Sparta: Location, Society, and Military Structure

Sparta's location

Sparta was located on the Peloponnesus Peninsula.

Conquest of Messenia

Sparta conquered Messenia and turned its people into helots.

Helots

State-owned slaves captured from conquered lands.

Helot Revolt

A rebellion that nearly overthrew Sparta and convinced it to become a military society.

Warrior society

Sparta organized its entire society around military strength and discipline.

Spartan education system

Created to produce strong, disciplined soldiers.

Military training

Boys were trained from a young age to survive hardship and fight.

Life in barracks

Men lived with other soldiers instead of at home until adulthood.

Spartan adulthood

Men became full soldiers and later earned political rights.

Retirement from service

Spartans served the military for most of their lives.

Spartan government

An oligarchy ruled by a small group of elites.

Assembly

Group of citizens who voted on laws and elected officials.

Council of Elders

Older citizens who proposed laws for the Assembly to vote on.

Ephors

Officials who enforced laws and supervised education.

Two kings

Leaders who commanded Sparta's military.

First social class

Descendants of early inhabitants who owned land and ruled.

Free non-citizens

People who worked in trade and industry but had no political power.

Helots (social class)

Enslaved population that farmed and supported Spartan citizens.

Role of Spartan women

Had more responsibility and freedom than other Greek women.

Spartan women's expectations

Trained physically to remain strong and support Sparta.

Family life in Sparta

Wives lived without husbands for many years due to military service.

Cultural isolation

Outsiders, new ideas, art, and literature were discouraged.

Spartan ideal

Service to Sparta was valued above all else.