Government and Social Structure Flashcards
What were Spartiates?
The upper-class citizens of Sparta.
What were the two ‘royal’ families of Sparta?
The Agiads and Eurypontids.
Who were the two ‘royal’ families supposedly descended from?
Heracles, so also distant relations of Zeus.
What status did the two kings have, compared to each other?
They were constitutionally equal.
What happened to the kings when there was a war in Sparta?
One king would be chosen by the Spartiates to lead the Spartan, while the other would remain at home to govern. (This encouraged the kings to be good leaders, as they wanted to be voted as the one to fight).
Who was on the Gerousia?
The 2 kings plus 28 Spartiates aged 60 or over.
What were the duties of the two kings?
Leading the army in battle- chief commander.
Leading religious ceremonies as priests (because descendants of Zeus).
Limited judicial powers.
Responsible for adoption sorting of children.
Marriage of orphaned heiresses.
Control of public highways.
What were the kings’/ their family’s privileges?
Their sons didn’t have to go through agoge like every other spartiate- home tutored instead.
Perceived as an honour for the King’s son to be in your syssition- they ate first.
10 days of mourning decreed when they died.
How were the kings kept in check by the ephors?
Took complaints about kings and could depose them, one at a time.
2 ephors accompanied king into battle.
How were the kings kept in check by the Ephors? (7)
Took complaints about kings and could depose them, one at a time (Demaratus).
2 ephors accompanied king into battle.
Ephors just generally supervised the kings and made sure they ruled properly
Presided over Ecclesia- gave people a say in what went on
Judged some law cases
Declared war on helots each year
Met with metics and foreign ambassadors.
Chose the paidonomos for agoge and ran education system
What did the Spartans fear?!
CORRUPTION!!! (though not death, and they did not want to look like cowards either)
What were the duties of the two kings? (6)
Leading the army in battle- chief commander.
Leading religious ceremonies as priests (because descendants of Zeus).
Limited judicial powers.
Responsible for adoption sorting of children.
Marriage of orphaned heiresses.
Control of public highways.
What were the kings’/ their family’s privileges? (3)
Their sons didn’t have to go through agoge like every other spartiate- home tutored instead.
Perceived as an honour for the King’s son to be in your syssition- they ate first.
10 days of mourning decreed when they died.
How were the kings kept in check by the Ephors? (2)
Took complaints about kings and could depose them, one at a time (Demaratus).
2 ephors accompanied king into battle.
Who were the ecclesia, and what did they do?
Male Spartiates aged 30+. Voted at monthly assemblies on topics put forward to them by the Gerousia (though could be vetoed). Could also complain to ephors about kings and get them deposed, one at a time. (aka apella)
