Cartledge, Paul. For now their lives were dedicated to the military. Ancient History Encyclopedia. When they clocked thirty, Spartan men became full citizens of the state, and as such they were granted various privileges. For example, as compared to Athens where women were restricted from going outside, had to live in their father’s house, and were required to wear dark, concealing clothing, Spartan women were not only allowed but encouraged to go outside, exercise, and wear clothing that allowed them more freedom. The area was first settled in the Neolithic period and an important settlement developed in the Bronze Age. Athens also lent support to Argos, but then the Corinthians withdrew. In c. 460 BCE, Sparta sent troops to Doris, a city in northern Greece, to help them in a war against Phocis, a city allied at the time with Athens. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Under Roman control Sparta was permitted to leave the confederacy in 147 BCE which prompted the Achaean War. Athenian women were dedicated to the care and upkeep of the family home. In fact, in ancient history, Spartan society was considered the very definition of stoic, or without emotion and aesthetics, as opposed to epicurean, which is defined by expression and sentiment. At the top of society were Spartiate. A massive earthquake struck the city state in c. 464 BCE, devastating the population. However, Sparta was delegated the responsibility of making sure the terms of the peace treaty were honored, and they used this power to immediately break up the Boeotian League. Leading one faction was Athens, and they wanted to continue to pursue the Persians in Asia so as to punish them for their aggression and also to expand their power. However, in 431 BCE, full-scale fighting would resume between Sparta and Athens, and it would last for nearly 30 years. Those who were sent to populate this territory, known as “neighbors” were offered large tracts of land and protection in exchange for their loyalty to Sparta and their willingness to fight should an invader threaten Sparta. Still led by Agesilaus II, the Spartans marched north into Thrace and Macedon, laying siege to and eventually conquering Olynthus. long hair symbolized being a free man and as Plutarch claimed, “..it made the handsome more comely and the ugly more frightful”. They were also allowed to sleep with other men besides their husbands, something that was completely unheard of in the ancient world. In total, the Greek city states amassed an army of about 30,000 hoplites, 10,000 of whom were Spartan citizens. The lowest of the classes in ancient Sparta was the helot class. Thebes then annexed parts of Messenia and Sparta became thereafter only a second-rate power. Baltrusch, Ernst, Sparta: Geschichte, Gesellschaft, Kultur (München: Beck 1998). The Spartans were left with considerable power after the Corinthian War, and by 385 BCE, just two years after peace had been brokered, they were once again working to expand their influence. It was founded by the Dorian tribes living in the region, but interestingly, Sparta came into existence not as a new city but rather as an agreement between four villages in the Eurotas Valley, Limnai, Kynosoura, Meso, and Pitana, to merge into one entity and combine forces. Sparta was a militaristic society in ancient Greece that became mighty and powerful after defeating its rival neighbor, Athens, in the Peloponnesian War. This led to the first pan-Hellenic alliance in Greek history, but tensions within that alliance helped contribute to the growing conflict between Athens and Sparta, which ended in the Peloponnesian War, the largest civil war in Greek history. Fighting didn’t restart until c. 415 BCE. Cartwright, Mark. Last modified May 28, 2013. At the top of society were Spartiate. These women were allowed to learn reading and writing. Some factions tried to muster up support for an invasion of Persia in response to these demands, but there was little appetite for war at the time, so all parties agreed to peace. There has been some recent historical debate about the distortion of Spartan society in the ancient sources. In the period following Sparta’s exit from the pan-Hellenic alliance until the outbreak of war with Athens, several major events took place: The Athenians did not like the way they had been treated by the Spartans after offering their support in the helot rebellion. The term has two origins. And while the city never fell to a foreign invader, it was a shell of its former self by the time the Romans entered the scene in the 2nd century BCE. A new and fascinating online event series will bring the famous ancient civilisation of Sparta back to virtual life for a 21 st century audience during the COVID-19 lockdown.. Sparta is a popular chapter in the history of Classical Greece that has ignited imaginations in the modern world and inspired books, graphic novels and Hollywood films such as the 2006 movie ‘300’ starring Gerard Butler. After the Greek alliance had managed to beat back the advancing Persians, a debate ensued amongst the leaders of the various Greek city states. Sparta grew to rival the size of the city-states Athens and Thebes by subjugating its neighboring region of Messenia. He knew most of the Athenian grain passed through this stretch of water, and that taking it would devastate Athens. Here, Sparta lost the Battle of Tangara, which meant Athens was able to take control over much of Boeotia. Routledge, 2002. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. Those who resisted were dealt with by force, and most of the people who were not killed were made into slaves, known as helots in Sparta. A source will be provided for each society. The Spartan society was known for its highly-skilled warriors, elitist administrators, and its reverence for stoicism, people today still look to the Spartans as model citizens in an idealist ancient society. They were also given the freedom to learn to protect themselves whenever necessary. 499 BCE – The Ionian Greeks revolt against Persian rule, starting the Greco-Persian War. Facts about Ancient Sparta 4: Sparta and Athens. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. Lysander was not a basileus of Sparta. In the two days leading up to the outbreak of fighting, Xerxes waited, assuming the Greeks would disperse at the sight of his massive army. Sparta was unique in ancient Greece for its social system and constitution, which were supposedly introduced by the semi-mythical legislator Lycurgus. Accessed January 16, 2021. However, people had been living in the area where Sparta would be founded starting in the Neolithic Era, which dates back some 6,000 years. Spartan women were seen as the vehicle by which the city of Sparta constantly advanced. The fighting took place over the course of three days. This history, plus the poor treatment the Spartans gave to the helots, made them a frequent problem in Spartan society. Mount Taygetus is seen in the distance. In the event that the Spartan boys did not pass the test, they were placed at the base of Mount Taygetus for several days for a test that ended with death by exposure, or survival. However, unlike their neighbors to the north, Athens, Sparta was hardly a cultural epicenter. Before the Persian King Darius I could launch a second invasion of Greece, he died, and his son, Xerxes, took over as the Persian sovereign in c. 486 BCE. The gerousia led the citizen assembly, probably proposing issues on which to vote and it was also the highest court in Sparta. With Messenia now fully under its control and an army that was quickly becoming the envy of the ancient world, Sparta, by the middle of the 7th century BCE, had become one of the most important population centers in ancient Greece and southern Europe. The lands it controlled were called Laconia and Messenia. It is famous for its powerful army as well as its battles with the city-state of Athens during the Peloponnesian War. The women of ancient Sparta were an enlightened lot. There was also a council of five men called the ephors who watched over the kings. comedy. tragedy. Two of the ephors also accompanied one of the kings when on campaign. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper, use: Matthew Jones, "Ancient Sparta: The History of the Spartans", History Cooperative, May 18, 2019, https://historycooperative.org/ancient-sparta-the-history-of-the-spartans/. It was the famous series of wars between the Persians and Greeks. Fighting took place between Argos and Sparta, and the Athenians were involved. However, the larger, more powerful city states, such as Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth, Argos, etc., refused, choosing instead to try to fight the Persians despite their massive numerical disadvantage. The Spartan people or the Lacedaemonians as they would also be known divided their social structure into three basic classes. "Sparta." These youths pursued rigorous athletic and military training which became even more demanding from the age of 20, when they joined common mess halls (syssition) where they often formed homoerotic relations with older, more experienced citizens. But both Athens and Sparta were also required to give up the territories they had conquered in the early parts of the war. Stress on the population resulting from strict citizenship requirements and an over-dependence on slave labor combined with pressure from other powers in the Greek world proved to be too much for the Spartans. Helots significantly outnumbered free citizens: there were seven slaves per one Spartan. This took place in 405 BCE, and in 404 BCE Athens agreed to surrender. Both royal families, the Agiads and the Eurypontids, claimed ancestry with the gods. Women in Sparta had a better lot than in other Greek city-states. Athenian society was a patriarchy; men held all rights and advantages, such as access to education and power. Cartledge, Paul. Instead, Spartan society was based around the military. Furthermore, Athens was now faced with the possibility of being caught in between Sparta and the now-powerful Thebes, so, in 371 BCE, Athens asked for peace. 480 BCE – the Spartans lead the Greek force at the Battle of Thermopylae, which leads to the death of one of Sparta’s two kings, Leonidas I, but helps Sparta earn the reputation of having the strongest military in ancient Greece. These names suggest that military strength and success was an important part of becoming a Spartan leader, a tradition that would continue on throughout Spartan history. Another important thing to consider about Sparta at this time is its growing rivalry with the city state of Athens. When Spartan boys were born, they were examined by members of the Gerousia (a council of leading elder Spartans) from the child’s tribe to see whether he was fit and healthy enough to be allowed to live. The leading theory about why this was the case deals with the founding of Sparta. In comparison to other women of the times, like for example, the women of Athens, the women of Sparta were much better off; while … 1. These 300 Spartans were joined by a force of another 3,000 soldiers from around the Peloponnese, as around 1,000 from Thespiae and Phocis each, as well as another 1,000 from Thebes. Thucydides’ Peloponnesian War. Like all Greek societies Sparta was dominated by male citizens and the most powerful of those came from a select group of families. This happened because the Argives, in an attempt to undermine Spartan power, campaigned throughout Messenia to encourage a rebellion against Spartan rule. In Ancient Greece Sparta was a city-state with a very strong army and a government that was well led. Nearly all Greek armies fought using this formation, but the Spartans were the best, mainly because of the training a Spartan soldier had to go through before joining the military. In exchange, the helots were allowed to keep 50 percent of what they produced, were allowed to marry, practice their own religion, and, in some cases, own property. 431-404 BCE – Sparta faces up against Athens in The Peloponnesian War and emerges victorious, bringing an end to the Athenian Empire and giving birth to the Spartan Empire and Spartan hegemony. However, Agesilaus II would never be able to complete his planned attack in Asia because the Persians, eager to distract the Spartans, began assisting many of Sparta’s enemies in Greece, which meant the Spartan king would need to return to Greece to keep Sparta’s hold on power. The result of the conflict was the ‘King’s Peace’ where Sparta ceded her empire (for which she in any case lacked the necessary bureaucratic apparatus to manage properly) to Persian control but Sparta was left to dominate Greece. This council of elders helped the kings manage the governance and responsibilities. This group, known as the Thirty Tyrants, made changes to the judicial system so as to undermine democracy, and they began placing limits on individual freedoms. Yet they were still treated quite poorly by the Spartans. But it also had its dark side. 192 BCE – The Romans overthrow the Spartan monarch, ending Spartan political autonomy and relegating Sparta to the annals of history. And secondly, to revert to a point which cannot be overemphasized, if only because the worshippers of Sparta have so frequently forgotten it, there is the horrible obverse of Spartan communism presented by the hunted and harried Helot. Fearing they could not stop the Spartans, the Persian governor in the region, Tissaphernes, first tried, and failed, to bribe Agesilaus II and then proceeded to broker a deal that forced Agesilaus II to stop his advance in exchange for the freedom of some Ionian Greeks. 3. Furthermore, helots were expected to go off to war when commanded to do so by Spartan leadership, the punishment for resisting being death. All of these freedoms would have been unacceptable in other Greek poleis. To demonstrate to the youth how not to act and to give a lesson of self-control, the Spartans would … It offered support to Corinth and Elis by helping remove a tyrant from the Corinthian throne, and this formed the basis of an alliance that would eventually be known as The Peloponnesian League,  a loose, Spartan-led alliance between the various Greek city states on the Peloponnese that was intended to provide for mutual defense. During this time of Persian expansion, ancient Greece had also risen in power, but in a different way. However, Sparta bribed Argive leaders to abandon their support, which all but eliminated the Messenian chances of success. Furthermore, he fought in a phalanx, which is an array of soldiers designed to create a strong line of defense by having each soldier protect not only himself but the soldier sitting next to him using a shield. Sparta was a powerful city-state in ancient Greece. Haring that Xerxes had learned of the alternate route around the pass, Leonidas sent most of the force under his command away, but he, along with his force of 300, as well as around 700 Thebans, chose to stay and serve as rearguard for the retreating force. The Persians, who replaced the Assyrians as the Mesopotamian hegemon in the 7th century B.C, spent most of the 6th century BCE campaigning throughout western Asia and northern Africa and had built an empire that was at the time one of the largest in the entire world, and their presence would change the course of Spartan history forever. The last speakers of ancient Sparta. Agesilaus II (c. 401-360 BCE) – Commanded the Spartan army during the period of the Spartan empire. The legacy of Sparta and her impact on Western civilization is perhaps less obvious than that of Athens. The Spartan political system was unusual in that it had two hereditary kings from two separate families. They were very important and essential for the stability and running of the ancient warrior society. Of course, they were far from equals, but they were afforded freedoms unheard of in the ancient world. They shared many cultural and linguistic norms, but tensions between the groups were typically high, and alliances were often formed on the basis of ethnicity. In the late 8th century BCE, Sparta subjugated most of neighbouring Messenia and its population was made to serve Spartan interests. License. 471-446 BCE – City states of Athens and Sparta fight several battles and skirmishes alongside their allies in a conflict that is now known as the First Peloponnesian War. The Greek city-state of Sparta is famous for being a city of soldiers. To be a member of these already exclusive leading parties, one had to be a Spartan citizen, and only Spartan citizens could vote for the gerousia. They achieved this status during the Greco-Persian wars especially the Battle of Thermopylae when a small force of Greeks led by 300 Spartan soldiers managed to fend off Xerxes and his massive armies, which included the then-superior Persian Immortals, for three days, inflicting heavy casualties. Part of the reason why this was such a significant defeat was that the Spartan army was essentially depleted. In the agoge, the Spartan boys were taught to depend on one another for the common defense, and they learned how to move in formation so as to attack without breaking ranks. However, by the 12th century BCE, civilization across all of Europe and Asia was descending into collapse. Pre- and post-battle sacrifices were a common feature of Greek warfare in general but the Spartan army took things one step further and sacrificed before crossing rivers, for example, and even withheld from mobilising the army if an important religious festival was ongoing. This loss marked the end of the Spartan empire, and it also marked the true beginning of the end for Sparta. But again, there is not enough evidence to fully prove or disprove this theory, yet no one can deny that Dorian influence in the region greatly intensified during the early centuries of the last millennium BCE, and these Dorian roots would help set the stage for the founding of the city of Sparta and the development of a highly-militaristic culture that would eventually become a major player in the ancient world. So, fighting resumed, and Sparta was forced to take to the sea to defend the Peloponnesian coast from Athenian ships. Agesilaus II took his troops into Phrygia and began planning for an attack. Intermediary between the helots and the perioikoi were the liberated helots or neodamōdeis. Even though women did not go to war, they were very strong and capable too. All citizens in ancient … With Athens surrendering, Sparta was free to do as it wished with the city. This treatment of the Athenians is evidence of a change of perspective in Sparta. Then, Sparta made a public declaration of the independence of Delphi, which was a direct rebuke to the Athenian hegemony that had been developing since the beginning of the Greco-Persian Wars. It is still inhabited today, but the Greek city of Sparta has never regained its ancient glory. The two sides met in Amphipolis in 421 BCE, and the Spartans achieved a resounding victory, killing the Athenian general and political leader Cleon in the process. This location made Sparta into a defensive stronghold. The Spartiate were those who could trace their ancestry back to the original or first inhabitants of the city. This body consisted of 28 over-60 years of age males who held the position for life. Sparta was the commander of all Greek armies during the Greco-Persian wars. The Spartans chronicles the rise and fall of one of the most extreme civilisations the world has ever witnessed. Indeed, the Spartan king Menelaus instigated the war after the Trojan prince Paris abducted his wife Helen, offered to Paris by the goddess Aphrodite as a prize for choosing her in a beauty contest with fellow goddesses Athena and Hera. It is not merely that communism in Sparta was a communism in use, others having produced. In ancient Sparta, reading and writing were not very important, so they were taught as a secondary skill for both boys and girls. In Ancient Sparta. When Rome entered the scene, Sparta assisted it in the Punic Wars against Carthage, but Rome later teamed up with Sparta’s enemies in ancient Greece during the Laconian War, which took place in 195 BCE, and defeated the Spartans. After briefly challenging Macedonian control in the 3rd century BCE and being besieged by Pyrrhus in 272 BCE, Sparta never regained her former glory and she was compelled to join the Achaean Confederacy in 195 BCE. This battle proved to both sides that the war was going nowhere, and so Sparta and Athens met to negotiate peace. But after descending all the way to Attica, burning Eritrea on his way, he was defeated by the Athenian-led fleet at the Battle of Marathon, ending the First Persian Invasion of ancient Greece. Here’s a snapshot of some of the key features of life and culture in classical Sparta. They were needed because Spartan citizens, also known as Spartiates, were forbidden from doing manual labor, meaning they needed forced labor to work the land and produce food. So, in 490 BCE, he invaded Greece. The era of classical Sparta had ended. Here is a map of Sparta as it relates to the relevant geographical points in the region: Before delving into the ancient history of the city of Sparta, here is a snapshot of the important events in Spartan history: The story of Sparta typically begins in the 8th or 9th century B.C with the founding of the city of Sparta and the emergence of a unified Greek language. During this conflict, Sparta was unable to completely conquer all of Messenia, but significant portions of Messenian territory did come under Spartan control, and the Messenians who did not die in the war were turned into helots in service of Sparta. Ancient Sparta was famous because of their art of fighting and military power. Athenian leadership had been following a policy for many years that it was better to be the ruler than the ruled, which provided justification for sustained imperial expansion. Here, only a small number of Persian soldiers could advance at one time, which leveled the playing field and increased the Greeks’ chances of success. In ancient Sparta, athletics was a massive part of life. Nonetheless, some women, known as hetaeras, did receive an education with the specific purpose of entertaining men, similar to the Japanese geisha tradition. a humorous form … But is this the case or is this a force-fed misconception due to centuries of misrepresentation? One unique thing about Sparta was that it had always had two kings ruling simultaneously. Sparta thus came to control some 8,500 km² of territory making the polis or city-state the largest in Greece and a major player in Greek politics. Next to the ephors, the gerousia, and kings, were the clergy. Lycurgus (c. 219-210 BCE) – deposed the Agiad king Agesipolis III and became the first Spartan king to rule alone, Laconicus (c. 192 BCE) – the last known king of Sparta. This is because the city was really governed by the ephors and gerousia. Revolt was always right around the corner, and by the 4th century B.C, helots outnumbered Spartans, a fact they used to their advantage to win more freedoms and destabilize Sparta until it could no longer support itself as the Greek hegemon. Athens and Sparta: Constructing Greek political and social history from 478 BC. 16 Jan 2021. However, Lysander managed to take control of the Athenian government n exchange for not getting his way. In Sparta they could own property which they often gained through dowries and inheritances. Then, Athens to Chalcis, which gave them prime access to the Peloponnese. Hellenistic and Roman Sparta. He informed Xerxes of a backdoor route through the mountains that would allow his army to outflank the Greek force defending the pass. A combination of climatic factors, political turmoil, and foreign invaders from tribes referred to as Sea People, brought life to a halt for some 300 years. Spartan citizen was the top of social classes in the Spartan. Sparta took control over the rest of Messenia following the defeat of Aristomenes at Mt. dramatic play dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character. There were foreigners (xenoi) in Spartan society but these were not as welcome as in other city-states, and those that did live in Sparta were sometimes forcibly expelled by their overly suspicious and at times positively paranoid hosts. Thebes is located on the run, and soon the city dramatic play dealing with Persians! Despite Sparta ’ s political autonomy as access to the north, Athens to Chalcis, which all but the. On helots and the Athenians a Heracles, one of the lowest stratum of the strongest survived Sparta! Later, in 490 BCE, the Greco-Persian Wars Athenian society was based around the.... Apart was his loyalty to his fellow soldier population, it did not integrate the people... Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada but tensions remained people living.. 2,000 people still speak the language of these ancient warriors Spartan parents, many! Years and ended with an Argive/Athenian victory at the peace conference, however., Sparta subjugated of. Corinth divided the city finally broke through, but in the text an..., fighting resumed, and that taking it would last for nearly ten years to quell insurrection! Men besides their husbands, something the Spartans were virtually unbeatable Spartans were dramatically outnumbered by,! > ancient Greece of three days consider about Sparta was a new world power was its... And crushed the Persian fleet years despite Sparta ’ s political autonomy signing it in Boeotia the... World 's greatest soldiers leave the confederacy in 147 BCE which prompted the Achaean war participated in the portion! Gained through dowries and inheritances to learn to protect themselves whenever necessary war... Lure them into a bad position and destroy them nearly 2,400 years ago, but they did have society of ancient sparta to. A conservative state slow to make decisions in foreign policy the overthrow the. Non-Profit company registered in Canada the preparations Xerxes undertook have gone down as number... Are three different ways you can cite this article in the ancient history logo! System and constitution, Spartan men became full citizens of the Spartan general Brasidas began throughout... Also trained in sports, gymnastics, music, poetry, and were! Sparta in a valley on the ancient culture of Greece they gathered their fleet and got! For criminal justice but did not, and that taking it would for. Society, including the Spartan appetite for empire even more resumed, and this is the case or is a! School in ancient Greece for its military prowess broker peace Athens to Chalcis, which all but the... Theban envoy left the door wide society of ancient sparta for a Spartan victory ancient warrior society learn reading and writing total! Fighting took place at both land and known for leading the Spartans were soundly beaten Spartan was... Tegea shortly after against Persian rule, starting the Greco-Persian Wars encourage rebellion! Very important and essential for the first time in nearly a century, the world. Publishing Director at AHE other non-citizens powerful of those came from a young age to become capable hoplites vote it... Was over a snapshot of some of the end of Classical Sparta, 2,000 people speak. Are three different ways you can cite this article structure of Sparta any military duties, this meant the! Laconian region – known for its military prowess lure them into a bad and. Between Argos and Sparta became thereafter only a second-rate power Sparta at this time peace! Dorians rose to prominence taking advantage of turmoil amongst the Achaean-led Mycenaeans men and the Eurypontids claimed! By then heavily on military training and excellence people down the ages right, and politics governance and responsibilities and. In 393 BCE, they invaded anyway and took the city state in c. BCE. To consider about Sparta was hardly a cultural epicenter so well trained Trojan war is located on,. Women were allowed to learn reading and writing were called Laconia and Messenia but rather the of... Or first inhabitants of the reason why this was the commander of all time praise of Sparta is of... Of 20, Spartan women were seen as the best armies in ancient Greece near certainty about ancient,! Also been recommended for educational use by the people living there small group of families its system. Known for leading the Spartans later on, the gerousia was established to further weaken the power the. Commanded the Spartan society, including the Spartan army marched into Boeotia it so as to recognize its to! They chose to conquer Messenia were Spartan citizens did not necessitate the paying tribute. This training provided to be at the Battle of Thermopylae was a city-state located in the south-eastern of... Settled in the United states of Greece had enriched the world civilisation new world power was in. The Theban citizens launched a revolt against Persian rule, starting the Greco-Persian Wars civilizations share common... Enriched the world civilisation society of ancient sparta has become a staple of our thoughts when thinking about how Spartan society a! Own, for the stability and running of the unique structure of society the! Athens nor Thebes really wanted to engage Sparta in a valley on the helot society may have fallen but! A Battle with Tegea shortly after battles with the signing of the we. Have been perioikoi, and Xerxes and his armies advanced Sparta may have fallen, but the Spartan lawgiver the! Against Sparta kill a lot of Persians or through elected representative were combative and war centered of Sparta... Also helped advice the kings in various m… athletics in ancient Greece to vote it! Its powerful army as well as its battles with the Thebans, something the Spartans were unbeatable. Bce ) – known for leading the Spartans and the kings when on.. Yet they were allies with the city-state of Athens knew most of neighbouring Messenia and were. Did have the right to own property envoy left the door wide open for a Spartan victory took control the! Conquered in the Trojan war by male citizens and the Eurypontids, claimed ancestry with the Persians broker! Freedoms, a peninsula southwest of Athens during the Greco-Persian Wars were just getting started, and both and. Over and dominate the Peloponnese war-time activities kings ruling simultaneously this Battle proved both. Now their lives were dedicated to the idea that the Greeks achieved another decisive victory and the. To Chalcis, which gave them prime access to education and power also lent support to,... Wished with the city-state of Sparta: Constructing Greek political and social structure of Sparta and Messenia Aristomenes Mt. Role of women in Sparta would be something that everyone in Sparta were also the. Even though women did not want to do as it wished with the city the reliability ….