Migrations into Greece and the ‘Dorian Invasion’ During the Mycenean Age, Greece was fairly similar culturally and linguistically. By 800 BC this had changed significantly, with different cultures and dialects in different regions. One theory is non-Greek populations migrated into Greece with the collapse of Mycenae. It is theorised the Spartans were Dorian invaders that conquered the native Arcadians, which would explain their unique culture and society! This invasion is mentioned in Greek texts, but it has never been proven or disproven. There is not enough evidence either way!

SPARTA Sparta focused on foreign conquest in response to population pressure By 600 BC it had taken over the nearby city of Messenia Doubling agricultural acreage and establishing firm economic base for future military power War against Messenia also forced fundamental social, political, and economic reforms within Sparta First written constitution in Greek history Reflected unique form of society in which every aspect of a citizen’s life was governed by military necessity

SPARTAN TRAINING I Every new-born infant examined by committee Abandoned to die if it showed any type of deformity Enrolled in special troops at age six Remained members until age 18 Girls still lived at home but boys lived away from parents Put through increasingly brutal series of classes designed to make them used to suffering and hardship Also designed to break down family relationships Education focused on music, dancing, and athletics

SPARTAN TRAINING II Began formal military training at age 18 Took 2 years to complete Applied for admission into a military club after successful completion of training Membership was official indication that a boy had become a man Application for admission had to be voted on by other members of club Vote had to be unanimous Not allowed to marry or have a family for 10 years Still had to have meals with club until he was 60 Military clubs formed basic unit of military service

HELOTS & PERIOIKOI Manufacturing also done by helots Spartan men given plots of land to support themselves after they joined a military club Did not work land themselves Work done by helots Slaves from the conquered city-states owned by the Spartan state Manufacturing also done by helots Trade done by perioikoi Meaning ‘those who dwell around’, they were the conquered people on the fringes of Spartan territory. Spartan men lived off the work of others so that they could devote their entire life to being a soldier

HELOTS – SPARTA’S PROBLEM Constantly feared uprising Spartan boys spied on them Attacked them regularly Had to keep standing army to maintain them

SPARTAN GOVERNMENT Two kings Led army and Sparta in general Hereditary Gerousia 28 man council All members over 60 years old Drew up proposals for legislation Assembly of the Spartans All full male citizens Voted on legislative proposals Presided over by five elected officials called ephors King Leonidas

SPARTAN WOMEN Did not participate in government, but had considerable freedom. Were given athletic and some military training. Were allowed to own property, and often became wealthy land owners. Had considerable influence over Spartan men, and were often chosen for their qualities and personalities rather than economic gain. "Why are you Spartan women the only ones who can rule men?" "Because we are also the only ones who give birth to men." —Gorgo, Queen of Sparta and wife of Leonidas, as quoted by Plutarch

Lifestyles of the Spartan Citizen Laconic No jewelry No precious metals Only necessary possesions

Values of the Spartan Citizen Unquestioning Obedience Courage Indifference to pain, cold or heat Contempt for other civilizations

What is Spartan art? Poetry incites warriors to fight Music was for war and religion Even art depicts the gods in chains

Spartan vs. Non Spartan Poetry Is anything worth dying for? If so, what? “Shove your shield in the face of the enemy, hating life and embracing death’s dark spirits like the sun’s rays . . .” Tyrtaeus “Some Thracian is flaunting the shield I left thoughtlessly by the brush, an flawless piece. So what? I saved myself.” Archilochus

ARCHAIC GREECE At beginning of period, most of the Aegean world was divided into independent principalities Had simple social structures with nobility on top and everyone else below By 500 BC, principalities had been transformed into city-states Aristocracy reduced to just one faction of many Aristocratic value system subsided in favor of a new one based on service to the community and the law

POETS Old value system of aristocracy was based on fighting and an obsession with honor But the new city-state, with its commercial and business activities, had little use for a bunch of jealous, warring aristocrats with their inflated sense of honor Required instead justice, established by law according to rational and regular procedures Poets at the forefront of attack on old aristocratic value system Example: Archilocus Argued old aristocratic and heroic values were out of touch with the times Silly and counter to the need for law and order

CHANGES IN RELIGION Gods reflected aristocratic values in Homer’s poems Obsessed with fighting, killing, and performing heroic feats During the Archaic Ages, gods became more interested in justice Urged men to be content with their lot in life To go against this was now considered hubris Insolence against the gods Religion modified during Archaic Age to reinforce new value system and discourage the old

SUMMARY Mutually-reinforcing cycle Growth of business and trade undermined the aristocratic monopoly over society Decline of aristocracy was accompanied by a parallel decline in their value system Helped by propaganda attacks by poets and a gradual shift in religious emphasis Decline of aristocratic value system was paralleled by the rise of a new value system based on law, order, and stability Encouraged further business growth and prosperity Sped up the decline of the aristocracy Provided good environment for development of literature and beginning of philosophic and scientific speculation

GREEK POLITICAL CULTURE In Greek polis, the state was society Two were completely integrated with each other Power was not delegated to a permanent group of legislators, judges and bureaucrats Citizens were expected to play an immediate and direct role in legislation, the judiciary, and executive policy-making Fundamental principle of most Greek city-sates that officials should be constantly changed Giving almost everyone a chance to actively running the polis

PRIVATE SPHERE/PUBLIC SPHERE No “diffusion of loyalty” No chance for citizen to develop non-state loyalties Only one state religion No non-state cultural associations All art was public and all cultural events were state affairs Nothing in the Greek polis existed to distract the citizen from his loyalty to the state Private sphere linked tightly to the state, focusing everyone’s absolute loyalty to that institution

POLITICAL ASSUMPTIONS Taken for granted that all important questions regarding policy-making, legislation, and judiciary was the concern of all citizens Professionals did not dominate government Power was not dissipated among a multitude of specialized departments and institutions Rested fully in the hands of the people

CITIZENSHIP All city-states restricted who could become a citizen General tendency in Archaic Age was towards less restrictivness Citizens only made up part of total population Rest were foreigners, slaves, and freedmen

FINAL POINT Neither male nor female citizens enjoyed a high degree of freedom (in the modern sense of the term) Greek ideas of freedom implied conformity to community standards of behavior Community needs defined the roles of men and women and restricted the freedom of both Male family heads had little choice over who and when he should marry, whether to have children, etc. Law and custom demanded that he subordinate his own needs and desires to those of his family and the community at large In exchange, men and women enjoyed a strong and stimulating community life A trade off between liberty and security, with security receiving the most emphasis Just like in later periods of History, the Greeks had differing ideas on how to best ensure justice and security, and they had a war of ideology.

Met periodically to discuss issues Originally a protective alliance with included most of the city-states in the Peloponnese Met periodically to discuss issues Decisions made through majority vote but Sparta became accepted as most important member and was able to get majority support for its position on any issue Sparta exercised power through the Peloponnesian League SPARTA CONTROLLED THE PELOPONNESIAN LEAGUE