Social Structure

Question 1

Who was at the top of the social structure?

Answer 1

Spartiates.

Question 2

What did the Spartiates do?

Answer 2

The ones who went to battle and defended their city. They also had to produce Spartiate children who could become great warriors one day.

Question 3

How could you become a Spartiate?

Answer 3

You had to be elected into a syssition.

Question 4

What was the chief contribution to the Spartan society by the Perioeci?

Answer 4

Their chief contribution to Spartan society was economic.

Question 5

Who were the Perioeci?

Answer 5

They were traders and craftsmen of materials such as clothing, shoes, furniture, storage pots, metalwork, while communities living near the coast engaged in fishing and shipbuilding.

Question 6

What else were Perioeci also expected to do?

Answer 6

Expected to serve as soldiers alongside Spartiates during war times.

Question 7

What was the political status of Perioeci?

Answer 7

Self-governing communities, where they had local citizenship. However, they were allowed no role or say in Spartan government.

Question 8

How much the Helots outnumber the Spartiates by?

Answer 8

At least 10:1.

Question 9

What was the main role of Helots?

Answer 9

To work on the Spartan farms, while helot women did the domestic work required in a household - a good nurse for babies.

Question 10

What did helots have to supply their master with?

Answer 10

A fixed amount of produce annually.

Question 11

What were helots allowed to do with surplus produce?

Answer 11

Keep it or make a profit from it.

Question 12

When were helots to act as servants?

Answer 12

In times of war.

Question 13

What was it legal to do to a helot?

Answer 13

Kill a helot at any time.

Question 14

How were helots humiliated?

Answer 14

Being forced to sing ridiculous songs, to dress up in animal skins, and to receive public beatings.

Question 15

Who were the helots the target of?

Answer 15

The brutal Krypteia.

Question 16

What was the political status of the helots?

Answer 16

State-owned slaves who had no political rights.

Question 17

What was Eunomia?

Answer 17

Referred to a well-organised political system, with citizens obeying its law.

Question 18

Describe how the perioeci and the helots came into being?

Answer 18

• Over time, the Spartans took control of Laconia and Messenia.
• They made the other Dorian inhabitants into Perioeci and allowed them to govern themselves to a degree but expected them to make goods for them and do any trading that was needed.
• The Spartans captured the Achaean Greeks and enslaved them making them work on the farms to produce food for them and do domestic chores.

Question 19

What were the Spartiates expected to do for Sparta?

Answer 19

• Survive the agoge.
• Train for the army.
• Fight for Sparta.
• Stand firm and win or die.
• Be Sparta’s wall of defence.
• Produce healthy children.
• Take part in assemblies.
• Control helots.

Question 20

Explain why the Perioeci were less valued than the Spartiates although they contributed to the smooth running of Spartan society?

Answer 20

• Spartans thought the things the Perioeci did were beneath them because they though being a soldier was the best thing.
• Only pure Spartans could be in the Spartan army.
• Had been conquered by Spartans so were less valued.
• The perioeci produced all the practical items the Spartans needed since the Spartans were professional soldiers.
• Perioeci carried out trading which was considered below the Spartans.
• Perioeci lived in villages around Sparta which acted as a buffer to prevent helots from escaping so were not involved in the Spartan way of life.