Spartan Essay 2 With reference to the source you have selected explain the organisation of Spartan Society Source : “Lycurgus prohibited free citizens from having anything to do with business…they should not desire wealth with a view to sensual gratification. At Sparta the citizens pay strictest obedience to the magistrates and the laws. Lycurgus [believed]...obedience is of the greatest benefit, as much in a State as in an army and a family...Lycurgus also imposed on his countrymen an obligation, from which there is no exception, of practicing every kind of political virtue; for he made the privileges of citizenship equally available to all those who observed what was commanded by the Laws; but if anyone was too lazy to do what the Laws demanded, Lycurgus commanded that he should no longer be counted among the number of ‘equally privileged citizens’”. Spartan society was organised so that the Spartiates could devote themselves entirely to Sparta’s militaristic imperative. Spartan society was comprised of four social classes, Spartiates, Perioki , Inferiors and Helots. Both Helots and Perioki have the sole purpose of tending the everyday medial tasks to leave Spartiates sufficient time to become skilled in combat specifically the agoge. The Inferiors consisted of members who had never had achieved/ or had been stripped of citizenship. The militaristic ideals of Spartan society are shown in the Spartiate training priority, and the rejection of cowards highlights the importance of military nobility. Helots were the indigenous population of Laconia, although once conquered the Helot’s became “serf(s) who can be used on request” (Xenophon) this made them the lowest class in Spartan Society. The Helots’ duties were that of a slave, they were expected to tend fields for no profit, with the majority of their produce being awarded to their master and the state. The life of a Helot was one of hardship, they could only live in small prosperity once their master was taken care of. Not only did they live in poverty, they lacked freedom, political and legal rights. This depraved life would probably have left them resentful of the current lifestyle, and Spartan’s feared a helot uprising as they were outnumbered “20:1’. To ensure this uprising didn’t occur, protocols were implemented to negate any change of a revolt, Helots were subsequently banned from any metal work. The Helot’s posed such a risk that the Ephor’s would annually declare war on the Helot’s so that any Helot could be slain by a Spartan. Allowing the formation of the Krypteia, a part of the agoge where youth would hunt and slaughter any trouble-making Helot. De Sainte Croix describes “the helot danger was the curse of Sparta had brought upon herslf – a people which oppresses another cannot itself be free”. Through Source 1 it’s evident that the Helot’s played a vital role in the undertaking of the militaristic Spartan goal, as it allowed Spartan’s to train in the art of combat. The .

1. Spartan Essay 2
With reference to the source you have selected explain the
organisation of Spartan Society
Source : “Lycurgus prohibited free citizens from having
anything to do with business…they should not desire wealth
with a view to sensual gratification. At Sparta the citizens pay
strictest obedience to the magistrates and the laws. Lycurgus
[believed]...obedience is of the greatest benefit, as much in a
State as in an army and a family...Lycurgus also imposed on his
countrymen an obligation, from which there is no exception, of
practicing every kind of political virtue; for he made the
privileges of citizenship equally available to all those who
observed what was commanded by the Laws; but if anyone was
too lazy to do what the Laws demanded, Lycurgus commanded
that he should no longer be counted among the number of
‘equally privileged citizens’”.
Spartan society was organised so that the Spartiates could
devote themselves entirely to Sparta’s militaristic imperative.
Spartan society was comprised of four social classes, Spartiates,
Perioki , Inferiors and Helots. Both Helots and Perioki have the
sole purpose of tending the everyday medial tasks to leave
Spartiates sufficient time to become skilled in combat
specifically the agoge. The Inferiors consisted of members who
had never had achieved/ or had been stripped of citizenship. The
militaristic ideals of Spartan society are shown in the Spartiate
training priority, and the rejection of cowards highlights the
importance of military nobility.
Helots were the indigenous population of Laconia, although
once conquered the Helot’s became “serf(s) who can be used on

2. request” (Xenophon) this made them the lowest class in Spartan
Society. The Helots’ duties were that of a slave, they were
expected to tend fields for no profit, with the majority of their
produce being awarded to their master and the state. The life of
a Helot was one of hardship, they could only live in small
prosperity once their master was taken care of. Not only did
they live in poverty, they lacked freedom, political and legal
rights. This depraved life would probably have left them
resentful of the current lifestyle, and Spartan’s feared a helot
uprising as they were outnumbered “20:1’. To ensure this
uprising didn’t occur, protocols were implemented to negate any
change of a revolt, Helots were subsequently banned from any
metal work. The Helot’s posed such a risk that the Ephor’s
would annually declare war on the Helot’s so that any Helot
could be slain by a Spartan. Allowing the formation of the
Krypteia, a part of the agoge where youth would hunt and
slaughter any trouble-making Helot. De Sainte Croix describes
“the helot danger was the curse of Sparta had brought upon
herslf – a people which oppresses another cannot itself be free”.
Through Source 1 it’s evident that the Helot’s played a vital
role in the undertaking of the militaristic Spartan goal, as it
allowed Spartan’s to train in the art of combat.
The Inferiors were the outcasts and failures of Spartan society,
made up of four groups. Hypomeiones- Spartan Homoiois who
lost citizenship by failing agoge, or failied to meet the minimum
contribution of sysstion ( food messes), Tresamtees – Spartan’s
who lost citizenship but acts of cowardice in battle,
Neodamodes- Helots granted freedom for outstanding service to
Sparta and Mothocles – Helots brought up as half brothers to
Spartans, or illegitimate offspring of Spartan’s and Helots.
Source 2 refers to the “importance of obedience political virtue
and nobility”, these fundamental characteristics are explored
and demonstrated in the attitudes taken towards the Inferiors,
hard work is rewarded, while disobedience and cowardice are

3. punished. This acts as an incentive to strive towards Spartan’s
militaristic goal.
The Perioki (Dwellers around) we considered by Thucydides as
the “merchant class”, this was reinforced by Shipley as he said
([the perioki] played a lead role in non-agricultural production
and economic exchange). Most importantly though, the perioki
played two vital roles to support Sparta, they were skilled
craftsmen according to Cook “it is very likely that the practice
of the arts were left to the Perioki” this allowed the Spartiates
to train. Most importantly though , the Perioki acted as a buffer
zone to prevent a Helot escape. While the Perioki were not full
citizen the support offered in their trades and strategic
geographic position played a major role in Sparta’s military
virtue, Andrews consolidates when he praises the Perioki “it is
important to remember how much of it(Spartan military virtue)
actually belong to the Perioki”. The Perioki encompasses the
concept of obedience in source 2, it’s unquestioning allegiance
to Sparta gave Sparta the ability to pursue it’s militaristic goals.
Spartiates were the Spartan Elitists, to become a Spartiate four
requirements would need to be met. Had to; own land, be born
into a Spartan family, be a member in a Spartan military unit
and have completed the agoge. The Spartiate were exempt from
work as “Lycurgus prohibited free citizens from having
anything to do with business”. The sole purpose of the Spartiate
was combative dominance. They did so by completing an eleven
year training program known as the agoge, upon completion the
Spartiate was eligible for active duty.
As evident in source 2, the components comprising Spartan
society suggested that system was implemented to suit Sparta’s
milltaristic goals, Helots and Perioki tended daily tasks and
crafting allowing the Spartiate to focus on combat training,
obedience and loyalty is then highlighted by the Inferiors,
providing a solid foundation was military dominance.

4. Spartan Essay 1.
Spartan Government
Source: Aristotle – The Politics Book Two : VI
Some, indeed, say that the best constitution is a combination of
all existing forms, and they praise the Lacedaemonian because
it is made up of oligarchy, monarchy, and democracy, the king
forming the monarchy, and the council of elders the oligarchy
while the democratic element is represented by the Ephors; for
the Ephors are selected from the people.
Question : With reference to your Source and other evidence
explain the Spartan system of Government
The Spartan system of government was multifaceted, it
consisted of a monarchical dual kingship; the Gerousia formed
the oligarchical element and the Ephorate and Ekklesia
comprised the democratic component. This multi-tiered
constitution was set forth in the Great Rhetra which was then
implemented by Lycurgus the Lawgiver. The overall aim of the
government was to attain Eunomia (“Good application of the
law”). Aristotle explores the concept of a multi-tiered
constitution in his work Politics: Book 2 Section 6 while
affirming how each political element is represented in the
Spartan political system.
The Great Rhetra was an oral document that issued reform to
the Spartan system of law (Rhetra) in a time of crisis. It is said
that The Great Rhetra was given to Lycurgus from the Delphic
Oracle. The Great Rhetra gradually reformed a fractured Sparta;
it synthesized three political elements into a constitution,
creating a Spartan state immune to the downfalls of a single-
tiered state, as reinforced by H. Michel “The constitutional

5. system of the Spartan state was an excellent one, and escaped
many of the weaknesses and dangers of that extreme form of
Democracy found in Athens”. The Great Rhetra also bought
about the reconstruction of the Gerousia with a static 30
members (28 Gerontes + two kings), it also implemented
Citizen’s to classified by birth (tribe) and residence (obai). The
Great Rhetra also established duties of the king in relation to
the state, it manipulated the rights of Spartan’s permitting them
to vote and allocating each Spartan their own block of land. The
Rider was an amendment to the Great Rhetra which specified
that any proposal by the assembly could not be accepted had it
been altered, however it granted the kings to reconsider
proposals. Aristotle writes “The Great Rhetra provided ”
The monarchical element of the Spartan government was formed
by a dual kingship. The dual kingship was composed of two
hereditary kings from the Agiad and Euryptonid families who
were “equal in authority so that one could not act against the
power and political enactments of his colleague”- (Herod .vi
.5), Plato solidifies this “… split it into , so as to restrict its
powers to more reasonable portions”. ; they were succeeded by
their first born son after ascension to the throne (sons born prior
to ascension would give way to sons born post-ascension). The
primary roles of the kings were religious and militaristic with
some judicial responsibilities. Aristotle writes “dealings with
the gods are assigned to the kings”, this refers to the Chief
Priest status of both kings, as Chief Priests the kings were
responsible for the protection and safe keeping of the Delphic
Oracle, they also were “(to) Peform all public sacrifices on the
cities behalf” and would sacrifice a “perfect victim on the
1sT/7th day of each month. During times of war one king would
campaign while the other stayed in Sparta, the king on
campaign would assume the role of Commander-in-Chief of the
army while the other upheld the monarchical responsibilities in
the Spartan Polis. During times of war, only one king would
campaign and assumed the role of Chief Commander. Both of

6. the two kings had the right to wage war (but none did), and
while they couldn’t ratify peace treaty’s they could arrange
conditions for finalisation by the Ekklesia. The kings were also
responsible for public road maintenance, this ensured the
assembly of an army was swift and efficient. The militaristic
motif’s of the polis are seen throughout the responsibilities of
the kings, as they are leaders of the army and allow the
mobilisation of an army.
The Gerousia (Council of Elders) represents the oligarchical
component of the Spartan government. The Council was made
up of 28 members or Gerontes (elders) and the two kings. The
Gerontes were elected by acclamation (the person who received
the loudest cheer would be elected. democracy, the Gerousia
was considered a gerontocracy (a form of oligarchical rule in
which an entity is ruled by leaders who are significantly older
than most of the adult population). The Gerousia acted as a
supreme court for significant political/criminal cases. They
tried cases involving kings, and had the right to impose severe
punishments IE revoking of citizenship, death and exile. They
also held the probouleutic function of proposing laws and
policies for ratification by the Ekklesia. However, the gerouisa
was not bound to accept the Ekklesia’s decision as they could
re-introduce a rejected law or policy when the Ekklesia was
disposed to vote correctly. Similarly they could prevent a
law/policy being ratified if they were unhappy with the
Ekklesia’s decision. The Gerousia reflects elements of Spartan
society, encompassing the military values and highlighting their
significance.
The Ephor’s comprised one of the democratic elements of the
Spartan constitution, Five males (one from each district) over
the age of 30 we elected annually by the Ekklesia. They served
a one year tenure to stop gross power accumulation. Hooker

7. describes the Ephor’s as the “day to day government of the
state” as their roles covered the paramount concerns of the
polis. They controlled the public finances, training of the youth
(agoge) and set the parameters of war (setting age groups and
numbers) , they issue of the krypteia by annually declaring war
on the helots. The Ephor’s comprise a democratic element,
although it’s limitations, it is effective in the teaching,
preparation and execution of Sparta’s militaristic outlook.
The Ekklessia composed the second democratic element as
stated in Source 1 “the democratic element is represented by the
Ephors”, or gave the appearance of democracy. Any male who
held Spartan citizenship and was over thirty years old was
eligible for membership . The Ekklesia projected an image of
democracy through its administrative and executive functions of
debating issues of war and peace, signing treaties and the
appointment of Gerontes and Ephors. Although their primary
role was to pass law/policy put forward by the Gerousia. The
Ekklesia played a vital role in the stability of the Spartan
Government.
The Spartan system of government is often praised for the
synthesised constitution of monarchy, oligarchy and democracy.
It incorporated the advantageous aspects of each political
system, while removing the undesirable effects of one singular
political system.