SS- Helots Flashcards
What does ‘hel’ imply?
Seizure or capture
Who are the helots?
Original inhabitants of the peloponnese who were enslaved by the invading Spartans, this
They’re mostly Ionian.
In other Greek states slaves- tended to be mixed nationalities
How were most helots associated with specific states?
A spartan boy was given a kleros and the helots to work the land on his birth the helots remained on the estate
2 places helots mainly worked
On te land however some were domestic
Role in military from the 5th century BC
Some sent to war as ‘batman’ for his spartan master.
Occasionally acted as light armsmen in support of the hoplites or as OARSMEN IN THE NAVY
How helots outnumbered Spartans
By 15:1
By te end of the 5th century BC they were regarded as the ENEMY WITHIN. A greater threat to spartan system than any foreign state.
What was the krypteia
Secret police made up of a band of young spartan elite.
These elites- given a job of hunti down the helots and keeping them in a state of fear and suspicion
How were they granted freedom?
Heroic battle deeds. They would be given the inferior status and were called the NEODAMODES(new citizens)
However that made them targets and it was dangerous
What was forbidden for the Spartans and helots
INTERMARRIAGE
