Ancient Sparta. History and customs

Ancient Sparta was the main economic and military rival of Athens. The city-state and its surrounding territory were located on the Peloponnese peninsula, southwest of Athens. Administratively, Sparta (also called Lacedaemon) was the capital of the province of Laconia.

The adjective "Spartan" in the modern world came from energetic warriors with an iron heart and steel endurance. The inhabitants of Sparta were famous not for arts, science or architecture, but for brave warriors, for whom the concept of honor, courage and strength were put above all else. Athens of that time, with its beautiful statues and temples, was a stronghold of poetry, philosophy and politics, which dominated the intellectual life of Greece. However, such superiority was bound to end someday.

Raising children in Sparta

One of the principles that guided the inhabitants of Sparta was that the life of every person, from the moment of birth until death, belongs entirely to the state. The elders of the city were empowered to decide the fate of newborns - healthy and strong children were left in the city, and weak or sick children were thrown into the nearest abyss. So the Spartans tried to secure physical superiority over their enemies. Children who have passed the "natural selection" were brought up in conditions of severe discipline. At the age of 7, the boys were taken away from their parents and brought up separately, in small groups. The strongest and most courageous young men eventually became captains. The boys slept in the common rooms on hard and uncomfortable reed beds. Young Spartans ate simple food - a soup of pig blood, meat and vinegar, lentils and other coarse food.

One day, a wealthy guest who came to Sparta from Sybaris decided to taste the “black stew”, after which he said that now he understands why Spartan warriors lose their lives so easily. Often the boys were left hungry for several days, thereby inciting petty theft in the market. This was not done with the intent to make the young man a skilled thief, but only to develop ingenuity and dexterity - if he was caught stealing, he was severely punished. There are legends about a young Spartan who stole a young fox from the market, and when it was time for dinner, he hid it under his clothes. So that the boy would not be convicted of theft, he endured the pain from the fact that the fox gnawed his stomach, and died without issuing a single sound. Over time, the discipline only became tougher. All adult males between the ages of 20 and 60 were required to serve in the Spartan army. They were allowed to marry, but even after that, the Spartans continued to spend the night in barracks and eat in common canteens. Warriors were not allowed to own any property, especially gold and silver. Their money looked like iron bars of various sizes. Restraint extended not only to life, food and clothing, but also to the speech of the Spartans. In conversation, they were very laconic, limiting themselves to extremely concise and specific answers. This manner of communication in ancient Greece was called "conciseness" on behalf of the area in which Sparta was located.

Life of the Spartans

In general, as in any other culture, issues of life and nutrition shed light on interesting little things in people's lives. The Spartans, unlike the inhabitants of other Greek cities, did not attach much importance to food. In their opinion, food should not serve to satisfy, but only to saturate the warrior before the battle. The Spartans dined at a common table, while the products for lunch were handed over in the same amount - this was how the equality of all citizens was maintained. Neighbors on the table vigilantly watched each other, and if someone did not like the food, he was ridiculed and compared with the spoiled inhabitants of Athens. But when the time came for the battle, the Spartans changed dramatically: they put on the best outfits, and marched towards death with songs and music. From birth, they were taught to perceive each day as their last, not to be afraid and not to retreat. Death in battle was desirable and equated to the ideal end of a real man's life. There were 3 classes of inhabitants in Laconia. The first, most revered, were inhabitants of Sparta who had military training and participated in the political life of the city. Second class - perieki, or residents of surrounding small towns and villages. They were free, although they did not have any political rights. Engaged in trade and handicrafts, the perieks were a kind of "service personnel" for the Spartan army. lower class - helots, were serfs, and did not differ much from slaves. Due to the fact that their marriages were not controlled by the state, the helots were the most numerous category of inhabitants, and were kept from rebellion only thanks to the iron grip of their masters.

Political life of Sparta

One of the features of Sparta was that two kings were at the head of the state at the same time. They ruled jointly, serving as high priests and military leaders. Each of the kings controlled the activities of the other, which ensured the openness and fairness of the decisions of the authorities. The kings were subject to a "cabinet of ministers", consisting of five ethers or observers, who exercised general guardianship over laws and customs. The legislative branch consisted of a council of elders headed by two kings. The Council elected the most respected people of Sparta who have overcome the 60-year age barrier. Army of Sparta, despite the relatively modest number, was well trained and disciplined. Each warrior was filled with the determination to win or die - to return with a loss was unacceptable, and was an indelible shame for life. Wives and mothers, sending their husbands and sons to war, solemnly handed them a shield with the words: "Come back with a shield or on it." Over time, the militant Spartans captured most of the Peloponnese, significantly expanding the boundaries of possessions. A clash with Athens was inevitable. The rivalry came to a head during the Peloponnesian War, and led to the fall of Athens. But the tyranny of the Spartans caused the hatred of the inhabitants and mass uprisings, which led to the gradual liberalization of power. The number of specially trained warriors decreased, which allowed the inhabitants of Thebes, after about 30 years of Spartan oppression, to overthrow the power of the invaders.

History of Sparta interesting not only from the point of view of military achievements, but also the factors of the political and life structure. Courage, selflessness and the desire for victory of the Spartan warriors - these are the qualities thanks to which it was possible not only to restrain the constant attacks of enemies, but also to expand the boundaries of influence. The warriors of this small state easily defeated armies of many thousands and were a clear threat to the enemies. Sparta and its inhabitants, brought up on the principles of restraint and the rule of force, were the opposite of the educated and pampered by the rich life of Athens, which in the end led to a clash of these two civilizations.

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Oracles in Ancient Greece

SPARTA, the main city of the Laconia region (southeastern part of the Peloponnese), the most Doric of all the states of Ancient Greece. Ancient Sparta was located on the western bank of the Eurotas River and extended north from the modern city of Sparta. Laconia is the abbreviated name of the area, which was fully called Lacedaemon, therefore the inhabitants of this area were often called "Lacedaemonians", which is almost equivalent to the words "Spartan" or "Spartiate".

Sparta, whose name may mean "scattered" (other interpretations are offered), consisted of manors and estates scattered over the area, the center of which was a low hill, which later became the acropolis. Initially, the city did not have walls and remained true to this principle until the 2nd century BC. BC. During the excavations of the British School of Athens (carried out in 1906-1910 and 1924-1929), the remains of several buildings were discovered, including the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, the temple of Athena Mednodomnaya and the theater. The theater was built of white marble and, according to Pausanias, who described the buildings of Sparta c. 160 AD, was a “landmark”, but this stone building dates back to the era of Roman rule. From the low acropolis, a magnificent view of the Evrota Valley and the majestic Mount Taygetus, rising steeply to a height of 2406 m and forming the western border of Sparta, opened.

Many historians believe that Sparta arose relatively late, after the “Dorian invasion”, which supposedly occurred between 1150 and 1100 BC. Initially, the invaders settled in or near the cities they conquered, and often destroyed, but a century later they created their own "capital" near the river Evrota. Since Sparta had not yet emerged in the period to which most historians attribute the Trojan War (c. 1200 BC), the myth of the abduction of Helen, the wife of the Spartan king Menelaus, by Paris, was probably attributed to Sparta. In neighboring Therapnae, where there was a large city of the Mycenaean era, there was a sanctuary of Menelaion, and the cult of Menelaus and Helen went up to the classical period.

Population growth and the associated economic and social problems inspired the Spartans to expand outwardly. Excluding the one founded in Italy in the 8th century. BC. the colony of Tarentum Sparta expanded only at the expense of Greece proper. During the 1st and 2nd Messenian Wars (between 725 and 600 BC), Messenia was conquered to the west of Sparta, and the Messenians were turned into helots, i.e. state slaves. Evidence of Spartan activity is the legend of how the inhabitants of Elis, with the support of Sparta, managed to wrest control of the Olympic Games from their rivals, the inhabitants of Pisa. The first recorded victory of the Spartans in Olympia is the victory of Akanthos in running at the 15th Olympiad (720 BC). For more than a century, Spartan athletes have dominated the Olympic Games, achieving 46 victories out of 81 recorded in the annals.

Having won another part of the territory from Argos and Arcadia, Sparta moved from a policy of conquest to building up its power through the conclusion of agreements with various states. As the head of the Peloponnesian Union (began to emerge c. 550 BC, took shape c. 510–500 BC), Sparta actually dominated the entire Peloponnese, with the exception of Argos and Achaia on the northern coast, and .e. became the most powerful military power in Greece. Thus, a force was created that became a counterweight to the impending invasion of the Persians, the combined efforts of the Peloponnesian League and Athens with their allies led to a decisive victory over the Persians at Salamis and Plataea in 480 and 479 BC.

The conflict between the two greatest states of Greece, Doric Sparta and Ionian Athens, land and sea power, was inevitable, and in 431 BC. The Peloponnesian War broke out. Ultimately, in 404 BC. Sparta prevailed, and the Athenian power perished. Dissatisfaction with Spartan dominance in Greece led to a new war. The Thebans and their allies, led by Epaminondas, inflicted a heavy defeat on the Spartans at Leuctra (371 BC) and at Mantinea (362 BC), after which, if we forget about short bursts of activity and random periods of takeoff, Sparta became lose its former power.

Under the tyrant Nabid c. 200 BC or soon after Sparta was surrounded by a wall, at the same time a stone theater appeared. During the period of Roman rule, which began in 146 BC, Sparta turned into a large and prosperous provincial city, defensive and other structures were erected here. Sparta flourished until 350 AD. In 396 the city was destroyed by Alaric.

Of particular importance in world history is the influence exerted on later state systems by the political and social structure of Sparta. At the head of the Spartan state were two kings, one from the Agids clan, the other from the Eurypontides clan, which was probably originally associated with the union of the two tribes. The two kings held meetings together with the gerousia, i.e. Council of Elders, to which 28 people over 60 were elected for life. All Spartans who had reached the age of 30 and had enough funds to perform what was considered necessary for a citizen (in particular, contribute their share to participate in joint meals, fiditiya) participated in the national assembly (apella). Later, the institution of ephors arose, five officials who were elected by the assembly, one from each region of Sparta. The five ephors acquired power that surpassed that of the kings (perhaps after the exercise of this office by Chilo c. 555 BC). To prevent uprisings of the helots who had a numerical superiority and to maintain the combat readiness of their own citizens, secret sorties (they were called cryptia) were constantly arranged to kill the helots.

Surprisingly, the type of civilization that is now called Spartan is not typical of early Sparta. The excavations carried out by the British confirmed the theory put forward by historians on the basis of written monuments that before 600 BC. Spartan culture generally coincided with the way of life of the then Athens and other Greek states. Sculpture fragments, fine ceramics, ivory, bronze, lead and terracotta figurines found in this area testify to the high level of Spartan culture, just like the poetry of Tyrtaeus and Alcman (7th century BC). However, shortly after 600 BC. there was a sudden change. Art and poetry disappear, the names of Spartan athletes no longer appear on the lists of Olympic winners. Before these changes made themselves felt, the Spartan Gitiades built the "copper house of Athena" (the temple of Athena Poliuhos); 50 years later, on the contrary, foreign craftsmen Theodore of Samos and Batikl from Magnesia had to be invited to build, respectively, the Skiada (probably a meeting room) in Sparta and the temple of Apollo Hyacinthius in Amikla. Sparta suddenly became a military camp, and from then on, the militarized state produced only soldiers. The introduction of this way of life is usually attributed to Lycurgus, although it is not clear whether Lycurgus was a god, a mythical hero, or a historical figure.

The Spartan state consisted of three classes: the Spartans, or Spartans; perieki (lit. "living nearby"), the inhabitants of the allied cities that surrounded Lacedaemon; helots. Only Spartans could vote and enter the governing bodies. They were forbidden to engage in trade and, in order to discourage them from making a profit, use gold and silver coins. The land plots of the Spartans, cultivated by the helots, were supposed to give their owners sufficient income to purchase military equipment and meet daily needs. Trade and production were carried out by the perieks. They did not participate in the political life of Sparta, but they had certain rights, as well as the privilege of serving in the army. Thanks to the labor of numerous helots, the Spartans could devote all their time to physical exercises and military affairs.

It is estimated that by 600 BC. there were approx. 25 thousand citizens, 100 thousand perieks and 250 thousand helots. Later, the number of helots exceeded the number of citizens by 15 times. Wars and economic hardships reduced the number of Spartans. During the Greco-Persian Wars (480 BC), Sparta fielded ca. 5000 Spartans, but a century later at the Battle of Leuctra (371 BC) only 2000 fought. It is mentioned that in the 3rd century. Sparta had only 700 citizens.

To maintain their position in the state, the Spartans felt the need for a large regular army. The state controlled the life of citizens from birth to death. At the birth of a child, the state determined whether a healthy citizen would grow out of him or whether he should be taken to Mount Taygetos. The boy spent the first years of his life at home. From the age of 7, education was taken over by the state, and almost all the time the children devoted to physical exercises and military drill. At the age of 20, a young Spartiate joined phiditia, i.e. company of companions of fifteen people, continuing his military training with them. He had the right to marry, but he could only visit his wife in secret. At the age of 30, a Spartiate became a full citizen and could participate in the people's assembly, but he spent the lion's share of his time in the gymnasium, forestry (something like a club) and fidity. On the gravestone of a Spartan, only his name was carved; if he died in battle, the words "in war" were added.

Spartan girls also received athletic training that included running, jumping, wrestling, discus and javelin throwing. It is reported that Lycurgus allegedly introduced such training for girls so that they would grow up strong and courageous, capable of producing strong and healthy children.

The Spartans deliberately introduced a despotism that deprived the individual of freedom and initiative and destroyed the influence of the family. However, the Spartan way of life was very appealing to Plato, who included in his ideal state many of its militaristic, totalitarian and communist features.

In the southeast of the largest Greek peninsula - the Peloponnese - the powerful Sparta was once located. This state was located in the region of Laconia, in the picturesque valley of the Evros River. Its official name, which was most often mentioned in international treaties, is Lacedaemon. It was from this state that such concepts as "Spartan" and "Spartan" came. Everyone has also heard about the cruel custom that has developed in this ancient policy: to kill weak newborns in order to maintain the gene pool of their nation.

History of occurrence

Officially, Sparta, which was called Lacedaemon (the name of the nome, Laconia, also came from this word), arose in the eleventh century BC. After some time, the entire area on which this city-state was located was captured by the Dorian tribes. Those, having assimilated with the local Achaeans, became Spartakiates in the sense known today, and the former inhabitants were turned into slaves, called helots.

The most Doric of all the states that Ancient Greece once knew, Sparta, was located on the western bank of the Eurotas, on the site of the modern city of the same name. Its name can be translated as "scattered". It consisted of estates and estates that were scattered across Laconia. And the center was a low hill, which later became known as the acropolis. Initially, Sparta had no walls and remained true to this principle until the second century BC.

Government of Sparta

It was based on the principle of unity of all full-fledged citizens of the policy. For this, the state and law of Sparta strictly regulated the life and life of its subjects, restraining their property stratification. The foundations of such a social system were laid by the agreement of the legendary Lycurgus. According to him, the duties of the Spartans were only sports or military art, and crafts, agriculture and trade were the work of helots and perieks.

As a result, the system established by Lycurgus transformed the Spartan military democracy into an oligarchic-slave-owning republic, which at the same time still retained some signs of a tribal system. Here it was not allowed to land, which was divided into equal plots, considered the property of the community and not subject to sale. Helot slaves also, as historians suggest, belonged to the state, and not to wealthy citizens.

Sparta is one of the few states headed by two kings at the same time, who were called archagetes. Their power was hereditary. The powers that each king of Sparta possessed were limited not only to military power, but also to the organization of sacrifices, as well as participation in the council of elders.

The latter was called gerousia and consisted of two archagetes and twenty-eight gerontes. The elders were elected by the people's assembly for life only from the Spartan nobility who had reached sixty years of age. Gerusia in Sparta performed the functions of a certain government body. She prepared issues that needed to be discussed at public meetings, and also led foreign policy. In addition, the council of elders considered criminal cases, as well as state crimes directed, among other things, against the archagets.

Court

Judicial proceedings and the law of ancient Sparta were regulated by the board of ephors. This organ first appeared in the eighth century BC. It consisted of the five most worthy citizens of the state, who were elected by the people's assembly for only one year. At first, the powers of the ephors were limited only to litigation of property disputes. But already in the sixth century BC, their power and authority are growing. Gradually, they begin to displace gerusia. The ephors were given the right to convene a national assembly and gerousia, regulate foreign policy, and exercise internal control of Sparta and its legal proceedings. This body was so important in the social structure of the state that its powers included the control of officials, including the archaget.

People's Assembly

Sparta is an example of an aristocratic state. In order to suppress the forced population, whose representatives were called helots, the development of private property was artificially restrained in order to maintain equality among the Spartans themselves.

Apella, or popular assembly, in Sparta was distinguished by passivity. Only full-fledged male citizens who had reached the age of thirty had the right to participate in this body. At first, the people's assembly was convened by the archaget, but later its leadership also passed to the college of ephors. Apella could not discuss the issues put forward, she only rejected or accepted the decision she proposed. Members of the people's assembly voted in a very primitive way: by shouting or dividing the participants on different sides, after which the majority was determined by eye.

Population

The inhabitants of the Lacedaemonian state have always been class unequal. This situation was created by the social system of Sparta, which provided for three estates: the elite, perieks - free residents from nearby cities who did not have the right to vote, as well as state slaves - helots.

The Spartans, who were in privileged conditions, were engaged exclusively in war. They were far from trade, crafts and agriculture, all this was given as a right to be farmed out to the perieks. At the same time, the estates of the elite Spartans were processed by the helots, whom the latter rented from the state. During the heyday of the state, the nobility was five times less than the perieks, and ten times less than the helots.

All periods of existence of this one of the most ancient states can be divided into prehistoric, ancient, classical, Roman, and each of them left its mark not only in the formation of the ancient state of Sparta. Greece borrowed a lot from this history in the process of its formation.

prehistoric era

Lelegs originally lived on the Laconian lands, but after the capture of the Peloponnese by the Dorians, this area, which has always been considered the most infertile and generally insignificant, as a result of deceit went to the two minor sons of the legendary king Aristodem - Eurysthenes and Proclus.

Soon Sparta became the main city of Lacedaemon, the system of which for a long time did not stand out among the rest of the Doric states. She waged constant external wars with neighboring Argive or Arcadian cities. The most significant rise occurred during the reign of Lycurgus, the ancient Spartan legislator, to whom ancient historians unanimously attribute the political structure that subsequently dominated Sparta for several centuries.

ancient era

After winning the wars lasting from 743 to 723 and from 685 to 668. BC, Sparta was able to finally defeat and capture Messenia. As a result, its ancient inhabitants were deprived of their lands and turned into helots. Six years later, Sparta, at the cost of incredible efforts, defeated the Arcadians, and in 660 BC. e. forced Tegea to recognize her hegemony. According to the contract, stored on a column placed near Alfea, she forced her to conclude a military alliance. It was from this time that Sparta in the eyes of the peoples began to be considered the first state of Greece.

The history of Sparta at this stage boils down to the fact that its inhabitants began to make attempts to overthrow the tyrants that appeared from the seventh millennium BC. e. in almost all Greek states. It was the Spartans who helped drive the Kypselids from Corinth, the Peisistrati from Athens, they contributed to the liberation of Sicyon and Phokis, as well as several islands in the Aegean Sea, thereby gaining grateful supporters in different states.

History of Sparta in the classical era

Having entered into an alliance with Tegea and Elis, the Spartans began to attract the rest of the cities of Laconia and neighboring regions to their side. As a result, the Peloponnesian Union was formed, in which Sparta assumed hegemony. These were wonderful times for her: she led the wars, was the center of meetings and all meetings of the Union, without encroaching on the independence of individual states that retained autonomy.

Sparta never tried to extend its own power to the Peloponnese, but the threat of danger prompted all other states, with the exception of Argos, during the Greco-Persian wars to come under its protection. Having eliminated the danger directly, the Spartans, realizing that they were unable to wage war with the Persians far from their own borders, did not object when Athens assumed further leadership in the war, limiting itself only to the peninsula.

Since that time, signs of rivalry between these two states began to appear, which subsequently resulted in the First, ending with the Thirty Years' Peace. The fighting not only broke the power of Athens and established the hegemony of Sparta, but also led to a gradual violation of its foundations - the legislation of Lycurgus.

As a result, in 397 BC, there was an uprising of Cinadon, which, however, was not crowned with success. However, after certain setbacks, especially the defeat at the battle of Knidos in 394 BC. e, Sparta ceded Asia Minor, but became a judge and mediator in Greek affairs, thus motivating its policy with the freedom of all states, and was able to secure primacy in alliance with Persia. And only Thebes did not obey the conditions set, thereby depriving Sparta of the advantages of such a shameful world for her.

Hellenistic and Roman era

Starting from these years, the state began to decline rather quickly. Impoverished and burdened with the debts of its citizens, Sparta, whose system was based on the legislation of Lycurgus, turned into an empty form of government. An alliance was made with the Phocians. And although the Spartans sent them help, they did not provide real support. In the absence of King Agis, with the help of money received from Darius, an attempt was made to get rid of the Macedonian yoke. But he, having failed in the battles of Megapolis, was killed. Gradually began to disappear and became a household spirit, which was so famous for Sparta.

Rise of an empire

Sparta is a state that for three centuries was the envy of all Ancient Greece. Between the eighth and fifth centuries BC, it was a collection of hundreds of cities, often at war with each other. One of the key figures for the formation of Sparta as a powerful and strong state was Lycurgus. Before its appearance, it was not much different from the rest of the ancient Greek policies-states. But with the advent of Lycurgus, the situation changed, and priorities in development were given to the art of war. From that moment on, Lacedaemon began to transform. And it was during this period that he flourished.

From the eighth century B.C. e. Sparta began to wage aggressive wars, conquering one by one its neighbors in the Peloponnese. After a series of successful military operations, Sparta moved on to establishing diplomatic ties with its most powerful opponents. Having concluded several treaties, Lacedaemon stood at the head of the union of the Peloponnesian states, which was considered one of the most powerful formations of Ancient Greece. The creation of this alliance by Sparta was to serve to repel the Persian invasion.

The state of Sparta has been a mystery to historians. The Greeks not only admired its citizens, but feared them. One type of bronze shields and scarlet cloaks worn by the warriors of Sparta put opponents to flight, forcing them to capitulate.

Not only the enemies, but the Greeks themselves did not really like it when an army, even a small one, was located next to them. Everything was explained very simply: the warriors of Sparta had a reputation for being invincible. The sight of their phalanxes caused even the worldly-wise to panic. And although only a small number of fighters participated in the battles in those days, nevertheless, they never lasted long.

The beginning of the decline of the empire

But at the beginning of the fifth century BC. e. a massive invasion, undertaken from the East, was the beginning of the decline of the power of Sparta. The huge Persian empire, always dreaming of expanding its territories, sent a large army to Greece. Two hundred thousand people stood at the borders of Hellas. But the Greeks, led by the Spartans, accepted the challenge.

King Leonidas

Being the son of Anaxandrides, this king belonged to the Agiad dynasty. After the death of his older brothers, Dorieus and Klemen the First, it was Leonidas who took over the reign. Sparta in 480 years before our era was at war with Persia. And the name of Leonid is associated with the immortal feat of the Spartans, when a battle took place in the Thermopylae Gorge, which has remained in history for centuries.

It happened in 480 BC. e., when the hordes of the Persian king Xerxes tried to capture the narrow passage connecting Central Greece with Thessaly. At the head of the troops, including the allied ones, was Tsar Leonid. Sparta at that time occupied a leading position among friendly states. But Xerxes, taking advantage of the betrayal of the dissatisfied, bypassed the Thermopylae Gorge and went into the rear of the Greeks.

Upon learning of this, Leonid, who fought on a par with his soldiers, disbanded the allied detachments, sending them home. And he himself, with a handful of warriors, whose number was only three hundred people, stood in the way of the twenty thousandth Persian army. The Thermopylae Gorge was strategic for the Greeks. In the event of a defeat, they would be cut off from Central Greece, and their fate would be sealed.

For four days, the Persians were unable to break the incomparably smaller enemy forces. The heroes of Sparta fought like lions. But the forces were unequal.

The fearless warriors of Sparta died one and all. Together with them, their king Leonid fought to the end, who did not want to abandon his comrades.

The name of Leonid has gone down in history forever. Chroniclers, including Herodotus, wrote: “Many kings have died and have long been forgotten. But Leonid is known and honored by everyone. His name will always be remembered by Sparta, Greece. And not because he was a king, but because he fulfilled his duty to his homeland to the end and died like a hero. Films have been made and books written about this episode in the life of the heroic Hellenes.

The feat of the Spartans

The Persian king Xerxes, who did not leave the dream of capturing Hellas, invaded Greece in 480 BC. At this time, the Hellenes held the Olympic Games. The Spartans were preparing to celebrate Carnei.

Both of these holidays obligated the Greeks to observe a sacred truce. This was one of the main reasons why only a small detachment opposed the Persians in the Thermopylae Gorge.

A detachment of three hundred Spartans, led by King Leonidas, headed towards the army of Xerxes with thousands of men. Warriors were selected on the basis of having children. On the way, a thousand Tegeans, Arcadians and Mantineans, as well as one hundred and twenty from Orchomenus, joined the militias of Leonidas. Four hundred soldiers were sent from Corinth, three hundred from Phlius and Mycenae.

When this small army approached the Thermopylae Pass and saw the number of Persians, many soldiers became frightened and began to talk about retreat. Part of the allies proposed to withdraw to the peninsula in order to guard Isthm. Others, however, were outraged by the decision. Leonid, ordered the army to remain in place, sent messengers to all the cities asking for help, since they had too few soldiers to successfully repel the attack of the Persians.

For four whole days, King Xerxes, hoping that the Greeks would take flight, did not start hostilities. But seeing that this was not happening, he sent the Cassians and Medes against them with orders to take Leonidas alive and bring him to him. They quickly attacked the Hellenes. Each attack of the Medes ended in huge losses, but others came to replace the fallen. It was then that it became clear to both the Spartans and the Persians that Xerxes had many people, but there were few warriors among them. The fight lasted all day.

Having received a decisive rebuff, the Medes were forced to retreat. But they were replaced by the Persians, led by Gidarn. Xerxes called them the "immortal" detachment and hoped that they would easily finish off the Spartans. But in hand-to-hand combat, they did not succeed, just like the Medes, to achieve great success.

The Persians had to fight in tight quarters, and with shorter spears, while the Hellenes had longer ones, which in this fight gave a certain advantage.

At night, the Spartans again attacked the Persian camp. They managed to kill many enemies, but their main goal was to defeat Xerxes himself in the general turmoil. And only when dawn broke, the Persians saw the small number of the detachment of King Leonidas. They threw spears at the Spartans and finished off with arrows.

The road to Central Greece was open to the Persians. Xerxes personally inspected the battlefield. Finding the deceased Spartan king, he ordered him to cut off his head and put it on a stake.

There is a legend that King Leonidas, going to Thermopylae, clearly understood that he would die, therefore, when his wife asked him what the orders would be, he ordered him to find a good husband and give birth to sons. This was the life position of the Spartans, who were ready to die for their Motherland on the battlefield in order to receive a crown of glory.

Beginning of the Peloponnesian War

After some time, the Greek policies that were at war with each other united and were able to repulse Xerxes. But, despite the joint victory over the Persians, the alliance between Sparta and Athens did not last long. In 431 BC. e. The Peloponnesian War broke out. And only a few decades later, the Spartan state was able to win.

But not everyone in ancient Greece liked the supremacy of Lacedaemon. Therefore, half a century later, new hostilities broke out. This time, Thebes became his rivals, who, together with their allies, managed to inflict a serious defeat on Sparta. As a result, the power of the state was lost.

Conclusion

This is what ancient Sparta was like. She was one of the main contenders for primacy and supremacy in the ancient Greek picture of the world. Some milestones in Spartan history are sung in the works of the great Homer. A special place among them is occupied by the outstanding Iliad.

And now from this glorious policy now there are only the ruins of some of its buildings and unfading glory. Legends about the heroism of its warriors, as well as a small town of the same name in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula, have reached contemporaries.

Ancient Sparta is an ancient state, a city-polis located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, in the Peloponnese.

The name of the province of Laconica gave the second name to the Spartan state in the ancient period of history - Lacedaemon.

History of occurrence

In world history, Sparta is known as an example of a militarized state in which the activities of each member of society are subordinated to a single goal - to grow a strong and healthy warrior.

In the ancient period of history in the south of the Peloponnese there were two fertile valleys - Messenia and Laconia. They were separated from each other by a rugged mountain range.

Initially, the state-city of Sparta arose in the Lakonika valley and represented a very small territory - 30 X 10 km. The swampy terrain prevented access to the sea and nothing promised this tiny state of world glory.

Everything changed after the violent conquest and annexation of the Messenian valley and during the reign of the ancient Greek philosopher and great reformer Lycurgus.

His reforms were aimed at the formation of a state with a certain doctrine - to create an ideal state and eradicate such instincts as greed, greed, the thirst for personal enrichment. He formulated the basic laws that concerned not only the administration of the state, but also strictly regulated the private life of each member of society.

Gradually, Sparta turns into a militarized state whose main goal was its own national security. The main task is to produce soldiers. After the conquest of Messenia, Sparta won back some lands from Argos and Arcadia, her neighbors in the northern part of the Peloponnese, and switched to a policy of diplomacy backed up by military superiority.

Such a strategy allowed Sparta to become the head of the Peloponnesian Union and play the most important political role among the Greek states.

Government of Sparta

The Spartan state consisted of three social classes - the Spartans or Spartans, the perieks inhabiting the conquered cities and the slaves of the Spartans, the helots. The complex, but logically coherent structure of the political administration of the Spartan state was a slave-owning system with remnants of tribal relations that have survived from primitive communal times.

At the head were two rulers - hereditary kings. Initially, they were completely independent and did not report to anyone else and did not report to anyone. Later, their role in government was limited to the council of elders - gerousia, which consisted of 28 elected members for life over 60 years old.

The ancient state of Sparta photo

Further - the national assembly, in which all the Spartans who have reached the age of 30 and have the means necessary for a citizen took part. A little later, another government body appeared - the ephorate. It consisted of five officials elected by the general assembly. Their powers were practically unlimited, although they did not have clearly defined boundaries. Even the ruling kings had to coordinate their actions with the ephors.

The structure of society

The ruling class in Ancient Sparta was the Spartans. Each had his own land allotment and a certain number of helot slaves. Using material goods, the Spartiate could not sell, donate or bequeath land or slaves. It was the property of the state. Only the Spartans could enter the governing bodies and vote.

The next social class is the perieki. These were the inhabitants of the occupied territories. They were allowed to trade, engage in crafts. They had the privilege of enlisting in the military. The lowest class of helots, who were in the position of slaves, were state property and came from the enslaved inhabitants of Messenia.

sparta warriors photo

The state provided helots for rent to the Spartans to cultivate their land plots. During the period of the highest prosperity of Ancient Sparta, the number of helots exceeded the ruling class by 15 times.

Spartan upbringing

The education of citizens was considered a state task in Sparta. From birth to 6 years, the child was in the family, and after that he was transferred to the care of the state. From 7 to 20 years old, young men underwent very serious physical training. Simplicity and moderation in an environment full of hardships from childhood accustomed a warrior to a strict and harsh life.

The 20-year-old boys who passed all the tests completed their training and became warriors. Upon reaching the age of 30, they became full members of society.

Economy

Sparta owned the two most fertile regions - Laconia and Messenia. Arable agriculture, olives, vineyards, and horticultural crops prevailed here. This was the advantage of Lacedaemonia over the Greek policies. The most basic food product, bread, was grown, not imported.

Among grain crops, barley prevailed, the processed product of which was used as the main one in the diet of the inhabitants of Sparta. Wealthy Lacedaemonians used wheat flour as a supplement to their main diet at public meals. Among the main population, wild wheat, spelt, was more common.

Warriors needed good nutrition, so cattle breeding was developed in Sparta at a high level. Goats and pigs were raised for food, and bulls, mules, and donkeys were used as draft animals. Horses were preferred for the formation of mounted military detachments.

Sparta is a warrior state. He needs, first of all, not decorations, but weapons. Luxurious excesses were replaced by practicality. For example, instead of painted, elegant ceramics, the main task of which is to delight, the craft of making vessels that can be used on long trips reaches perfection. Using the rich iron mines, the strongest "Laconian steel" was made in Sparta.

A copper shield was an obligatory element of the Spartan's military weapons. History knows many examples when politicking, power ambitions destroyed the most stable economy and destroyed statehood, despite all its military power. The ancient ancient state of Sparta is a clear example of this.

• In ancient Sparta, healthy and viable offspring were taken care of very cruelly. Newborn children were examined by the elders and the sick or weak were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetskaya rock. Healthy returned to the family.
• Girls in Sparta were involved in athletics on a par with boys. They also ran, jumped, threw the spear and discus to grow strong, hardy and produce healthy offspring. Regular exercise made Spartan girls very attractive. They stood out for their beauty and stateliness among the rest of the Hellenes.
• We owe the ancient Spartan upbringing to such a concept as “conciseness.” This expression is due to the fact that in Sparta young men were taught modest behavior, and their speech had to be short and strong, that is, “laconic”. This is what distinguished the inhabitants of Laconia among the inhabitants of Athens who love to orate.

Appendix 2

Option number 1.

Questions: 1. How was the younger generation brought up in Sparta?

2. What did you like and dislike about raising Spartans and why?

“The Ligurgus (Spartan legislator) did not allow the children of the Spartans to be brought up by bought or hired educators, and the father did not have the right to raise his son at his own discretion. He selected all the children who were 7 years old, united them into agels (detachments) and brought them up together, taught them to play and study together. At the head of the detachment, he put the one who was smarter and braver in fights. The children took his example in everything, carried out his orders, endured punishment, so that all training consisted in instilling obedience in children. The old men watched their games and, constantly introducing discord into their midst, caused fights; they carefully studied what inclinations of courage and bravery are contained in each, whether the boy is brave, whether he is stubborn in fights. They taught literacy only to the extent necessary. All the rest of the upbringing was to be able to obey unconditionally, patiently endure hardships and win battles.

Document #2.

Determine which of the following documents describes Sparta and which describes Athens.

A. This city, despite its dirty streets, would seem to us a beautiful city. The top of the acropolis and the city squares were decorated with temples and other buildings, there were many marble and bronze statues everywhere, on the slope of the acropolis in the open air there was a theater, which was crowded with the public on the days of performances. There are many artisans and merchants on the streets, sailors who have returned from a voyage, visitors from all Greek cities - states. A noisy crowd was moving in different directions, exchanging news, doing business.

B. Another city looked a lot like a military camp, it was a gloomy and unfriendly city to strangers. There was no noisy market, no craft workshops. One-story houses stretched along the streets, similar to each other. There was no theater here, there were almost no stone temples and statues. On the streets we could see detachments of people marching, hear the abrupt words of the command and the military choir song.

Annex 3

Conversation of the inhabitants of Sparta : “Megacle came to Strepsiades.

S. - Megacle, here is the processed skin of the animal that sewed sandals for me and my wife.

M. - Strepsiades, why are you so sad, what happened?

S. - You know that I, and all my fellow tribesmen, are Hellenes. But now I am a helot - a slave of Sparta. And the Spartans are to blame for this. They are also Hellenes, but they conquered our state and deprived us of our land. Now all the land belongs to Sparta and the Spartans. Each Spartiate receives the same allotment of land, and we are helots, we work on it and give half of the crop to the owners. But even this was not enough for the Spartans. Now they are conducting cryptia. Do you know what it is?

M. - I hear it for the first time.

S.- Cryptii is the killing of helots. The authorities allowed the Spartans to attack unarmed helots for no reason, beat us and even kill us. And they kill the youngest, strongest and strongest helots. Several of my neighbors were killed tonight. My family is in a panic, all the neighbors are terrified.

M. - Strange Spartans. They devoted their entire lives to military affairs. All of Sparta has been turned into a military camp. They are forbidden to engage in agriculture, crafts and trade, and they despise all manual labor. They are even forbidden to travel abroad. But why should they kill you, you feed them, what's the point?

S. - I don't know yet. You, perieks, are engaged in crafts and trade, you are free people, the Spartans do not treat you like that. What should we do, advise.

M.- You need to defend yourself. Unite all the helots and repulse the Spartans. But this is very risky.

S.- Thanks for the advice. By the time it's light, you need to go home. Farewell Megacle.

M. - Goodbye Strepsiades.

Appendix 4

Appendix 5

Test on the topic "Ancient Sparta".

1. Indicate the name of the region of Greece where Sparta arose.

A. Laconia.

B. Boeotia.

V. Attica.

2. Indicate what was the main occupation of the Spartans.

A. Trade.

B. Agriculture.

B. Military business.

3. State why the Athenians called the Spartans ignoramuses.

A. Because the Spartans were taught from childhood to farming

and cattle breeding.

B. Because the Spartans were taught from childhood to paint and

B. Because the Spartans from childhood were accustomed to military activities

4. Indicate who the Spartans called helots.

A. Inozemtsev.

B. The conquered population of Ancient Sparta.

V. Leaders.

5. Who were the helots in Sparta?

A. Free farmers.

B. Slaves.

B. Warriors.

6. Indicate the highest authority in Sparta

A. People's Assembly.

B. Areopagus.

C. Council of Elders.

7. What kind of speech is called concise?

A. The one spoken by a Laconian.