Spartan Foreign Policy Flashcards
What were the two major domestic concerns for Sparta mid 5th cent? Reference?
Earthquake c.465 and (soon after) helot revolt
1.101
What were the three main effects of earthquake?
signif reduction in citizen, thus hoplite, numbers, and ruin of infrastructure, increased weakness in face of threat
How does Thuc refer to the Spartan attitude to helot threat of revolt generally? Reference?
‘spartan paranoia’ 4.80
Who were the helots under Spartan control and why were they important?
Peasant farmers who provided the hoplite population of Sparta with produce from the countryside controlled by the city
How did the helot revolt of 460s end?
Helots were expelled from Peloponnese by sparta
What happened when the helots took Ithome and overwhelmed Sparta? Reference?
Sparta went to their allies, incl Athens, for help
1.102
What do the sources suggest actually happened at Ithome?
helots took the hilltop city of Ithome and what followed was a c.four year siege that took much resources from the Spartans
What was a major source of contention for Ath and Sp during helot revolt? Why did this occur? What was the later negative impact on Sparta as a result ?
Dismissal of Athens from Ithome because Sparta was suspicious they would ally with the helots (1.102)
Athens settled the deposed helots following their defeat at Naupactus that became a base in pelo war (1.103)
What role had Sparta fostered for itself in Greek consciousness as a result of tyrant related actions in the 6th century?
Reference?
liberator
2.8
What is the problem with the idea of Spartans as liberators?
When they were removing tyrants in the 6th century, this appears to have been motivated by reactionary self-interest (case of Athens - Peisistratids did not like them) rather than ideological policy against tyranny
What was key weakness in Spartan appraoch to foreign affairs?
lack of naval power which had become increasingly important
Which Peloponnesian League member allied with Athens? When?
Argos, 462/1
Why was Agive alliance with Athens a great threat?
Brought Athenian threat much closer to home for Sparta
What does Cartledge understand the policy of little sparta to have been?
Sparta focussing on asserting and maintaining power over just the pelo states
What were the three influences over Spartan foreign outlook in pelo war?
helots, Peloponnesian league, and Athens (and its reputation compared to Ath)
How can the ‘first pelo war’ be deconstructed in terms of the indiv conflicts that occured?
Athens v Corinth and Sparta v Argos (as an ally to Ath)
What occurred in the second sacred war?
Reference?
Phocians took delphi from the locals which spurred Sparta to reinstate delphians into power then Athens reversed this
1.112
Who does the Delphi sanctuary side w in Pelo war? Why?
Sparta because Sp had supported the delphians in the sacred war.
Why did the Pelos eventually call for war? Reference?
It was believed Athens had broken the peace treaty agreed c446 at end of ‘first pelo war’
1.79
What is the attitude Sparta has in the decision of war?
rather laid back, its allies eg. Corinthians, are far more assertive as to its pursuit
What was the disadvantage the Pelos had and were v much aware of at the call of war? Reference?
lacking financial resources
Archidamus speech 1.83
What was a major failure in Sp foreign policy in P wars that demonstrates their self-interest or at least the perception that they were self-interested?
isthmus wall affair in which Spartans refused to help Athens in Boeotia because they were fortifying the Corinthian isthmus that led to the Peloponnese
Where was the area of land that Sparta had direct control over?
‘Laconia’ - the south east peloponese and periokoic settlements around the border of lac including in messenia
when was the Peloponnesian league likely started?
sixth century
What about Sparta’s position in Pelo league was weaker than Athens’ position in Delian League?
Sp depended on its allies wholly for financial and political backing for any major foreign decision
What policy was seen, pre-war, by the Pelo states to be what would weaken Athens the most to the point of surrender should they be able to do it? Reference?
Invading Attica.
8.28.3
When and Why (2) did the spartans found the city of Heraclea Trachinia in Attica?
426
Challenge Euboean naval dominance in the area, and create closer links with networks in the north.
What happened as a result of the Spartan founding of Heraclea Trachinia? Why was this the case?
Very little.
The locals were too opposed to the interference and the leadership by the Spartans there was not good enough.
