S.3: SPARTA: Political structure

Question 1

Political structure

Answer 1

Kings, Gerousia, Ephors, Assembly

Question 2

Kings

Answer 2

Two kings, Eurypontid and Agiad, held for life

Question 3

Ephor

Answer 3

5 (representative of each region) annually elected by assembly, all Spartiates over 30

Question 4

Gerousia

Answer 4

Council/senate, a group of 30 (28 elders 60+ and the 2 kings), serve for life

Question 5

Assembly/ekklesia

Answer 5

All spartiates (completed agoge and memeber of syssition) 30+, elected by ephors/gerousia

Question 6

Aristotle on government

Answer 6

Sparta is made up of oligarchy, monarchy and democracy

Question 7

Pausanias

Answer 7

Regent king 490/Commanded Plataea 479

Question 8

Hetomaridas

Answer 8

Gerousia, argued against war in 470

Question 9

Archidamus

Answer 9

King, 469-427, against Peloponnesian war 432, commanded first invasions of Attica

Question 10

Sthenalidas

Answer 10

Ephor, persuaded Sparta to go to war 432

Question 11

Brasidas

Answer 11

Ephor, general at Pylos 425 and Amphipolis 422

Question 12

Alcibiades

Answer 12

Athenian fled to Sparta acting as assistant general during Occupation of Decelea 413

Question 13

Agis II

Answer 13

King (son of Archidamus), Battle of Mantinea 418/Occupation of Decelea 413

Question 14

Lysander

Answer 14

Admiral, gained support from Persia

Question 15

Role of the kings

Answer 15

Command army (with 300 bodyguard), safekeeping of oracles, declared war, members of gerousia, present in adoption, supervised ephors - Herodotus

Question 16

Limitations of kings

Answer 16

Ephors make sure they uphold the law and accompany king on campaign to keep check, little judicial powers, could be put on trial/deposed

Question 17

Role of the ephors

Answer 17

Call meetings of gerousia and assembly, judge crime, control periokoi, accompany king to war

Question 18

Limitation of ephors

Answer 18

Hold office for one year only, can not repeat

Question 19

Ephors higher than kings?

Answer 19

Not mentioned in Lycurgus’ Rhetra, adopt some of king and gerousias roles in late 5th c., took over foreign policy, put forward motions to assembly/gerousia, exile a king, 5th c. could call war

Question 20

Role of gerousia

Answer 20

Court for capital offences and kings, remove citizenship/exile, prepared laws for debate, challenge legislation made by ekklesia

Question 21

Plutarch on gerousia

Answer 21

Control over death and loss of citizenship rights, and the most important matters
generally

Question 22

Criticisms of gerousia

Answer 22

Bribery and favouritism, old men may not be mentally fit (Aristotle), appointed for life

Question 23

Role of ekklesia/assembly

Answer 23

Vote for or against proposals of higher office (could not put forward their own), declare war, approve treaties, choose the head king in campaign

Question 24

Debate in 470s

Answer 24

Over Athenian sea power

Question 25

Debate in 432

Answer 25

Over war with Athens, Archidamus (king) and Sthenalidas (ephor), Sthenalidas victorious