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Ancient History: Greece > Spartan Government In Practice > Flashcards

Spartan Government In Practice Flashcards

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1
Q

There are almost no examples of individual Gerousia members directing decisions within Sparta. Why?

A
  • The external nature of our sources
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2
Q

What single example do we have of Gerousia members directing decisions within Sparta?

A
  • Hetoemaridas
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3
Q

When did Hetoemaridas serve? What can this example be used to demonstrate?

A
  • In the period after the Persian Wars, when Sparta had lost control of the sea to Athens
  • Example can be used to demonstrate the importance of the Gerousia and Gerontes within the Spartan government
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4
Q

Give context for the Hetoemaridas example

A
  • A meeting of the Gerousia was held at which they discussed war with the Athenians over control of the sea
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5
Q

Was Diodorus contemporary?

A
  • No
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6
Q

What does Diodorus tell us about the position of the assembly in regard to going to war with Athens over control of the sea? What does Herodotus tell us? Does this conflict with Diodorus? What does this reveal about what Herodotus tells us of the power of the kings?

A
  • Most were keen to recover the hegemony, thinking that if they could do so they would benefit from great wealth
  • Herodotus tells us that the kings had the final say over war and that “no one” questions their decisions
    • Conflicts with what Diodorus says and reveals that it is possible that said power was taken from the kings in the 5th century due to corruption issues
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7
Q

Name four Spartan kings who were indicted on corruption charges

A
  • Cleomenes
  • Demaratus
  • Pleistoanax
  • Pausanias
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8
Q

What does Diodorus tell us of Hetoemaridas? Who was he? (Quote) How was he regarded? (Quote) What did he do? (Quote)

A
  • ” a descendant of Heracles”
  • “well thought of by his fellow citizens for his character”
  • “took it upon himself to suggest that they allow the Athenians to maintain the hegemony. He managed to make good points and unexpectedly won over the Gerousia and the people”
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9
Q

What does that which Diodorus tells us of Hetoemaridas convincing the Spartans to not to go to war with Athens demonstrate? Who else told us this?

A
  • Demonstrates that the Gerousia have incredible power over decision making. Their respect in Sparta gives them political clout and influence (he alone was able to convince the entire government against war)
  • Plutarch and Xenophon
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10
Q

When and why did Pausanias serve as regent in Sparta?

A
  • At the end of the Persian Wars since Leonidas’ son, Pleistarchus, was too young to rule
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11
Q

What was Pausanias’ position after winning a stunning victory at Plataea in 479 BC?

A
  • Directed the Greek forces in Asia Minor as supreme commander over the Hellenic League
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12
Q

What were the consequences of Pausanias’ heavy-handed approach? What two things does this example demonstrate?

A
  • Lost Sparta her command over the Greeks
  • The behaviour of Spartan leaders on campaign
  • The political interplay between the Ephors and the Royal family
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13
Q

According to Plutarch, what did the Spartans do after Pausanias was charged? Why?

A
  • They were so concerned with his behaviour that they stopped sending out other generals
  • They preferred to have citizens who were self controlled and had “traditional values” rather than wanting to “rule all of Greece”
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14
Q

What were Pausanias’ crimes according to Thucydides? Elaborate on each (4)

A
  • Medising - by writing to Xerxes, proposing a marriage to his daughter and offering to bring all of Greece under his control
  • Working with the helots - he offered them full citizenship and their freedom if they helped him in a coup against the Spartan government
  • Dressed like a Persian, attended Persian banquets and walked around with a Persian bodyguard
  • Tried to have his own name inscribed on the Serpent Column at Delphi
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15
Q

According to Thucydides, how was Pausanias found out? (2)

A
  • One of the messengers to Xerxes, fearing for his life, relayed the message to the ephors
  • Some of the helots also informed the Ephors of Pausanias’ intentions
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16
Q

According to Thucydides, when the ephors were informed of Pausanias’ misdeeds, did they believe it straight away? Was this unusual? (Quote) What does this suggest?

A
  • They were skeptical
  • “this was in accordance with their usual practice; to never act hastily in the case of a Spartan citizen, except on the basis of absolutely cast-iron evidence”
  • Suggests that the ephors are thorough and don’t jump to conclusions when making decisions, restrained in their power
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17
Q

What does Thucydides tell us happened to Pausanias when he was accused? Give a quote that shows the power of the ephorate. Was he fearful? What does this show?

A
  • He was recalled to Sparta and thrown in prison - “ephors had the power to imprison the king”
  • No, he was confident that he could secure his release through bribery
  • Shows that there was corruption in the government
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18
Q

According to Thucydides, what do the ephors decide is necessary for convicting Pausanias? How do they do this? What was the process? (3)

A
  • They decide that they need a confession from Pausanias himself
  • They laid a trap
  • He was invited to a house by one of the messengers that had a specifically designed secret room in which the ephors were hiding
  • Pausanias goes to the meeting and incriminates himself by asking about Xerxes’ letters
  • The Ephors, with the evidence, planned to arrest Pausanias near the Agora
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19
Q

What does the fact that the ephors planned to arrest Pausanias by the agora show?

A
  • Their power
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20
Q

What benefits did arresting Pausanias at the agora have? (6)

A
  • Reminds the other Spartans of the penalty for treason
  • Avoids him escaping
  • Pausanias was already unpopular so seeing him being brought to justice would have given them a sense of relief/satisfaction
  • Gives Pausanias the right to a fair trial
  • Avoids accusations of unfairness
  • Helps the Spartans understand why he was arrested
21
Q

What does Thucydides tell us of what happened when the ephors tried to arrest Pausanias? Where did he go? What did the ephors then do? What happened next? What does this show?

A
  • Pausanias realised what was about to happen and ran to the Temple of Athena to seek sanctuary on sacred ground
  • Ephors blocked the door and starved him out
  • Just as he died he was dragged on the temple steps
  • Shows that the ephors’ decisions are not questioned once they have been made
22
Q

Who was King Archidamus II? When did he reign?

A
  • Spartan King

- Reigned from approximately 476-427 BC, in the period after the Persian Wars during Athens’ rise to power

23
Q

When did Sparta call a conference (the Debate at Sparta) of her allies in order to discuss the growing hostilities between Athens and the Peloponnesian League?

A
  • 432 BC
24
Q

What happened at the debate at Sparta that we can use as a case study to show how the kings, assembly and Ephors interacted with each other in practice?

A
  • King Archidamus and an Ephor called Stheneleidas discussed the prospect of a war with Athens in front of the Spartan assembly, giving their opinion on why war should/should not be declared
25
Q

What does Thucydides tell us Stheneleidas said at the debate at Sparta? (Quote) Who is he addressing? What does this show?

A
  • “Spartans, cast your vote for the honour of Sparta and for war”
  • He is addressing the assembly
  • Shows that the assembly has the final say, not the king (although the ephors can still disagree)
26
Q

According to Thucydides, what happened when Stheneleidas first put the vote to the assembly? What does this suggest?

A
  • They voted by acclamation but the ephors couldn’t decide which shout was the loudest
  • Suggests that the opinion among the Spartans was divided
27
Q

What does Thucydides tell us that Stheneleidas did after the first vote was undecided? What reason does Thucydides give for this? (Quote) What significance is this of?

A
  • He made the Spartans divide themselves into two groups (yes and no)
  • “because he wanted to show their opinions openly and make them more enthusiastic for war”
  • By removing acclamation, Stheneleidas took away the anonymity of voting and so the assembly would vote for that which was socially acceptable (don’t want to be seen as cowards)
28
Q

How does Thucydides say the Spartans voted? (Quote) What does this confirm? What does the Stheneleidas incident reveal? What does it show about the assembly?

A
  • “by acclamation, not voting”
  • Reveals that the Spartan method of voting and decision making can be easily manipulated
  • Shows that the Assembly may gave had a bigger say in Spartan policy making than we might imagine, but the speakers and options presented to the Assembly are very limited (whereas ephors, kings and gerousia could actually propose legislation)
29
Q

Who was King Agis II? When did he rule? Who did he take over from?

A
  • Spartan King
  • 427-401 BC
  • Took over from his father Archidamus
30
Q

Give three things Agis II did during his reign

A
  • Largely conducted the Peloponnesian War with Athens, since his co-regent Pausanias was only very young
  • In 418 BC he led the Spartans to victory at Mantinea, considered one of Sparta’s great victories
  • In 412 BC he occupied Decelea on the advice of Alcibiades, conducting the war for years from this defensive position and contributing to Athens’ defeat
31
Q

What can King Agis II be used as a case study for? (2)

A
  • The conduct/power of the kings on campaign

- The relationship between the ephors and their kings

32
Q

According to Thucydides, what was the first punishment for Agis II suggested by the ephors?

A
  • fining him 100,000 drachmae and pulling down his house
33
Q

According to Thucydides, what punishment did the ephors settle on for Agis II? (point+quote)

A
  • They force him to be accompanied by 10 Spartans of the officer class - “without their authority he was unable to take the army out of Sparta”
34
Q

What does Thucydides say of the reform where the ephors forced Agis II to be accompanied by 10 Spartans of the officer class? What does this reinforce? What does it reveal about Agis II? What does it show?

A
  • Completely novel reform
  • Reinforces how much power the ephors had
  • Reveals a lack of trust in Agis II
  • Shows that the king does follow the orders of the Ephors and that they can change the constitutional power of the kings when needed
35
Q

Give two quotes from Thucydides in regard to Agis II that show the power Spartan kings held whilst on campaign

A
  • “the allies paid more attention to him (Agis II) than the government in Sparta, since he had his army with him and could make himself felt wherever he went”
  • “he had the power to send troops wherever he wished, to raise fresh forces, to levy money”
36
Q

What does the fact that Agis II stayed at Decelea prove? What had Agis II realised?

A
  • What we already knew. The kings have absolute authority on campaign, but are closely scrutinised and can be punished when they return home (Agis II exploited this loophole)
  • He had realised that while he remains in the field he is unaccountable to the ephors
37
Q

Who was Brasidas? When did he serve?

A
  • A general through the first phases of the Peloponnesian War (431 - 421 BC)
38
Q

What was Brasidas’ first achievement? What happened the following year?

A
  • His first achievement was rescuing the Perioikic town of Methone, for which he earned a laurel wreath in Sparta
  • A year later he was elected as eponymous ephor in Sparta, likely due to his popularity among the younger Spartans
39
Q

What did Brasidas do that marked a turning point in the war? In what year? What brought him great renown throughout the Greek World?

A
  • Campaign to Thrace
  • 424 BC
  • His unorthodox tactics and bold character
40
Q

How was Brasidas honoured for his achievements at Amphipolis? (where he died)

A
  • With annual athletic contests and a cenotaph was erected in his honour next to Leonidas and Pausanias
41
Q

What can Brasidas be used to demonstrate?

A
  • An ideal Spartan general and the potential career path of an exceptional Spartan
42
Q

According to Thucydides, Brasidas is known to be what? (quote) Earning what? (quote) Is this different to other Spartans?

A
  • Known to be “upright and moderate” to non-Spartans
  • Gaining an “excellent reputation”
  • Different to the rest of the Spartans
43
Q

What does Thucydides tell us was one of the key factors in creating a “pro-Spartan feeling” among Athens’ allies? (quote) What did his excellent reputation leave behind? (quote)

A
  • The “gallantry of Brasidas”

- Left behind a conviction that “the rest of them were like him”

44
Q

What does Plutarch tell us of Brasidas’ death that contrasts with Thucydides’ idea that people felts “the rest of them (Spartans) were like him”

A
  • When he died many went to see his mother and praised him with the comment that “no one else was like him” - showing that other Spartans were not considered to be held on the same regard as him
45
Q

Who was Lysander? What restrictions did he overcome and what did he eventually become? What happened in 405 BC? What is Lysander another example of?

A
  • A mothakes (usually Spartan father helot mother but also children of impoverished Spartans who became mothakes because they couldn’t contribute to the mess)
  • He overcame social restrictions and eventually became Nauarchos (admiral) during the closing stages of the Peloponnesian War
  • In 405 BC Lysander’s victory at Aegospotami ended the war and brought him great renown both in Sparta and the wider Greek world
  • Another example of the potential power of non-royal (and in this case non-full) Spartans, particularly within the military
46
Q

According to Plutarch, how did Lysander retain his control as Nauarchos despite Spartan law? What happened to his replacement? What did Sparta’s allies ask? Why?

A
  • The Spartans sent out another admiral and made Lysander second in command, but in reality Lysander would still lead
  • After his replacement as general, his successor, Callicratides, died in combat
  • Sparta’s allies then asked for Lysander’s recall as he had shared ideas of new aristocratic clubs that would rule in place of the democracies
47
Q

Give two quotes from Plutarch where he compares Lysander with Callicratides

A
  • “They admired his virtue, much as they might do the beauty of some hero’s statue, but they missed Lysander’s whole-hearted support and looked in vain for the latter’s keen partiality for the interest of his own friends”
  • “Lysander by comparison with Callicratides seemed an equivocal and unprincipled character, and a man who disguised most of his actions in war with various forms of deceit”
48
Q

Callicratides is honoured by Plutarch as what?

A
  • An upright and virtuous general, but as a slightly more old-fashioned and austere Spartan

Ancient History: Greece (17 decks)

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