The Politics and Society of Sparta Flashcards
How many royal families did Sparta have? and how many kings at any one time?
2 royal families and therefore two king concurrently.
How does Aristotle describe the role of the Kings?
1) ‘When a Spartan king leaves the country he is commander in everything to do with war; furthermore matters concerning the gods are also entrusted to the Kings. So this kingship is like a permanent generalship of men with absolute power.’
2) ‘The fourth of these is the Spartan which, so to speak, is simply a permanent hereditary generalship.’
What were Spartans forbade to do by Lycurgus? What did this result in?
Spartans weren’t allowed to leave Sparta and foreigners were expelled. Spartans didn’t have much contact with the outside world, and certainly not with the Greek world outside the Peloponnese.
How did Spartan isolation effect Spartan leadership of other Greek forces?
Some Spartan commanders and governers found it difficult to deal with ordinary troops from other states and civilian populations which were used to less authoritarian ways of running their armies and city-states.
Who is an example of the Spartan authoritarian way of command militarily?
Pausanias - the Spartans after the Greco-Persian war were happy to give up command of the Greeks in order to preserve their customs. Pausanias wasn’t ready to lose the power he held, and after continuing to plot against Sparta was eventually punished.
When do we first hear about Archidamus?
Hear about him at the time of the earthquake and helot revolt of 464 BC. According to Diodorus, it was Archidamus who led the resistance against the helots.
Who was Agis II? What did he do?
Agis was the son of Archidamus, he took over his father’s mantle of leading the annual invasion of Attica in 426 BC, with the Spartans turning back at the Isthmus because of earthquakes. Agis was one of the Spartan signatories to the peace of Nicias with Athens in 421 BC. Agis led the Spartan forces against Argos in 419 BC.
Why did the Spartans get angry with Agis after the war with Argos?
After defeating the Argive army, in 418 BC he was in a position to take the city and defeat them ultimately, yet he was persuaded by the Argive generals to sign a truce for four months and Agis withdrew. This allowed the Argive allied army to capture Orchomenos.
When else did Agis lead the Spartan campaign?
Commanded at the battle of Mantinea, and set up the fort at Decelea - where he remained for the rest of the rest of the war, until the Athenian surrender of 404 BC.
Why did having two kings lead to weaker government?
Would often follow different policies which could lead to disunity and weaker government.
Why was there often a power inbalance between the two kings?
Often succession came at different time, so the older king would become dominant over the newly apointed monarch.
What does Herodotus claim about Spartan succession?
That only sons born of the king during his reign could succeed to kingship; an elder brother could be skipped for the younger brother given he was born outside his fathers reign.
What were the two dynasties called?
Agiad and Eurypontid.
What was the order of succession of the Agiad family during the study period?
Leonidas (d. 480 BC) - Pleistarchus too young in 480 so Regent Pausanias - Pausanias disgraced and died circa 470 BC - Pleistarchus ruled until 458 BC - Pleistoanax son of Pausanias claimed the throne in 458, exiled in 446/5, recalled 427/6 - Pausanias 408 - 395.
What was the order of succession of the Eurypontid family during the study period?
Demaratus in exile so replaced by a distant relation - Leotychidas (491 - 469) - Archidamus (469-427) - Agis (427-400).
