Sparta: Social Structure Flashcards
Which class is at the top of Sparta’s social system?
The Spartitates were at the top of Sparta’s social system.
What’s Sparta’s social food chain?
Spartiates
Perioikoi (not citizens)
Inferiors, Mothakes, Tressentes, Neodamodels, Parthenai
Helots
What are the Tresentes?
The Tresentes were Spartan warriors who fled battles.
What were Mothakes?
Mothakes were companions who went through the Agoge but can’t become citizens.
Who were the Neodamodeis?
The Neodamodeis were the helots who were freed.
Who were the Parthenal?
The Parthenai were children of maidens, who’s father is helot and mother a Spartiate.
What kind of slaves was the Helots were?
The Helots were state owned slaves.
What was the reason for the Spartan military system?
Sparta need to keep its military system to keep helots in track and to pressure them from revolting.
What were Perioikoi expected to do?
Expected to fight
Could be put to death without trial
Supervised by Ephors
Craftsmen and Traders
What were the Perioikoi?
The Perioikoi was the remnant of the pre-Dorian population that wasn’t conquered by the Dorians long ago.
What was the Spartan kings’ religious roles?
Priests of Zeus Lacedaemonios and Zeus Uranios
Appointing two Pythici whose job was to consult the oracle at Delphi.
Maintaining the pleasure of the gods
Priests of the city but not the city’s only priests
Expected to sacrifice to the gods before a battle
Expected to sacrifice to the god Apollo each month
What was the Spartan kings’ military roles?
One of the Kings would go into battle. The other was expected to stay in Sparta.
The king has a personal bodyguard of 100 men.
The conduct of a military campaign.
The power to declare war until the reign of Cleomenes (520-490BC)
Unlimited power of life and death over his troops in the army.
Who accompanied the Spartan king on a military campaign?
Two Ephors would accompany him to keep an eye on his activities.
What is the Perioeci?
Craftsman, maritime workers of Sparta
What is a Sysstion?
A dining group of Spartan men who’ve grown up in the Agoge.
