Peloponnesian War Essay

The government in Sparta followed a very different coarse than that of the Athenians. It was controlled by an oligarchy in which the power was held by a group of five men called ephors. Working below the ephors was the Council of Elders and an Assembly. Male citizens over age sixty could serve on the Council while anyone, male or female, over the age of twenty could be a member of the Assembly. Though the citizens had little say in the decisions made by the government, the system worked effectively. Over the years, the Spartan's brutal reputation in war grew so great that other nations and city-states were too frightened to attack Sparta even though the Spartan army was no larger then eight thousand men. The Spartan Constitution called for all men to begin their military education at the age of seven, where they were trained to be tough and self-sufficient. Every man in the army fought with a great deal of passion for his country. Life in Sparta may have been rough, but the rest of the Greeks envied the Spartans for their simplicity, straight forwardness, and fanatical dedication. The beliefs of Sparta were oriented around the state. The individual lived and died for the state. The combination of this philosophy, the education of Spartan males, and the discipline of their army gave the Spartans the stability needed to survive in Ancient Greece.

The Perioikoi were above the Helots in the social hierarchy but were still not citizens of Sparta. The term Perioikoi meaning “Dwellers around” suggests that they were free to do as they pleased and were not bound to a master or the state. Perioikoi also had an enormous role in relation to the Spartan army. Being the miners and producers the Perioikoi ensured that the army itself was always equipped with weapons, shield and armor; they effectively kept the military running. Their role in Spartan society was primarily in regards to the economy, unlike the helots the Perioikoi were craftsman, miners, fishers, tradesmen, naval personal and builders. The Spartan lifestyle did not take part in any arts or crafts however Sparta is lined with bronze figurines. It is believed that the Perioikoi were the craftsmen of these pieces. The Perioikoi also controlled all import and export between Sparta in Gytheum and the rest of the known world. Pliny and Herodotus also mention that the Perioikoi manufactured shoes, garments of clothing even in the shade purple and wooden/bronze figurines.

The progressing city-state of Sparta was infamous for many things. Sparta was known for its powerful army, strict guidelines, and eccentric values. Due to these unique characteristics, residents of Sparta had to keep up to continue its legacy. Being a resident of Sparta meant taking numerous risks yet for reasonable causes. These risks were taken for the progression of the city state. Risks included krypteia mindlessly killing Helots to prevent them from rebelling. Despite this lack of respect for human life, Sparta had atoned for this by providing relevant teachings for women and lessons on survival. Sparta, being a city state with a small population , was primarily focused on winning battles. Thus they perpetrated many feats that were meant to benefit this major cause. Although there was a lack of respect for human life in Sparta, the strengths of a Spartan education are clearly greater than its weaknesses because of the education provided for women and teachings on survival.

Historically the city state of Sparta had a social hierarchy that was different from many of its neighbours, it was unique in ancient Greece for its social system and constitution, which completely focused on military training for the male citizens. Its citizen inhabitants were classified as Spartiates (citizens, who enjoyed full rights), Mothakes (non-Spartan free men raised as Spartans), Perioikoi or Perioeci (freedmen), and Helots (state-owned serfs, enslaved non-Spartan local population). Spartan society was ruled by two kings originating from the two ruling families, whose powers were checked by a council of elected Ephors or elders. These Ephors/elders were chosen from the ‘Spartiates’. Below this class was a middle class which was called the Perioeci. The lowest class, which was also the largest, was a group known as the Helots. The Helots were the subjugated population group that formed the main population of Laconia and Messenia, basically Sparta. They were tied to the land and primarily worked in agriculture to support the Spartan society and its citizens. According to a number of sources the Helots outnumbered the Spartiates quite considerably. Figueira in his article in ‘Helots, Chapter 8’, gathers all the potential ratios of

Sparta made its every male into a soldier, they trained starting at a young age into late ages. This system limited Spartans contact with the outside world. As it says in the Spartan Society and Values, no man is proved to be a good man in war unless faces the blood if slaughter. This shows the ruthless ways of the Greeks with the men. They had to train for the military regardless of what they desired for the honor of their family.

Undeniably, the ancient Greek society places a heavy emphasis on values and traditions. The two texts of the “Clouds” by Aristophanes and “History of the Peloponnesian war” by Thucydides, although contextually divergent, are actually conceptually convergent. Both texts are built around the central theme of the collapse of conventional values. While the breakdown of traditional values in the “History of the Peloponnesian war” is presented in a more metaphorical and symbolical manner, the downfall of conventional values in the “Clouds” is on a more direct basis. Although both texts essentially convey across the same solemn message that the relinquishment of

Envision a world where the people are ravenous and yearning for any remnant of food they could obtain, where the society is overrun and no one has a free say. This is the type of society the ancient Spartans would have lived like unlike the ancient Athenians. The Athenians lived a far more diverse life if compared to Sparta. Ancient Athens was better to live in than ancient Sparta due to its efficient and honorable government and flourishing economy.

In Sparta, a state that has become the proverbial homeland of tradition in the eyes of the Greeks, change was never a welcome guest. Thus Thucydides’ account of the way the Spartans voted for the Peloponnesian war in 1.87 is surprising and almost alarming: after the traditional vote by shouting, the ephor Sthenelaidas, on the pretext that the first vote was too close to discern, called for a second one. For this second vote, following the ephor’s suggestion, the Spartans did not vote by shouting, as they had always done in the past, but rather “standing up they divided themselves, and those to whom the treaty appeared to have been violated turned out to be in the

Sparta is considered by many people as the greatest and most powerful city in Greece for its great strength and power among the other city-states on the Peloponnese peninsula. When you look at Sparta compared to its rival city-states, is it really as great as we think it is? After all, it only lasted 300 years. Sparta’s weaknesses definitely outweighed its strengths. There are many factors to support how Sparta dug its own grave, but the main reasons are because of their lack of education, abusive ways, and their overpopulation of helots (Slaves).

Spartan society was dominated. They believed that Military power was the way to provide security and protection for their city. Unhealthy baby boys were left to die. Healthy baby boys were raised to be soldier. Boys and Men in Sparta trained to be Soldiers from birth, they also remained in the army until the age of 60. Girls and women in Sparta had more rights than other Greek women. Sparta was ruled by 2 kings who led the army. They have more slaves than citizens helots grew crops and did other jobs. Boys and Men in Athens worked to improve body and mind. They had physical training but not trash and learning to read, write, sing play instrument. Girl and women in Athens received no education, taught, household task and had very few rights, but after the Persian War ended many City-States formed alliance called the Delian League which protected the Aegean Sea. Alliance’s are agreements to work together. Southern cities created the Peloponnesian League. Sparta declared war on Athens and threatened to tear all of Greece apart, which lead to Spartans invading Athens, surrounded the city and burning crops. Athens used their navy to keep their food steady, but Athens attacked Spartan cities. They fought for 10 years nobody won so they called a truce but Sparta attacked Athens now that they are weak, Sparta won and was in control. Sparta becomes the most

Cultural Beliefs Sparta is known in history as a powerhouse of militaristic power in Ancient Greece. In those times, Sparta was a constant in everyone’s mind, being included in almost anything to do with the topic of war. Raised from the notation that warfare is the complete center of life, it found its way into the culture of the Spartan people inevitably. Spartan people had the mindset that they as a whole collectively needed to be ready for battle, and this differed from the Athenian mindset, causing both to become very much the enemies of each other. Sparta’s cultural beliefs contributed to their rise to power due to their cultural values and education.

In Ancient Greece the Spartans were known for their courage and military skill in battle, so much so that they were nicknamed the ‘Warrior’ State. Based in the South-East of Greece, the Spartans took over ‘two-fifths’ of the Peloponnesian area just by using a combination of brute force and diplomatic tactics. Also known as the Lacedaemonians after they region they inhabit, the Spartans lived in a manner that resembled a military camp and all men were considered to be equal to one another. These features set the Spartan nation apart from the other Greek City States. However, these are not the only features that made the Spartan nation unique.

Dating back to 449 B.C., Sparta and Athens always had an alliance, but as time grew that balance slowly began to fall as one felt threatened by another. Before any sight of unsteadiness the Spartans and Athenians had a bound partnership. Beginning after their domination of the Persian war, the two states slowly became aware of one another’s growing power. More time went by, and the Spartans began to grow conscious of the other states, feeling wary and paranoid around them (Fox, 170). No state was particularly to blame for the strain on their peace treaty, nor for the war, it came as the two states developed. Eventually the two states had clashed enough and declared war. Although the Spartans gave the Athenians a chance to back down and

I disagree with the statement. While works of fiction may be skewed they usually have some historical backing of the time period they are set in, and some even are based loosely on real historical events. In historical tales we can assume that the underlying themes show many of these ancient cultures beliefs and practices.

Sparta was, above all, a military state, and emphasis on military fitness began at birth, imprinted through society and the political system. The education of the Spartan male children prove that the military and war was constantly a huge part of Spartan society, and the laws and systems that Sparta was governed by, only enforced the militaristic attitude into the society of Sparta. That the Spartans needed to be ready for war is proved by the discord between the Spartiate and the helots, who outnumbered and under ranked the Spartans.