Spartan Society To The Battle Of Leuctra 371 BC
ANCIENT HISTORY HSC NOTES- Spartan society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC
The geographical setting:
The geographical setting, natural features and resources of ancient Sparta, significant sites
-Spartans were part of the Greek tribe called the Dorian’s who ruled of the area of Laconia in the southern Peloponnese. It was located at the head of a small but fertile river plain (River Eurotas) which provided fresh water and marine life for them.
-Sparta was surrounded by the mountain Taygetos which provided a source of stone (limestone and marble) and provided a defensive barrier for the Spartan state.
Social Structure and Political Organisation:
Issue of Lycurgus (the Great Rhetra)
-The Spartan system (Social code, military & land …show more content…
-Helots also had to produce food for the Syssitia and had to pay a large proportion to their masters- this kept them occupied
-The Krypteia was an organisation like a secret police force simply to keep the helots in a state of fear and subjection. The Krypteia was formed of young Spartans armed with daggers to murder any helots and/or helots suspected of rebellion or a threat (stated by Plutarch).
-Myron states that each year helots would wear dog skin caps and receive a beating to remind them they were slaves and would kill them as a punishment if any exceeded vigour proper to slaves.
Role of Spartan Army
-The whole Spartan society was aimed at producing a strong fighting force of great warriors who were willing to die for Sparta. The Spartans developed the militaristic society changing their lifestyle due to their defeat against the Argives.
-The Spartan army was composed by Spartan citizens. Non Spartan citizens began to perform military duties later when the Spartan numbers were declining. The Spartan army was organised according to divisions specified in the agoge. Originally in divisions called the Morai drawn from 5 tribal …show more content…
In fact, the archaeological record simply doesn’t support any definite break at any period.
-Their history was ‘oral’ not written and the ‘lawgiver’ was a god like figure who was constantly recreated why things were as they were
-Anything associated with his name become holy
-To Spartans Lycurgus was a god who gave them a way of life which was divinely inspired and divinity sanctioned
-Herodotus tells us that the oracle of Apollo at Delphi was believed to have recognised Lycurgus divinity and notes that after Lycurgus death a temple was built in his
The geographical setting:
The geographical setting, natural features and resources of ancient Sparta, significant sites
-Spartans were part of the Greek tribe called the Dorian’s who ruled of the area of Laconia in the southern Peloponnese. It was located at the head of a small but fertile river plain (River Eurotas) which provided fresh water and marine life for them.
-Sparta was surrounded by the mountain Taygetos which provided a source of stone (limestone and marble) and provided a defensive barrier for the Spartan state.
Social Structure and Political Organisation:
Issue of Lycurgus (the Great Rhetra)
-The Spartan system (Social code, military & land …show more content…
-Helots also had to produce food for the Syssitia and had to pay a large proportion to their masters- this kept them occupied
-The Krypteia was an organisation like a secret police force simply to keep the helots in a state of fear and subjection. The Krypteia was formed of young Spartans armed with daggers to murder any helots and/or helots suspected of rebellion or a threat (stated by Plutarch).
-Myron states that each year helots would wear dog skin caps and receive a beating to remind them they were slaves and would kill them as a punishment if any exceeded vigour proper to slaves.
Role of Spartan Army
-The whole Spartan society was aimed at producing a strong fighting force of great warriors who were willing to die for Sparta. The Spartans developed the militaristic society changing their lifestyle due to their defeat against the Argives.
-The Spartan army was composed by Spartan citizens. Non Spartan citizens began to perform military duties later when the Spartan numbers were declining. The Spartan army was organised according to divisions specified in the agoge. Originally in divisions called the Morai drawn from 5 tribal …show more content…
In fact, the archaeological record simply doesn’t support any definite break at any period.
-Their history was ‘oral’ not written and the ‘lawgiver’ was a god like figure who was constantly recreated why things were as they were
-Anything associated with his name become holy
-To Spartans Lycurgus was a god who gave them a way of life which was divinely inspired and divinity sanctioned
-Herodotus tells us that the oracle of Apollo at Delphi was believed to have recognised Lycurgus divinity and notes that after Lycurgus death a temple was built in his