GOVERNMENT:
The Spartan political system was a mix of monarchy (ruled by a monarch), oligarchy (power given to a few), and democracy (governed by the people). There were two hereditary kingships, the Gerousia - a council of twenty-eight plus two people, the Ephorate - a group of five magistrates called ephors, and the assembly, which every Spartan citizen (Spartiate) over 18 could participate in.
The Spartan kings, one from each of the two royal families - the Agiads and Eurypontids, had military, religious and political functions. The kings were the leaders of the army, but after a dispute between the two kings in 508 BC, only one was allowed out with an army at any one time. They were also two of the members of the Gerousia, discussed below. As part of their religious functions, they were also the priests of Zeus Hellenios and Athena Hellenia.
The Spartan kings, one from each of the two royal families - the Agiads and Eurypontids, had military, religious and political functions. The kings were the leaders of the army, but after a dispute between the two kings in 508 BC, only one was allowed out with an army at any one time. They were also two of the members of the Gerousia, discussed below. As part of their religious functions, they were also the priests of Zeus Hellenios and Athena Hellenia.
ECONOMY:
Sparta was mainly an agricultural state because of its inland location. It would have exported agricultural products such as wine and olive oil. The most important imports were metals.
In Sparta men citizens were warriors. The other men were slaves. There were visitor men from surrounding states that did trading and commerce. A few of the men were aristocrats as there were usually two kings in Sparta. These positions were hereditary. The kings had the right to wage war against anyone they wished, but they had the responsibility to engage first and leave the battlefield last.
The helots performed the labor and the perioci traded that labor for funds and goods the citizens, who only performed military duty, needed.
Though Sparta was not on the coast, its coastal territories included several ports which did participate in international trade. Mainly it exported agricultural products such as wine and olive oil and imported lumber, metals, and wheat.
In Sparta men citizens were warriors. The other men were slaves. There were visitor men from surrounding states that did trading and commerce. A few of the men were aristocrats as there were usually two kings in Sparta. These positions were hereditary. The kings had the right to wage war against anyone they wished, but they had the responsibility to engage first and leave the battlefield last.
The helots performed the labor and the perioci traded that labor for funds and goods the citizens, who only performed military duty, needed.
Though Sparta was not on the coast, its coastal territories included several ports which did participate in international trade. Mainly it exported agricultural products such as wine and olive oil and imported lumber, metals, and wheat.
WAR FORCE:
The Spartan army was known far and wide for their fierceness, brutality, and efficiency in battle. This was partly due to their militarily-oriented society, but it was also due to a remarkable innovation in land warfare that made the Spartans nearly unstoppable on the ground.They all wore bronze body armor, helmets, bronze shin guards, and all carried shields. Their primary weapons were a short sword for close-quarter fighting, and the weapon that became the trademark of the phalanx, an 8-15 foot long spear.
The phalanx fought in formation in a highly organized and disciplined manner. Shields were worn on the left shoulder, and were long enough to cover the soldier's knees. As the hoplite soldiers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, the shields overlapped each other, forming a wall of shields and protecting each other.
The phalanx fought in formation in a highly organized and disciplined manner. Shields were worn on the left shoulder, and were long enough to cover the soldier's knees. As the hoplite soldiers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, the shields overlapped each other, forming a wall of shields and protecting each other.
