1. 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!

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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