Download My World History Chapter 10 – Ancient Greece: Secti

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My World History
Chapter 10 – Ancient Greece: Section 4 “Oligarchy in Sparta” pp. 318 - 321
Terms to understand when reading:
government in Sparta - We have already read that Sparta was a proud oligarchy, yet this city-state had one
distinction from other oligarchies: Sparta had two kings who were also the main military leaders. It would be
very rare for a Spartan battle to commence without the leadership of one of the kings. Future kings were direct
descendants of other kings; heredity determined who could become a king. It addition, kings were considered
the principal religious leaders and were the head of the elders’ council.
Elders’ Council – (Greek term is gerousia) The kings ruled over this governing body of 28 councilmen whose
main job was to propose legislation to vote upon in the general assembly. Each of these 28 positions was
reserved for a respected elder (over 60 years of age) and that individual would hold his post for life.
assembly – Similar in some ways to the Athenian assembly, it was made up of approximately 9000 free male
citizens. The assembly members could vote to pass laws (by shouting), yet the elders’ council or the king could
overrule their collective decision.
ephors (EH-forz) – These five men were selected from the assembly by a lottery system and were responsible
for the day-to-day operation of the government. They were entrusted with making sure the council of elders and
the Spartan king obeyed the laws of the city-state. If major laws were broken, the ephors could vote to remove
him. Ephors only served for one year and could not hold the position again.
helots – These state-owned slaves came primarily from two conquered areas near Sparta—Laconia and
Messenia. These slaves were not owned by individuals, but worked the land and did other labor for the entire
city-state. Any Spartan could command a helot to do their bidding. Helots could be conscribed into military
service. Most helots suffered mistreatment and an annual purging of helots was done to discourage revolt.
military state - Spartans boys began their military training at age 7 when they left their mother’s home to live
in military housing called barracks. Weakness was not tolerated and boys learned very early how to fight in
order to endure hardship and face the “honor” of death in battle. At 18, young men trained for two years to
become part of a phalanx. Men spend little time at home, even after leaving the military at age 30. If a war
developed, all Spartan men up to the age of 55 went willingly to battle.
common messes – After turning 20, men vied to be accepted into smaller military social groups called messes.
Each man would have to be accepted by the other 14-15 men and would have to contribute a fair share of food
and other resources to the group. Once accepted, the men were referred to as “equals.” These groups forged a
strong brotherhood that went beyond simply eating together. (Yes, our term mess hall is derived from this
gathering.) They ate, drank, slept, battled, and often died together. If a member was ejected from the group,
they became a social outcast, never gain citizenship, and their life would be miserable. These messes were, in a
sense, the first fraternal organizations based on the concept of brotherhood, shared rules and experiences, and a
common purpose.
Spartan women – The main purpose of existence for a Spartan woman was to bear strong Spartan children,
preferably male. They had considerably more rights than other Greek woman—the most important one is that
they could own and inherit land. Given the high number of deaths on the battlefields, many Spartan women
become wealthy landowners after inheriting their husband’s estates. Women were also educated and encouraged
to participate in athletic events such as track and field. They could socialize outside the home (unlike other
Greek women), and could speak publically and frankly with men (another unheard of custom in Greece).
Directions: The following terms and questions need to be answered in neatly written, well-structured sentences
on lined paper or they may be typed. You must rephrase each question in your response. Do not begin any
response with a pronoun or the word because. All class work and homework must state your name,
homework number, date, chapter and section.
A. Combine the following terms from your text into well-developed sentences that relate to ancient
Sparta.
1. Sparta and Athens:
2. helots and revolution:
B. Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Remember to rephrase the question.
1. In the areas below, list the differences and common aspects of Sparta and Athenian governments. See p. 321
Athens
Common Features of Both Governments
Sparta
a.
a.
a.
b.
b.
b.
c.
c.
d.
d.
2. How was family life different for Spartans versus Athenians? What would Athenians think was particularly
odd about Spartan family life?
3. What main concern did the Spartans have regarding the Messenian helots? What did the Spartans do to
control the helots?
Extra Credit: What features of Spartan society seem barbaric by today’s standards? Explain at least three
disturbing aspects of their society that you learned from either the text, class films, or class discussions.