Ancient Societies: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the geography, political structure, and social hierarchy of Ancient Sparta based on the provided lecture notes.

Laconia

The southern region of Ancient Greece in the Peloponnese peninsula where Sparta was located.

Dorians

The ethnic group that formed the polis of Sparta after five villages joined together in the 9th century.

Taygetus

The mountain range bordering Sparta to the west, known for dense forests, fertility, and providing natural protection.

Parnon

The mountain range bordering Sparta to the east.

Eurotas River

The river that flowed through Sparta providing access to the natural harbour of Gytheion.

Gytheion

Sparta's natural harbour located $48\,km$ downhill from the city.

Messenia

The region conquered by Sparta in $650\,BC$ to gain access to highly fertile agricultural land.

Amyclae

A village located $6\,km$ south of Sparta that formed the 5th village of the Spartan acropolis.

The Great Rhetra

The divine instruction or constitution of Sparta, ascribed to the reformer Lycurgus after he sought guidance from the Oracle at Delphi.

Diarchy

Sparta's system of dual kingship involving two royal families: the Agiads and the Eurypontids.

Pythioi

Two officials appointed by the kings to consult the oracle at Delphi.

Gerousia

The Council of the Elders, a legislative and judicial body comprising 28 males over the age of $60$ plus the 2 kings.

Probouleutic body

A group, such as the Gerousia, whose main function is to prepare and debate bills before they are passed to the assembly for voting.

Rider of the Rhetra

An addition to the constitution by Kings Polydoros and Theopompos stating that if the assembly spoke 'crookedly', the Gerousia and kings could override the vote.

Ephorate

A body of five elected officials, aged $30$ and over, who held significant administrative, judicial, and military power for a one-year non-repeatable term.

Krypteia

A practice supervised by the ephors where young men killed helots as part of their training, intended to generate fear and maintain control.

Ekklesia

The Spartan assembly composed of all Spartiate males over the age of $30$ who voted on laws by acclamation.

Acclamation

The method of voting used by the ekklesia by shouting or applauding rather than formal balloting.

Spartiates

The elite class of male citizens who underwent the agoge and held full legal and political rights.

Agoge

The rigorous Spartan education and training system that all Spartiates were required to complete.

Syssitia

The communal mess halls or dining clubs that Spartiates were required to join and contribute to.

Kleros

An allotment of land given to a Spartiate to support their lifestyle and contributions to the syssitia.

Perioikoi

'Dwellers around'; free non-citizens from surrounding villages who were self-governing but obeyed Spartan laws and handled trade and industry.

Partheniai

A category of 'inferiors' consisting of the illegitimate offspring of Spartiate men and helot or perioikoi women.

Neodamodes

Helots who were granted freedom as a reward for their military service to Sparta.

Mothoces

Sons of helots who were permitted to train alongside Spartan boys in the agoge.

Tresantes

'Tremblers'; Spartans who had their citizenship revoked due to cowardice in battle.

Helots

State-owned serfs, mainly of Messenian and Laconian origin, who worked the land for their Spartiate masters.

Laconia

The southern region of Ancient Greece in the Peloponnese peninsula where Sparta was located.

Dorians

The ethnic group that formed the polis of Sparta after five villages joined together in the 9th century.

Taygetus

The mountain range bordering Sparta to the west, known for dense forests, fertility, and providing natural protection.

Parnon

The mountain range bordering Sparta to the east.

Eurotas River

The river that flowed through Sparta providing access to the natural harbour of Gytheion.

Gytheion

Sparta's natural harbour located $48\,km$ downhill from the city.

Messenia

The region conquered by Sparta in $650\,BC$ to gain access to highly fertile agricultural land.

Amyclae

A village located $6\,km$ south of Sparta that formed the 5th village of the Spartan acropolis.

The Great Rhetra

The divine instruction or constitution of Sparta, ascribed to the reformer Lycurgus after he sought guidance from the Oracle at Delphi.

Diarchy

Sparta's system of dual kingship involving two royal families: the Agiads and the Eurypontids.

Pythioi

Two officials appointed by the kings to consult the oracle at Delphi.

Gerousia

The Council of the Elders, a legislative and judicial body comprising 28 males over the age of $60$ plus the 2 kings.

Probouleutic body

A group, such as the Gerousia, whose main function is to prepare and debate bills before they are passed to the assembly for voting.

Rider of the Rhetra

An addition to the constitution by Kings Polydoros and Theopompos stating that if the assembly spoke 'crookedly', the Gerousia and kings could override the vote.

Ephorate

A body of five elected officials, aged $30$ and over, who held significant administrative, judicial, and military power for a one-year non-repeatable term.

Krypteia

A practice supervised by the ephors where young men killed helots as part of their training, intended to generate fear and maintain control.

Ekklesia

The Spartan assembly composed of all Spartiate males over the age of $30$ who voted on laws by acclamation.

Acclamation

The method of voting used by the ekklesia by shouting or applauding rather than formal balloting.

Spartiates

The elite class of male citizens who underwent the agoge and held full legal and political rights.

Agoge

The rigorous Spartan education and training system that all Spartiates were required to complete.

Syssitia

The communal mess halls or dining clubs that Spartiates were required to join and contribute to.

Kleros

An allotment of land given to a Spartiate to support their lifestyle and contributions to the syssitia.

Perioikoi

'Dwellers around'; free non-citizens from surrounding villages who were self-governing but obeyed Spartan laws and handled trade and industry.

Partheniai

A category of 'inferiors' consisting of the illegitimate offspring of Spartiate men and helot or perioikoi women.

Neodamodes

Helots who were granted freedom as a reward for their military service to Sparta.

Mothoces

Sons of helots who were permitted to train alongside Spartan boys in the agoge.

Tresantes

'Tremblers'; Spartans who had their citizenship revoked due to cowardice in battle.

Helots

State-owned serfs, mainly of Messenian and Laconian origin, who worked the land for their Spartiate masters.