hieu 2031 ancient greece unit 6 study guides

Key Concepts and Timeline

• Sparta emerged as a powerful city-state in ancient Greece around the 8th century BCE
• Located in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece (Laconia)
• Conquered neighboring Messenia in the 8th century BCE expanded Spartan territory and power
• Developed a unique social, political, and military system that prioritized military strength and discipline
• Reached its height of power in the 5th century BCE after defeating rival city-state Athens in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE)
  • Established Spartan hegemony over much of Greece
• Declined in power and influence in the 4th century BCE after defeats by Thebes and Macedon
  • Battle of Leuctra (371 BCE) ended Spartan military dominance
  • Conquered by Macedon under Philip II and Alexander the Great in the 330s BCE

Spartan Society and Social Structure

• Spartan society was highly stratified and hierarchical
• Three main social classes: Spartiates (full citizens), Perioikoi (free non-citizens), and Helots (state-owned serfs)
  • Spartiates were the ruling class made up of male descendants of the original Dorian settlers
  • Perioikoi were free inhabitants of Laconia who engaged in trade and crafts but had no political rights
  • Helots were enslaved peoples from Messenia and Laconia who worked the land for the Spartiates
• Spartiates were expected to dedicate their lives to military training and service
  • Lived in communal barracks and ate together in public messes (syssitia) to promote unity and discipline
• Women had more freedom and power compared to other Greek city-states
  • Encouraged to engage in physical training and education to produce strong offspring
  • Could own and manage property

Political System and Governance

• Sparta was an oligarchy ruled by two hereditary kings and a council of elders (Gerousia)
  • Kings served as military commanders and religious leaders
  • Gerousia consisted of 28 men over age 60 who served for life and advised the kings
• Five annually elected ephors (overseers) supervised the kings and government
  • Could veto decisions of the kings and Gerousia
• Assembly of all male Spartan citizens (Apella) met monthly to vote on major decisions
  • Could only vote yes or no on proposals put forth by the Gerousia
• Unique dual monarchy system helped prevent concentration of power in one individual
• Constitution attributed to legendary lawgiver Lycurgus in the 7th century BCE
  • Emphasized equality among citizens, military discipline, and austerity

Military Organization and Training

• Sparta was a militaristic society that prioritized military training and prowess above all else
• All male Spartan citizens underwent rigorous military training (agoge) from age 7 to 20
  • Emphasized physical fitness, discipline, obedience, and combat skills
  • Trained in hoplite warfare using spears, swords, and shields in close-order formation (phalanx)
• Spartan army was organized into units called morai, led by a polemarch
  • Each mora consisted of several hundred men divided into smaller units (enomotiai)
• Spartan soldiers were renowned for their bravery, discipline, and skill in battle
  • Fought as heavy infantry in the phalanx formation
  • Famous for their red cloaks and long hair, which intimidated enemies
• Sparta had the largest and most powerful army in Greece in the 5th century BCE
  • Defeated Athens in the Peloponnesian War and established hegemony over Greece

Economy and Resources

• Sparta's economy was based on agriculture and the labor of the Helot population
  • Helots worked the land and provided food and resources for the Spartan citizens
  • Spartiates were forbidden from engaging in trade or manual labor
• Sparta had limited natural resources and engaged in minimal trade with other city-states
  • Relied on conquest and tribute from subject peoples to acquire wealth and resources
• Spartan currency consisted of iron bars (pelanors) which were intentionally impractical to discourage trade and luxury
• Spartans practiced a form of communal living and property ownership
  • Spartiates contributed portions of their agricultural produce to the public messes (syssitia)
  • Land was divided into equal plots (kleroi) and assigned to each Spartiate household
• Sparta's economic system prioritized self-sufficiency and minimized reliance on external trade and influences

Culture and Daily Life

• Spartan culture emphasized austerity, discipline, and conformity to the state
• Spartan men lived in communal barracks and ate together in public messes (syssitia) until age 30
  • Promoted unity, loyalty, and military readiness
• Spartan women had more freedom and education compared to other Greek city-states
  • Encouraged to engage in physical training and sports to produce strong offspring
  • Could own and manage property and had influence in family and political matters
• Spartans valued brevity and directness in speech and writing (laconic phrase)
• Sparta had a strong oral tradition of poetry, music, and dance
  • Emphasized military themes and heroic deeds
• Religious festivals and athletic competitions were important aspects of Spartan culture
  • Hyacinthia festival honored Apollo and Hyacinthus
  • Gymnopaedia festival featured athletic and musical competitions
• Sparta had a unique system of education (agoge) that emphasized physical and military training
  • Boys entered military training at age 7 and graduated at age 20
  • Girls received physical education and training to prepare them for motherhood

Relations with Other Greek States

• Sparta was often in conflict with other Greek city-states, particularly Athens
• Sparta led the Peloponnesian League, a military alliance of city-states in the Peloponnese region
  • Included Corinth, Elis, and other allies
  • Opposed the Delian League led by Athens
• Sparta and Athens fought the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) for control of Greece
  • Sparta eventually defeated Athens and established hegemony over Greece
• Sparta also had conflicts with Thebes and Argos
  • Thebes defeated Sparta at the Battle of Leuctra (371 BCE), ending Spartan military dominance
• Sparta was known for its isolationist foreign policy (Xenelasia)
  • Discouraged foreign trade and travel to maintain cultural purity and military readiness
• Sparta's military prowess and unique social system were admired and feared by other Greek city-states

Legacy and Historical Significance

• Sparta's unique social, political, and military system had a lasting impact on Greek and Western culture
• Sparta's military prowess and discipline were admired and emulated by later societies
  • Inspired the military reforms of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great
• Sparta's defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War changed the balance of power in ancient Greece
  • Led to the decline of Athenian democracy and the rise of Macedonian hegemony
• Sparta's social system, particularly the agoge and treatment of the Helots, has been controversial and debated by historians
  • Some see it as a model of discipline and efficiency, while others criticize its brutality and oppression
• Sparta's legacy has been romanticized and mythologized in popular culture
  • Depicted in films, books, and other media as a society of noble warriors and strong women
• Sparta's influence can be seen in modern military training and discipline
  • Emphasis on physical fitness, teamwork, and obedience to authority
• Sparta's unique political system and constitution have been studied by political theorists and philosophers
  • Seen as an example of a stable and long-lasting oligarchy