History 151: Ancient and Medieval World
Archaic Greece (Part 2) and Sparta

The Hoplite Revolution

nHeavily-armed infantry

Þ The introduction of the “phalanx”

Þ The social implications of the revolution included:

– A widening of the military class

– An encouragement for frequent warfare

– A democratization of political structures within the “polis”

– A narrowing of who were considered “citizens”

Sparta

n Located in Laconia

n The conquest of Messenia (735 - 620 B.C.E.)

ä The “helots”

ä The “perioikoi”

n Lycurgus’ Reform (“The Great Rhetra”) – ca. 650 B.C.E.

ä Retained the hereditary kings

– Two royal houses

– Given the power to declare war

ä The “Equals” participated in the general assembly

ä Representation in the Gerousia

–Five ephors

n Lycurgus’ Reform also prescribed a unique public education for its citizens called the “agoge”

ä Elders examined all children at birth for suitability

ä Boys were taken at age 7 to live in “agelai”

ä At 20 they would seek admission to a “phidition”

ä Between 20 and 30 they were allowed to marry but most of life continued to be centered around the “phidition”

ä Girls were also required to undergo rigorous physical training, with women enjoying the greatest level of personal freedom of any in ancient Greece

ä The purpose of the "agoge" was to ensure the survival of the polis, itself, in the face of the constant fear of a helot uprising

Early Athens

äLegendary kings

––A period extending back into Mycenaean period

––Theseus

äOligarchy dominated by wealthy families (Eupatrids and Alcaemonidae, among others)

––A hereditary aristocracy that served as archons

––The Areopagus, the council of ex-archons who proposed legislation

nThe Evolution of a Democracy

äDraco published Athens first code of law (621 B.C.E.)

– – only its provision concerning murder survives

– – was considered harsh (“written in blood”)

äSolon reformed Athenian economy and government (594 B.C.E.)

– – economic reforms alleviated widespread debt-bondage

(the “hektemoroi”)

– – governmental reforms opened a way for non-nobles to participate in government

History 151: Ancient and Medieval World Archaic Greece (Part 2) and Sparta

The Hoplite Revolution

nHeavily-armed infantry

Þ The introduction of the “phalanx”

Þ The social implications of the revolution included:

– A widening of the military class

– An encouragement for frequent warfare

– A democratization of political structures within the “polis”

– A narrowing of who were considered “citizens”

Sparta

n Located in Laconia

n The conquest of Messenia (735 - 620 B.C.E.)

ä The “helots”

ä The “perioikoi”

n Lycurgus’ Reform (“The Great Rhetra”) – ca. 650 B.C.E.

ä Retained the hereditary kings

– Two royal houses

– Given the power to declare war

ä The “Equals” participated in the general assembly

n Lycurgus’ Reform also prescribed a unique public education for its citizens called the “agoge”

ä Elders examined all children at birth for suitability

ä Boys were taken at age 7 to live in “agelai”

ä At 20 they would seek admission to a “phidition”

ä Between 20 and 30 they were allowed to marry but most of life continued to be centered around the “phidition”

ä Girls were also required to undergo rigorous physical training, with women enjoying the greatest level of personal freedom of any in ancient Greece

ä The purpose of the "agoge" was to ensure the survival of the polis, itself, in the face of the constant fear of a helot uprising

äLegendary kings

––A period extending back into Mycenaean period

––Theseus

äOligarchy dominated by wealthy families (Eupatrids and Alcaemonidae, among others)

––A hereditary aristocracy that served as archons

––The Areopagus, the council of ex-archons who proposed legislation

nThe Evolution of a Democracy

äDraco published Athens first code of law (621 B.C.E.)

– – only its provision concerning murder survives

– – was considered harsh (“written in blood”)

äSolon reformed Athenian economy and government (594 B.C.E.)

– – economic reforms alleviated widespread debt-bondage

(the “hektemoroi”)

– – governmental reforms opened a way for non-nobles to participate in government

n n The pentekosiomedimnoi

n n The hippeis

n n The zuegetai

n n The thetes

– – the council of the Areopagus became advisory only

– – legislative functions given to the newly-created Council of 400

History 151: Ancient and Medieval World
Archaic Greece (Part 2) and Sparta