Sparta: A Famous City in Ancient Greece
Sparta was one of the most famous cities in ancient Greece. Its citizens were known for their skill in combat and its military tradition was a dominant force throughout the classical world.
Sparta's Social System and Constitution
In addition to its impressive fighting skills, Sparta was also known for its social system and constitution. Lycurgus, a semi-mythical legislator, was believed to have introduced the laws that set the social structure and political regime in place at Sparta.
The Social Structure of Sparta
Lycurgus’s social system separated citizens into four categories: spartiates, mothakes, perioikoi, and helots. The spartiates were the free Spartans who were given full rights and citizenship, while the other three groups essentially had no legal status.
Special Privileges of Spartiates
The spartiates had a special privilege: they could marry and have children at a young age, unlike the rest of the ancient Greek population who had to wait until their early teens before they were allowed to get married. The spartiates also had much higher status than other citizens, and they enjoyed considerable freedom to engage in leisure activities.
Rigorous Training: Agoge
Spartiates were required to undergo a rigorous training regimen called agoge at an academy that emphasized physical development and military preparation. Once they had completed agoge, they were eligible to join the phalanx brigades of the Spartan army.
The Dual Kingship and Ephors
In time, Sparta developed a dual kingship (two kings ruling at once), a system that was largely unchanged until 192 BCE when the Romans overthrew the Spartan monarch and ended the Spartan form of government. The kings were supervised by a board of ephors, five of whom were elected annually and served one-year terms.
Role of the Ephors
The ephors acted as an advisory body to the kings, balancing their power and helping to keep the kings from becoming too powerful. They also attended the general assembly to try to pass legislation and make civil decisions.
A Vibrant Culture and Strong Community
Despite this strict social structure, Spartans still had a vibrant culture and a strong sense of community. They were fond of music, dance, and sports. They also had a thriving artistic and literary culture.
Military Tradition and Victories
Although the Spartans did not have city walls, they did have a strong military tradition that was often considered superior to Athens. They also had a renowned naval tradition, which was a great asset during the Peloponnesian War, a 28-year-long conflict between Sparta and Athens that resulted in a crushing defeat for Athens and led to its fall.
Sparta's Greatness and Dominance
Sparta was one of the most famous city-states in ancient Greece, a formidable foe of the Persian Empire and an eventual conqueror of Athens. They achieved their greatest heights in 404 BCE when they defeated Athens in the second Peloponnesian War and became the dominant power of the region.
The Territory of Sparta
The Spartans ruled over a vast territory that encompassed the whole of Laconia, a large, sparsely populated area hugged on either side by two huge mountains--the Taygetus and Parnon. The Eurotas river ran through it, dividing the land into a series of fertile plains on which Sparta was situated.
