riverside_Wi0K0d_uIAMCLmA=_4.2.24 20Part 20II.docx

Spartan Expeditionary Forces

Spartan military campaigns led by commanders with troops consisting of freed helots, future Neodamidace, and allied troops from city-states in Greece.

Leadership without Spartiates

Spartan leaders like Agesilaus and Gylippus led successful campaigns without a significant number of Spartiate hoplites, relying on allies and other troops.

Spartan Military Reputation

Spartans were known for their soldierly reputation and tradition of leadership, leading combined Greek efforts with Spartan commanders even without a large force of Spartiates.

Social Exclusivity of Spartans

The insularity of Spartan society, built from the Lycurgus reforms, led to a dedication to serving Spartans, a feeling of superiority, and a reluctance to include outsiders.

Traditionalism in Sparta

Spartans valued tradition and the way things had always been done, leading to resistance against changes that could disrupt their cultural practices and identity.

Perioikoi Decline

The number of perioikoi, non-citizen inhabitants of Sparta, also experienced a slight decline over time, though not as dramatic as the decline in Spartiates, affecting the composition of Spartan armies.

Population Decline among Spartiates

Aristotle discusses the decrease in the number of elite Spartan soldiers, attributing it to a severe problem that weakened Spartan military strength and contributed to Sparta's fall from dominance.

Spartan Property Law

Aristotle criticizes the unequal distribution of wealth in Sparta, where some Spartans owned excessive property while others had very little, leading to land concentration in fewer hands and poorly regulated property laws.

Contribution to Mess Halls

Spartiates were required to provide a fixed amount of produce from their land monthly to the mess halls, and failure to do so could result in losing their citizenship status.

Subclasses in Spartan Society

Spartans created subclasses like Neodamodace (freed helots) and Hupomeiones (underclass) to compensate for the declining Spartiate population, leading to social inequalities and resentment among these classes towards the Spartiates.

Kinedon Conspiracy

Xenophon describes the social rebellion led by Cynadon, a non-full Spartan, aiming to incite non-Spartiates against Spartiates, highlighting the growing tensions and divisions within Spartan society.

Kinedon Conspiracy

A rebellion that the Spartans were terrified of, leading to measures being taken to capture and suppress the conspiracy.

Spartan Political System

Besides the class system, the system of who holds what offices in Sparta caused resentment among ambitious and skillful leaders like Lysander.

Lysander

A skillful Spartan general who faced resentment within Sparta due to the political system's limitations on ambitious leaders advancing.

Resentment in Sparta

Resentments were building in Sparta due to the way Spartan society was organized, leading to plots like Lysander's coup attempt.

Spartan-Persian Relations

Disputes arose between Sparta and Persia over the sharing of Eastern Greek city-states liberated from the Athenian Empire, leading to complications and war.