Sparta

The Sparta was an ancient city-State and a military might of antiquity. It lay in the valley of Laconia, on both sides of the Eurotas river, in the southern portion of the Peloponnese, Greece. The region had been invaded by the Dorians, during the 11th century BC. This war-like Indo-European people conquered the native inhabitants, founding a new town, which would become a powerful polis, the Greek city-State of Sparta. Their culture was based on the military. In the 5th century BC, they would take part in the Greco-Persian Wars, being allied to Athens and Thebes.

Government and Social Organization

During the next two centuries, the Spartans would develop a unique political system, which was completely different from other Greek city-States, such as Athens. The social hierarchy highest level of the new polis was composed of the conquering warriors (Dorians), who called themselves Spartans; they were ruled by two kings, who were the commanders of their mighty army. The society lower classes consisted of the helots or serfs, who were the conquered native inhabitants, and the perioikoi, who were neighboring free men that recognized the authority of the Spartan kings. In time of war, the perioikoi (free farmers) had to provide Sparta with soldiers.

Geopolitical Expansion

During the 8th century BC onwards, Sparta had expanded so much that there was no enough land in the valley of Laconia to provide a livelihood for the Spartans. Thus, the Spartans marched through the Taygetus mountains and conquered Messenia at the end of the 8th century after a long protracted war. From then on, Messenia would remain as an occupied territory of Sparta. Although the Messenians would revolt against the Spartan kings, their rebellion would be put down.

Economy

The economy of Sparta was based on the animal husbandry, raising sheep, goats, and cattle, and agriculture, growing olives, grapes, and wheat. The pottery industry was also important. They were produced and processed by the lower classes (helots and perioikois).

Military Training

Since they constituted a militarized society, the Spartan males were trained from a very young age. For this purpose, right after birth, infants were inspected by State officials and any child considered defective was abandoned in the wilderness to die. Then, at the age of seven, boys were taken from their families and were brought up by young military officers. Real military training began at the age of twelve. Their education consisted of athletics and combat sports as they had to endure any kind of hardships in any weather condition. Finally, at the age of twenty, they were given a plot of land and pair of animals that would provide food for his family.

Below, a Spartan king warrior (Leonidas)

Map showing the location of Sparta in the Peloponnese, Greece.