the assembly of equals There were five ephors (overseers) whose job it was to ensure that any law passed by the council or any verdict passed by a court was in accordance with Spartan tradition. They were always old and wealthy equals. Krypteia (secret police) were young men between 18 and 20 who primarily spied on the helots but also snooped on ordinary equals.

Agoge (upbringing) Babies were inspected at birth and the healthy ones were returned to their parents until age seven At age seven, boys were enrolled in military brotherhoods to which they belonged the rest of their lives. From 7 to 18, they underwent rigorous physical and military training. From 18 to 20, many served in secret service, then entered the regular army unit until age 60 Marriage was not companionate; it’s sole function was the production of more equals The system aimed to create military excellence, discipline, and loyalty Spartan life was austere and simple Spartans believed that book learning made men more effeminate Spartans used iron money to make hoarding unattractive

Spartan System By about 559, Sparta has formed the Peloponnesian League, which gave it the opportunity to control the constitutions of member states. Sparta tried to prevent democracies and social turmoil The Spartan system was still in place when Rome conquered Greece in the 2nd century B.C., but there were only a few equals left by then Contemporaries admired Sparta’s strength, simplicity, and stability