Ancient Sparta. History and customs

In today's lesson you will get acquainted with the second most important city in Greece - Sparta. It was located in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula. After the Dorians invaded Greece, some of them invaded Laconia and gradually conquered it. Laconica was a fertile valley sloping down to the coast, cut through by the Eurotas River. There were no harbors convenient for navigation. On all sides the valley was surrounded by impassable mountains, in which there were reserves of iron ore.

Background

Sparta is one of the largest policies of Ancient Greece and one of the most unusual. Where did the Spartans come from? It is believed that their ancestors came to Greece from the north of the Balkan Peninsula, they were a tribe of Dorians. The Dorians settled in the very south of Greece, in the region of Laconia, and began to be called Spartans.

True, there is a legend according to which the Spartans were descendants of Hercules.

Events

The Spartans were very warlike and gradually conquered the surrounding territories. The inhabitants of the Messenia region desperately resisted, so the Spartans had to fight them twice:

• VIII century BC.- the first war of Sparta against Messenia. Annexation of Messinia.
• VII century BC.- uprising of the Messenians under the leadership of Aristomenes. Second War of Sparta against Messenia: Messenia is completely conquered, after which Sparta became the largest polis in Greece.

Sparta was ruled by:

• Two kings. Their power was inherited. The main task of kings is to lead the army during war.
• Council of Elders of 28 people. The council members were elders in the truest sense of the word: they were all over 60 years old.
• People's Assembly. Unlike in Sparta, at a public meeting it was impossible to make a speech to the people and express one’s opinion. You could only vote “for” or “against”.

All residents of Sparta were divided into three categories:

• Spartiates (Spartans) are the upper class. Only the Spartiates were full citizens.
• Perieki - intermediate class. The Perieci were free, but were not considered citizens of Sparta. They were mainly engaged in crafts.
• Helots come from territories conquered by Sparta. They were engaged in agriculture and did hard work. They worked for the Spartans.

The way of life of the Spartans (the upper class of Sparta) was very unusual. It is believed that the rules of social order were given to the Spartans by Lycurgus.

• The main occupation of the Spartans was military affairs.
• Manual labor, trade and crafts were despised.
• The Spartans were equal in property. There were no rich and poor.
• Life was strictly disciplined, as in wartime.
• Raising children was considered a state matter, not a family matter. Only strong babies were allowed to live.
• From childhood, boys were taught to endure hardships, to be fearless, and not to be afraid of quarrels and fights.
• Much attention in education was paid to physical development and the ability to fight.
• The Spartans were obliged to speak briefly and precisely, to speak concisely.
• The Spartans were very pious.
• It was a shame for a Spartan to flee from the battlefield.
• Spartans were forbidden to travel abroad.

Participants

Legendary legislator of Sparta. Whether Lycurgus actually existed is unknown.

Aristomenes- leader of the uprising in Messinia.

Rice. 1. Peloponnese Peninsula ()

The Dorians were citizens of the Spartan state. The Spartans enslaved most of the population of Laconia and neighboring Messenia (Fig. 1), and they began to be called helots.

It just so happened that in the spring the Spartans came to the villages of the helots and killed whomever they wanted. However, they never touched women and old people. They chose young and strong men, those who could fight back. For the young Spartans it was a game. Like wolf cubs, hiding in haystacks, they burst into huts and killed people taken by surprise. And if the young man does not kill a single helot, the old men will laugh at him: “You are not a Spartan, you are a pathetic coward!”

The entire land of Laconia and Messenia was divided into equal sections. Spartan families received a plot of land without the right to sell or donate it. Helots lived and worked on these plots. From each plot, each Spartan family received the same amount of grain, olives, vegetables and other products grown by the helots.

The Spartans shrouded their state in a shroud of secrecy, not allowing either strangers to come to them or their citizens to leave the borders of the community. Even merchants did not bring goods to Sparta - the Spartans did not buy or sell anything. Sparta was like a military camp; it was a gloomy and inhospitable city. There was no noisy market, no theater, no stone statues, no temples. On the streets there are detachments of marching warriors, since the backbone of the army was the infantry, who did not know what fatigue and retreat were. The Spartans were proud that their city, the only one in Hellas, had no walls, for its walls were the courage of the young warriors.

The sage Lycurgus was able to strengthen the Spartan state (Fig. 2). The figure of Lycurgus raises many questions. First of all, about whether it was the name of a deity or a real historical figure. According to the surviving data, he gave laws to Sparta and made sure that they became eternal. According to legend, Lycurgus went to Delphi, taking an oath from the Spartans not to change the laws until his return. At Delphi he committed suicide. So the Spartan laws remained unchanged.

The government of Sparta was very simple and remained almost unchanged from the 8th to the 3rd centuries BC. The state was headed by two kings - commanders from different clans - and a Council of 28 elders (geronts), which decided all important issues. The most important of them were discussed by a general meeting of Spartan warriors (Fig. 3).

Rice. 3. Governance in Sparta

Raising children was also special in Sparta. There was a custom in Sparta. If a Spartan had a son, the parents carried him to show the elders. If the baby was weak, as they would say frail, the elders’ sentence was harsh: such a child should not live, he was thrown from a cliff, and the parents were consoled by the fact that they would still give birth to healthy and strong children.

Boys from the age of 7 were taken away from their parents and raised in military units. They slept on mats of prickly reeds and walked barefoot. Once a year they were given a cloak, which they wore on their naked bodies. Hair was cut bald. Adults made sure that children quarreled and fought more often, so that in fights their character was strengthened and courage appeared. They were trained to endure hardship and hunger, they were fed poorly, and they were encouraged to steal from other people's gardens and storerooms. Having learned about the tricks of his sons, the father rejoiced: “Well done, they will be able to feed themselves during a military campaign, they will not be afraid of difficulties!” If the boys are caught, they will be flogged.

Young Spartans were taught to speak briefly and give precise and precise answers. (Such speech is called laconic - after the name of the Laconia region).

The Athenians called the Spartans ignoramuses because the boys learned little to read and write. But they worked hard at running, gymnastics, discus and javelin throwing, showing courage and dexterity. The boys spent hours learning war songs to the sound of a flute, with which the Spartans went into battle. Young Spartans glorified those who died for Sparta, sang bravery and courage.

Bibliography

1. A.A. Vigasin, G.I. Goder, I.S. Sventsitskaya. Ancient world history. 5th grade - M.: Education, 2006.
2. Nemirovsky A.I. A book to read on the history of the ancient world. - M.: Education, 1991.

1. Clan-rw.ru ()
2. Travel-in-time.org ()

Homework

1. How were the living conditions of the inhabitants of Sparta and Athens different in the 7th-6th centuries? BC eh?.
2. What did you like and what didn’t you like about raising Spartan boys? Why?
3. What should the Spartans' speech be like?

In the southeast of the largest Greek peninsula - the Peloponnese - the powerful Sparta was once located. This state was located in the region of Laconia, in the picturesque valley of the Eurotas River. Its official name, which was most often mentioned in international treaties, is Lacedaemon. It was from this state that such concepts as “Spartan” and “Spartan” came. Everyone has also heard about the cruel custom that has developed in this ancient polis: killing weak newborns in order to maintain the gene pool of their nation.

History of origin

Officially, Sparta, which was called Lacedaemon (from this word also came the name of the nome - Laconia), arose in the eleventh century BC. After some time, the entire area on which this city-state was located was captured by the Dorian tribes. Those, having assimilated with the local Achaeans, became Spartakiates in the sense known today, and the former inhabitants were turned into slaves called helots.

The most Doric of all the states that Ancient Greece once knew, Sparta, was located on the western bank of Eurotas, on the site of the modern city of the same name. Its name can be translated as “scattered.” It consisted of estates and estates that were scattered throughout Laconia. And the center was a low hill, which later became known as the acropolis. Sparta originally had no walls and remained true to this principle until the second century BC.

State system of Sparta

It was based on the principle of the unity of all full-fledged citizens of the polis. For this purpose, the state and law of Sparta strictly regulated the life and life of its subjects, restraining their property stratification. The foundations of such a social system were laid by the treaty of the legendary Lycurgus. According to him, the duties of the Spartans were only sports or the art of war, and crafts, agriculture and trade were the work of the helots and perioecs.

As a result, the system established by Lycurgus transformed the Spartiate military democracy into an oligarchic-slave-owning republic, which still retained some signs of a tribal system. Here, land was not allowed, which was divided into equal plots, considered the property of the community and not subject to sale. Helot slaves also, historians suggest, belonged to the state rather than to wealthy citizens.

Sparta is one of the few states that was simultaneously headed by two kings, who were called archagets. Their power was inherited. The powers that each king of Sparta had were limited not only to military power, but also to the organization of sacrifices, as well as to participation in the council of elders.

The latter was called gerusia and consisted of two archagets and twenty-eight geronts. The elders were elected by the people's assembly for life only from the Spartan nobility who had reached the age of sixty. Gerusia in Sparta performed the functions of a certain government body. She prepared issues that needed to be discussed at public assemblies, and also directed foreign policy. In addition, the Council of Elders considered criminal cases, as well as state crimes, including those directed against the archaget.

Court

The legal proceedings and law of ancient Sparta were regulated by the college of ephors. This organ first appeared in the eighth century BC. It consisted of the five most worthy citizens of the state, who were elected by the people's assembly for only one year. At first, the powers of the ephors were limited only to the legal proceedings of property disputes. But already in the sixth century BC their power and powers were growing. Gradually they begin to displace gerusia. The ephors were given the right to convene a national assembly and gerousia, regulate foreign policy, and carry out internal governance of Sparta and its legal proceedings. This body was so important in the social structure of the state that its powers included the control of officials, including the archaget.

People's Assembly

Sparta is an example of an aristocratic state. In order to suppress the forced population, whose representatives were called helots, the development of private property was artificially restrained in order to maintain equality among the Spartiates themselves.

The Apella, or popular assembly, in Sparta was characterized by passivity. Only full-fledged male citizens who had reached the age of thirty had the right to participate in this body. At first, the people's assembly was convened by the archaget, but subsequently its leadership also passed to the college of ephors. Apella could not discuss the issues put forward, she only rejected or accepted the solution she proposed. Members of the national assembly voted in a very primitive way: by shouting or dividing participants into different sides, after which the majority was determined by eye.

Population

The inhabitants of the Lacedaemonian state have always been class-unequal. This situation was created by the social system of Sparta, which included three classes: the elite, the perieki - free residents from nearby cities who did not have the right to vote, as well as state slaves - helots.

The Spartans, who were in privileged conditions, were exclusively engaged in war. They were far from trade, crafts and agriculture; all this was given over to the Perieks as a right. At the same time, the estates of the elite Spartans were cultivated by helots, whom the latter rented from the state. During the heyday of the state, there were five times fewer nobility than perieks, and ten times fewer helots.

All periods of the existence of this one of the most ancient states can be divided into prehistoric, ancient, classical, Roman and Each of them left its mark not only in the formation of the ancient state of Sparta. Greece borrowed a lot from this history in the process of its formation.

Prehistoric era

The Leleges initially lived on the Laconian lands, but after the capture of the Peloponnese by the Dorians, this region, which was always considered the most infertile and generally insignificant, as a result of deception, went to two minor sons of the legendary king Aristodemus - Eurysthenes and Proclus.

Soon Sparta became the main city of Lacedaemon, whose system for a long time did not stand out among the other Doric states. She waged constant external wars with neighboring Argive or Arcadian cities. The most significant rise occurred during the reign of Lycurgus, the ancient Spartan legislator, to whom ancient historians unanimously attribute the political structure that subsequently dominated Sparta for several centuries.

Antique era

After victory in the wars lasting from 743 to 723 and from 685 to 668. BC, Sparta was able to finally defeat and capture Messenia. As a result, its ancient inhabitants were deprived of their lands and turned into helots. Six years later, Sparta, at the cost of incredible efforts, defeated the Arcadians, and in 660 BC. e. forced Tegea to recognize her hegemony. According to the agreement stored on the column placed near Althea, she forced her to enter into a military alliance. It was from this time that Sparta in the eyes of the people began to be considered the first state of Greece.

The history of Sparta at this stage is that its inhabitants began to make attempts to overthrow the tyrants that had been appearing since the seventh millennium BC. e. in almost all Greek states. It was the Spartans who helped expel the Cypselids from Corinth, the Pisistrati from Athens, they contributed to the liberation of Sikyon and Phocis, as well as several islands in the Aegean Sea, thereby acquiring grateful supporters in different states.

History of Sparta in the classical era

Having concluded an alliance with Tegea and Elis, the Spartans began to attract the rest of the cities of Laconia and neighboring regions to their side. As a result, the Peloponnesian League was formed, in which Sparta assumed hegemony. These were wonderful times for her: she provided leadership in wars, was the center of meetings and all meetings of the Union, without encroaching on the independence of individual states that maintained autonomy.

Sparta never tried to extend its own power to the Peloponnese, but the threat of danger prompted all other states, with the exception of Argos, to come under its protection during the Greco-Persian wars. Having eliminated the immediate danger, the Spartans, realizing that they were unable to wage war with the Persians far from their own borders, did not object when Athens took further leadership in the war, limiting itself only to the peninsula.

From that time on, signs of rivalry between these two states began to appear, which subsequently resulted in the First, which ended with the Thirty Years' Peace. The fighting not only broke the power of Athens and established the hegemony of Sparta, but also led to a gradual violation of its foundations - the legislation of Lycurgus.

As a result, in 397 before our chronology, the uprising of Kinadon took place, which, however, was not crowned with success. However, after certain setbacks, especially the defeat at the Battle of Cnidus in 394 BC. e, Sparta ceded Asia Minor, but became a judge and mediator in Greek affairs, thus motivating its policy with the freedom of all states, and was able to secure primacy in an alliance with Persia. And only Thebes did not submit to the conditions set, thereby depriving Sparta of the benefits of such a shameful peace for her.

Hellenistic and Roman era

Starting from these years, the state began to decline quite quickly. Impoverished and burdened with the debts of its citizens, Sparta, whose system was based on the legislation of Lycurgus, turned into an empty form of government. An alliance was concluded with the Phocians. And although the Spartans sent them help, they did not provide real support. In the absence of King Agis, with the help of money received from Darius, an attempt was made to get rid of the Macedonian yoke. But he, having failed in the battles of Megapolis, was killed. The spirit that Sparta was so famous for, which had become a household name, gradually began to disappear.

Rise of an Empire

Sparta is a state that for three centuries was the envy of all of Ancient Greece. Between the eighth and fifth centuries BC, it was a collection of hundreds of cities, often at war with each other. One of the key figures for the establishment of Sparta as a powerful and strong state was Lycurgus. Before his appearance, it was not much different from the rest of the ancient Greek city-states. But with the arrival of Lycurgus, the situation changed, and priorities in development were given to the art of war. From that moment on, Lacedaemon began to transform. And it was during this period that it flourished.

Since the eighth century BC. e. Sparta began to wage wars of conquest, conquering one after another its neighbors in the Peloponnese. After a series of successful military operations, Sparta moved on to establishing diplomatic ties with its most powerful opponents. Having concluded several treaties, Lacedaemon stood at the head of the union of the Peloponnesian states, which was considered one of the powerful formations of Ancient Greece. The creation of this alliance by Sparta was supposed to serve to repel the Persian invasion.

The state of Sparta has been a mystery to historians. The Greeks not only admired its citizens, but feared them. One type of bronze shields and scarlet cloaks worn by the warriors of Sparta put their opponents to flight, forcing them to capitulate.

Not only the enemies, but also the Greeks themselves did not really like it when an army, even a small one, was located next to them. Everything was explained very simply: the warriors of Sparta had a reputation of being invincible. The sight of their phalanxes brought even the most seasoned into a state of panic. And although only a small number of fighters took part in the battles in those days, they never lasted long.

The beginning of the decline of the empire

But at the beginning of the fifth century BC. e. a massive invasion from the East marked the beginning of the decline of Sparta's power. The huge Persian empire, which always dreamed of expanding its territories, sent a large army to Greece. Two hundred thousand people stood at the borders of Hellas. But the Greeks, led by the Spartans, accepted the challenge.

Tsar Leonidas

Being the son of Anaxandrides, this king belonged to the Agiad dynasty. After the death of his older brothers, Dorieus and Clemen the First, it was Leonidas who took over the reign. Sparta in 480 years before our chronology was in a state of war with Persia. And the name of Leonidas is associated with the immortal feat of the Spartans, when a battle took place in the Thermopylae Gorge, which remained in history for centuries.

This happened in 480 BC. e., when the hordes of the Persian king Xerxes tried to capture the narrow passage connecting Central Greece with Thessaly. At the head of the troops, including the allied ones, was Tsar Leonid. Sparta at that time occupied a leading position among friendly states. But Xerxes, taking advantage of the betrayal of the dissatisfied, bypassed the Thermopylae Gorge and went behind the rear of the Greeks.

Having learned about this, Leonidas, who fought along with his soldiers, disbanded the allied troops, sending them home. And he himself, with a handful of warriors, whose number was only three hundred people, stood in the way of the twenty-thousand-strong Persian army. The Thermopylae Gorge was strategic for the Greeks. In case of defeat, they would be cut off from Central Greece, and their fate would be sealed.

For four days, the Persians were unable to break the incomparably smaller enemy forces. The heroes of Sparta fought like lions. But the forces were unequal.

The fearless warriors of Sparta died every single one. Their king Leonidas fought with them to the end, who did not want to abandon his comrades.

The name Leonid will forever go down in history. Chroniclers, including Herodotus, wrote: “Many kings have died and have long been forgotten. But everyone knows and respects Leonid. His name will always be remembered in Sparta, Greece. And not because he was a king, but because he fulfilled his duty to his homeland to the end and died as a hero. Films have been made and books have been written about this episode in the life of the heroic Hellenes.

Feat of the Spartans

The Persian king Xerxes, who was haunted by the dream of capturing Hellas, invaded Greece in 480 BC. At this time, the Hellenes held the Olympic Games. The Spartans were preparing to celebrate Carnei.

Both of these holidays obliged the Greeks to observe a sacred truce. This was precisely one of the main reasons why only a small detachment resisted the Persians in the Thermopylae Gorge.

A detachment of three hundred Spartans led by King Leonidas headed towards Xerxes’ army of thousands. Warriors were selected based on whether they had children. On the way, Leonid's militia was joined by a thousand people each from Tegeans, Arcadians and Mantineans, as well as one hundred and twenty from Orkhomenes. Four hundred soldiers were sent from Corinth, three hundred from Phlius and Mycenae.

When this small army approached the Thermopylae Pass and saw the number of Persians, many soldiers became afraid and began to talk about retreat. Some of the allies proposed withdrawing to the peninsula to guard the Isthmus. However, others were outraged by this decision. Leonidas, ordering the army to remain in place, sent messengers to all cities asking for help, since they had too few soldiers to successfully repel the Persian attack.

For four whole days, King Xerxes, hoping that the Greeks would take flight, did not begin hostilities. But seeing that this was not happening, he sent the Cassians and Medes against them with the order to take Leonidas alive and bring him to him. They quickly attacked the Hellenes. Each onslaught of the Medes ended in huge losses, but others took the place of the fallen. It was then that it became clear to both the Spartans and Persians that Xerxes had many people, but few warriors among them. The battle lasted the whole day.

Having received a decisive rebuff, the Medes were forced to retreat. But they were replaced by the Persians, led by Hydarnes. Xerxes called them an “immortal” squad and hoped that they would easily finish off the Spartans. But in hand-to-hand combat, they, like the Medes, failed to achieve great success.

The Persians had to fight in close quarters, and with shorter spears, while the Hellenes had longer spears, which gave a certain advantage in this fight.

At night, the Spartans again attacked the Persian camp. They managed to kill many enemies, but their main goal was the defeat of Xerxes himself in the general turmoil. And only when it was dawn did the Persians see the small number of King Leonidas’s detachment. They pelted the Spartans with spears and finished them off with arrows.

The road to Central Greece was open for the Persians. Xerxes personally inspected the battlefield. Having found the dead Spartan king, he ordered him to cut off his head and put it on a stake.

There is a legend that King Leonidas, going to Thermopylae, clearly understood that he would die, so when his wife asked him during farewell what his orders would be, he ordered him to find a good husband and give birth to sons. This was the life position of the Spartans, who were ready to die for their Motherland on the battlefield in order to receive a crown of glory.

Beginning of the Peloponnesian War

After some time, the Greek city-states at war with each other united and were able to repel Xerxes. But, despite the joint victory over the Persians, the alliance between Sparta and Athens did not last long. In 431 BC. e. The Peloponnesian War broke out. And only several decades later was the Spartan state able to win.

But not everyone in Ancient Greece liked the supremacy of Lacedaemon. Therefore, half a century later, new hostilities broke out. This time his rivals were Thebes, who and their allies managed to inflict a serious defeat on Sparta. As a result, the power of the state was lost.

Conclusion

This is exactly what ancient Sparta was like. She was one of the main contenders for primacy and supremacy in the ancient Greek picture of the world. Some milestones of Spartan history are sung in the works of the great Homer. The outstanding “Iliad” occupies a special place among them.

And now all that remains of this glorious polis are the ruins of some of its buildings and unfading glory. Legends about the heroism of its warriors, as well as a small town of the same name in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula, reached contemporaries.

Appendix 2.

Option #1.

Questions: 1. How were the younger generation raised in Sparta?

2. What did you like about raising the Spartans, what did you not like and why?

“Ligurgus (the Spartan legislator) did not allow the children of Spartans to be raised by purchased or hired educators, and the father did not have the right to raise his son at his own discretion. He selected all the children who were 7 years old, united them into agels (detachments) and raised them together, teaching them to play and study together. At the head of the detachment he put the one who was smarter and braver in fights. The children followed his example in everything, followed his orders, endured punishment, so all the training consisted of instilling obedience in the children. The old men watched their games and, constantly introducing discord among them, caused fights; they carefully studied what inclinations of courage and bravery were contained in everyone, whether the boy was brave and stubborn in fights. They taught literacy only to the extent necessary. The rest of the education consisted of being able to obey unconditionally, patiently endure hardships and win battles.”

Document No. 2.

Determine which of the documents below describes Sparta and which describes Athens.

A. This city, despite its dirty streets, would seem to us a beautiful city. The top of the acropolis and the city squares were decorated with temples and other buildings, there were many marble and bronze statues everywhere, and on the slope of the acropolis there was an open-air theater, which was crowded with people on performance days. On the streets there are many artisans and merchants, sailors returning from voyages, and visitors from all Greek cities and states. The noisy crowd moved in different directions, exchanged news, and went about their business.

B. Another city looked a lot like a military camp; it was a gloomy city and not friendly to strangers. There was no noisy market or craft workshops here. One-story houses, similar to each other, lined the streets. There was no theater here, there were almost no stone temples and statues. On the streets we could see troops of marching people, hear abrupt words of command and a military choral song.

Appendix 3

Conversation between the inhabitants of Sparta : “Megacles came to Strepsiades.

S. - Megacles, here is the processed skin of an animal that made sandals for me and my wife.

M.- Strepsiades, why are you so sad, what happened?

S.- You know that I, and all my fellow tribesmen, are Hellenes. But now I am a helot - a slave of Sparta. And the Spartiates are to blame for this. They are also Hellenes, but they conquered our state and deprived us of our land. Now all the land belongs to Sparta and the Spartiates. Each Spartiate receives the same plot of land, and we are helots, we work on it and give half of the harvest to the owners. But this was not enough for the Spartiates. Now they are doing cryptos. Do you know what this is?

M. - I’m hearing it for the first time.

S.- Cryptia is the murder of helots. The authorities allowed the Spartiates to attack unarmed helots without a reason, to beat us and even kill us. And they kill the youngest, strongest and strongest helots. Several of my neighbors were killed tonight. My family is in panic, all the neighbors are terrified.

M. - Strange Spartiates. They devoted their entire lives to military affairs. All of Sparta has been turned into a military camp. They are forbidden to engage in agriculture, crafts and trade, and they despise all manual labor. They are even prohibited from traveling abroad. But why would they kill you, you feed them, what's the point?

S.- I don’t know yet. You, Perieki, are engaged in crafts and trade, you are free people, the Spartiates do not treat you that way. What should we do, please advise.

M.- You need to defend yourself. Unite all the helots and repel the Spartiates. But this is very risky.

S.- Thanks for the advice. It's time to return home while it's still light. Goodbye Megacles.

M. - Goodbye Strepsiades.”

Appendix 4

Appendix 5.

Test on the topic “Ancient Sparta”.

1.Indicate the name of the region of Greece where Sparta arose.

A. Laconia.

B. Boeotia.

V. Attica.

2. Indicate what was the main occupation of the Spartans.

A. Trade.

B. Agriculture.

V.Military affairs.

3. Indicate why the Athenians called the Spartans ignorant.

A. Because the Spartans were taught farming from childhood

and cattle breeding.

B. Because Spartans from childhood were taught to practice painting and

B. Because the Spartans were trained from childhood to engage in military activities

4. Indicate who the Spartans called helots.

A. Inozemtsev.

B. The conquered population of Ancient Sparta.

V. Leaders.

5. Who were the helots in Sparta?

A. Free farmers.

B. Slaves.

V. Warriors.

6. Indicate the highest authority in Sparta

A. People's Assembly.

B. Areopagus.

B. Council of Elders.

7. What kind of speech is called laconic?

A. The one pronounced by a resident of Laconia.

Among the many ancient Greek states, two stood out - Laconia or Laconia (Sparta) and Attica ( Athens). At their core, these were antagonistic states with social systems opposing each other.

Sparta of Ancient Greece existed in the southern lands of the Peloponnese from the 9th to the 2nd centuries BC. e. It is notable for the fact that it was ruled by two kings. They passed on their power by inheritance. However, real administrative power belonged to the elders. They were chosen from among respected Spartans who were at least 50 years old.

Sparta on the map of Greece

It was the council that decided all state affairs. As for the kings, they performed purely military functions, that is, they were commanders of the army. Moreover, when one king went on a campaign, the second remained in the city with part of the soldiers.

An example here would be the king Lycurgus, although it is not known for sure whether he was a king or simply belonged to the royal family and had enormous authority. The ancient historians Plutarch and Herodotus wrote that he was the ruler of the state, but did not specify what position this man held.

The activities of Lycurgus dated back to the first half of the 9th century BC. e. It was under him that laws were passed that did not give citizens the opportunity to enrich themselves. Therefore, in Spartan society there was no stratification of property.

All land suitable for plowing was divided into equal plots, which were called clerks. Each family received an allotment. He provided people with barley flour, wine and vegetable oil. According to the legislator, this was quite enough to lead a normal life.

Luxury was relentlessly pursued. Gold and silver coins were even withdrawn from circulation. Crafts and trade were also banned. The sale of agricultural surpluses was prohibited. That is, under Lycurgus, everything was done to prevent people from earning too much.

The main occupation of the Spartan state was considered to be war. It was the conquered peoples who provided the conquerors with everything necessary for life. And on the land plots of the Spartans slaves worked, who were called helots.

The entire society of Sparta was divided into military units. In each of them, joint meals were practiced or sissity. People ate from a common pot and brought food from home. During the meal, the detachment commanders made sure that all portions were eaten. If someone ate poorly and without appetite, then the suspicion arose that the person had eaten heavily somewhere on the side. The offender could be expelled from the detachment or punished with a large fine.

Spartan warriors armed with spears

All the men of Sparta were warriors, and they were taught the art of war from early childhood. It was believed that a mortally wounded warrior should die silently, without even uttering a quiet groan. The Spartan phalanx, bristling with long spears, terrified all the states of Ancient Greece.

Mothers and wives, seeing off their sons and husbands to war, said: “With a shield or on a shield.” This meant that the men were expected to go home either victorious or dead. The bodies of the dead were always carried by comrades on shields. But those who ran away from the battlefield faced universal contempt and shame. Parents, wives, and their own children turned away from them.

It should be noted that the inhabitants of Laconia (Laconia) were never known for their verbosity. They expressed themselves briefly and to the point. It was from these Greek lands that such terms as “laconic speech” and “laconicism” spread.

It must be said that Sparta of Ancient Greece had a very small population. Its population over the centuries has consistently not exceeded 10 thousand people. However, this small number of people kept all the southern and middle lands of the Balkan Peninsula in fear. And such superiority was achieved through cruel customs.

When a boy was born into a family, he was examined by the elders. If the baby turned out to be too frail or sick in appearance, then he was thrown from the cliff onto sharp stones. The corpse of the unfortunate man was immediately eaten by birds of prey.

The customs of the Spartans were extremely cruel

Only healthy and strong children remained alive. Upon reaching the age of 7, boys were taken from their parents and united into small units. Iron discipline reigned in them. Future warriors were taught to endure pain, bravely endure beatings, and unquestioningly obey their mentors.

At times, children were not fed at all, and they had to earn their own food by hunting or stealing. If such a child was caught in someone’s garden, he was severely punished, but not for theft, but for the fact that he was caught.

This barracks life continued until the age of 20. After this, the young man was given a land plot, and he had the opportunity to start a family. It should be noted that Spartan girls were also trained in the art of war, but not in such harsh conditions as the boys.

Sunset of Sparta

Although the conquered peoples were afraid of the Spartans, they periodically rebelled against them. And although the conquerors had excellent military training, they were not always victorious.

An example here is the uprising in Messenia in the 7th century BC. e. It was headed by the fearless warrior Aristomenes. Under his leadership, several sensitive defeats were inflicted on the Spartan phalanx.

However, there were traitors in the ranks of the rebels. Thanks to their betrayal, Aristomenes’s army was defeated, and the fearless warrior himself began a guerrilla war. One night he made his way to Sparta, entered the main sanctuary and, wanting to shame his enemies before the gods, left on the altar the weapons taken from the Spartan warriors in battle. This shame remained in the memory of people for centuries.

In the 4th century BC. e. Sparta of Ancient Greece began to gradually weaken. Other nations entered the political arena, led by smart and talented commanders. Here you can name Philip of Macedon and his famous son Alexander the Great. The inhabitants of Laconia became completely dependent on these prominent political figures of antiquity.

Then it was the turn of the Roman Republic. In 146 BC. e. The Spartans submitted to Rome. However, formally freedom was preserved, but under the complete control of the Romans. In principle, this date is considered the end of the Spartan state. It has become history, but has been preserved in people’s memory to this day.