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