Sparta - Revision history

Irlandos: /* The Spartan world */

2008-12-03T12:30:09Z

The Spartan world

Irlandos: /* Constitution */

2008-12-03T12:28:31Z

Constitution

Irlandos: /* Nearest places */

2008-11-20T10:04:33Z

Nearest places

Irlandos at 10:04, November 20, 2008

2008-11-20T10:04:10Z

Irlandos: /* References */

2008-11-20T10:03:01Z

References

Irlandos: /* See also */

2005-12-13T11:45:03Z

Irlandos: /* See also */

2005-12-13T11:44:51Z

Irlandos: /* Modern Sparta */

2005-10-26T14:41:00Z

Modern Sparta

Irlandos: /* Military service and training */

2005-10-26T12:08:53Z

Military service and training

Irlandos at 12:06, October 26, 2005

2005-10-26T12:06:59Z

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 ==The Spartan world==
-Around the middle of the 6th century BC, the southern Peloponnese was Spartan territory.  With an area of 8,050 square kilometres, it was the largest state in Greece. The territory was divided into two parts, Laconia and Messenia, which were separated by the [[Taygetos]] mountain range. Unlike other Greek cities, Sparta controlled much [[arable land]]. Earliest archeological evidence testifying settlement in Sparta dates from around 950 BC.
+Around the middle of the 6th century BC, the southern Peloponnese was Spartan territory.  With an area of 8,050 square kilometres, it was the largest state in Greece. The territory was divided into two parts, Laconia and Messenia, which were separated by the [[Taygetos]] mountain range. Unlike other Greek cities, Sparta controlled much arable land. Earliest archeological evidence testifying settlement in Sparta dates from around 950 BC.
 Classical sources tell us that Sparta was founded in the [[10th century BC]]. It consisted of the four villages of [[Pitane]], [[Mesoa]], [[Limnai]] and [[Konooura]], which were later united under one government.

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 We know little of the internal development of Sparta. Many Greeks believed there had been none, and that "the stability of the Spartan constitution" had lasted unchanged from the days of [[Lycurgus]]. The Spartans had no historical literature or written laws, which last were, according to tradition, expressly prohibited by an ordinance of Lycurgus; and Sparta was an oligarchy, and therefore secretive. The state was ruled by two hereditary kings of the Agiad and Eurypontid families, equal in authority, so that one could not act against the veto of his colleague, though the Agiad king received greater honour in virtue of the seniority of his family (Herod. vi. 5).
-There are several legendary explanations for this unusual dual kingship, which differ only slightly; for example, that King [[Aristodemus]] had had twin sons, who agreed to share the kingship, and this became perpetual.  Modern scholars have advanced various theories to account for the anomaly.  Some theorize that this system was created in order to prevent absolutism, and is paralleled by the analogous instance of the dual consuls at [[Rome]]. Others believe that it points to a compromise arrived at to end the struggle between two families or communities, or that the two royal houses represent respectively the Spartan conquerors and their Achaean predecessors: those who hold this last view appeal to the words attributed by [[Herodotus]] (v. 72) to [[Cleomenes I]]: "I am no Dorian, but an Achaean;" although this is usually explained by the (equally legendary) descent of Aristodemus from [[Hercules]].
+There are several legendary explanations for this unusual dual kingship, which differ only slightly; for example, that King [[Aristodemus]] had had twin sons, who agreed to share the kingship, and this became perpetual.  Modern scholars have advanced various theories to account for the anomaly.  Some theorize that this system was created in order to prevent absolutism, and is paralleled by the analogous instance of the dual consuls at Rome. Others believe that it points to a compromise arrived at to end the struggle between two families or communities, or that the two royal houses represent respectively the Spartan conquerors and their Achaean predecessors: those who hold this last view appeal to the words attributed by [[Herodotus]] (v. 72) to [[Cleomenes I]]: "I am no Dorian, but an Achaean;" although this is usually explained by the (equally legendary) descent of Aristodemus from [[Hercules]].
 The duties of the kings were mainly religious, judicial and military. They were the chief priests of the state, and performed certain sacrifices and also maintained communication with the Delphian sanctuary, which always exercised great authority in Spartan politics. In the time of Herodotus (about [[450 BC]]), their judicial functions had been restricted to cases dealing with heiresses, adoptions and the public roads.  Civil cases were decided by the [[ephors]], and criminal jurisdiction had been passed to the ephors, as well as a council of elders.  The dual kings' power was exercised mostly in the military sphere, rather than in the judicial sphere.

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 ==Nearest places==
 *[[Mystras]] (west)
-*[[Magoula (Sparta), Greece|Magoula]] (northwest)
+*[[Magoula (Sparta)|Magoula]] (northwest)
 == History ==

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-'''Sparta''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] ''Σπάρτη'') was a city in ancient  [[Greece]], whose territory included, in Classical times, all [[Laconia prefecture|Laconia]] and [[Messinia prefecture|Messinia]],  and which was the most powerful state of the [[Peloponnesus]]. It is also the name of a modern town some kilometres away from the ancient site. (Technically, Sparta was the name of the ancient town; ''Lacedaemon'', Greek ''Λακεδαιμων'', was the [[city-state]]. Sparta is now normally used for both.)
+'''Sparta''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] ''Σπάρτη'') was a city in ancient  [[Greece]], whose territory included, in Classical times, all [[Laconia prefecture|Laconia]] and [[Messinia prefecture|Messinia]],  and which was the most powerful state of the [[Peloponnesus]]. It is also the name of a modern town some kilometres away from the ancient site. (Technically, Sparta was the name of the ancient town; ''Lacedaemon'', Greek ''Λακεδαίμων'', was the [[city-state]]. Sparta is now normally used for both.)
 The city of Sparta lay at the northern end of the central Laconian plain, on the right bank of the river [[Eurotas]]. The site was strategically located; guarded from three sides by mountains and controlling the routes by which invading armies could penetrate Laconia and the southern Peloponnesus via the [[Langhda Pass]] over Mt [[Taygetus]].  At the same time, its distance from the sea&mdash;Sparta is 27 miles from its seaport, [[Gythium]]&mdash;made it difficult to blockade. <!--Thucydides would disagree-->

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 == References ==
-* [[W. G. Forest]]. ''A History of Sparta, 950-192 B.C.''. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1968.
+* W. G. Forest. ''A History of Sparta, 950-192 B.C.''. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 1968.
-* [[Ernle Bradford]]. ''The Battle for the West-Thermopylae 480''. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980.
+* Ernle Bradford. ''The Battle for the West-Thermopylae 480''. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980.
 == External links ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:45, December 13, 2005
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	*[[Communities of Laconia]]		*[[Communities of Laconia]]

−	~~{{1911}}~~
−
−	~~{{Laconia}}~~

	[[Category:Ancient Greek cities]]		[[Category:Ancient Greek cities]]

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 [[Category:Ancient Greek cities]]
-[[Category:Sparta|*]]
+[[Category:Laconia prefecture|*]]
 [[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
 [[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:41, October 26, 2005
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	Prior to modern times, the site of Sparta was occupied by a relatively small village that lay in the shadow of [[Mystras]], a more important (Byzantine) settlement nearby. In [[1834]], after the Greek [[War of Independence]], [[King Otto]] of Greece decreed that a city was to be built on the site of Sparta and bear its name (pronounced ''Sparti'' in [[Modern Greek]]). The city was designed with the intention of creating one of the most beautiful cities in Greece through the use of tree-lined boulevards and parklands. At present, Sparta is the administrative capital of the [[prefecture]] of [[Laconia prefecture\|Laconia]].		Prior to modern times, the site of Sparta was occupied by a relatively small village that lay in the shadow of [[Mystras]], a more important (Byzantine) settlement nearby. In [[1834]], after the Greek [[War of Independence]], [[King Otto]] of Greece decreed that a city was to be built on the site of Sparta and bear its name (pronounced ''Sparti'' in [[Modern Greek]]). The city was designed with the intention of creating one of the most beautiful cities in Greece through the use of tree-lined boulevards and parklands. At present, Sparta is the administrative capital of the [[prefecture]] of [[Laconia prefecture\|Laconia]].

−	Sparta is the center of an agricultural plain whose focus is the [[Eurotas]] valley. It is the local center for the processing of goods such as [[citrus]] and [[olives]].	+	Sparta is the center of an agricultural plain whose focus is the [[Eurotas]] valley. It is the local center for the processing of goods such as citrus and olives.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:08, October 26, 2005
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	Women were more independent than in other Greek societies, and were able to negotiate with their husbands to bring their lovers into their homes. According to [[Plutarch]] in his work Life of Lycurgus, men both allowed and encouraged their wives to bear the children of other men, due to the general communal ethos which made it more important to bear many progeny for the good of the city, than to be jealously concerned with one's own family unit. For this reason, [[Plutarch]] claims that the concept of "adultery" was alien to the Spartans, and relates that one ancient Spartan had said that it was as possible to find a bull with a neck long enough to stand on a mountain top and drink from a river below, than to find an adulterer in Sparta.		Women were more independent than in other Greek societies, and were able to negotiate with their husbands to bring their lovers into their homes. According to [[Plutarch]] in his work Life of Lycurgus, men both allowed and encouraged their wives to bear the children of other men, due to the general communal ethos which made it more important to bear many progeny for the good of the city, than to be jealously concerned with one's own family unit. For this reason, [[Plutarch]] claims that the concept of "adultery" was alien to the Spartans, and relates that one ancient Spartan had said that it was as possible to find a bull with a neck long enough to stand on a mountain top and drink from a river below, than to find an adulterer in Sparta.

−	[[Pederasty]], a social practice common throughout Greece, was equally so in Sparta. The Spartans apparently believed that encouraging the older, accomplished men of the city to have relations with the younger men was conducive to the education of the young men. Another anecdote in Plutarch's biography of Lycurgus relates the story of a Spartan magistrate who was fined by the city because his young male lover had cried out while he was fighting, which was considered to be a sign that the young man was overly effeminate and had therefore not been properly educated by his distinguished lover. Male-to-male relationships served as a way to reinforce the masculine education of the Spartan boys.

	Full citizens, released from any economic activity, were given a piece of land ([[klaros]]), which was cultivated and run by the Helots. As time went on, greater portions of land were concentrated in the hands of large landholders, but the number of full citizens decreased over time. Citizens had numbered 8,000 at the beginning of the 5th century BC, but had decreased by Aristotle's day to less than 1,000, and had further decreased to 700 at the accession of [[Agis IV]] in [[244 BC]]. Attempts were made to remedy this situation by creating new laws. Certain penalties were imposed upon those who remained unmarried or who married too late in life. These laws, however, came too late and were ineffective in affecting the general trend.		Full citizens, released from any economic activity, were given a piece of land ([[klaros]]), which was cultivated and run by the Helots. As time went on, greater portions of land were concentrated in the hands of large landholders, but the number of full citizens decreased over time. Citizens had numbered 8,000 at the beginning of the 5th century BC, but had decreased by Aristotle's day to less than 1,000, and had further decreased to 700 at the accession of [[Agis IV]] in [[244 BC]]. Attempts were made to remedy this situation by creating new laws. Certain penalties were imposed upon those who remained unmarried or who married too late in life. These laws, however, came too late and were ineffective in affecting the general trend.

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 {| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="float:right; empty-cells:show; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#FFDEAD;"
-| [[Prefectures of Greece|Prefecture]]: || [[Laconia]]
+| [[Prefectures of Greece|Prefecture]]: || [[Laconia prefecture|Laconia]]
 |---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
 | [[Provinces of Greece|Province]]: || [[Province of Lacedaemonia]]
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 |}
 -->
-'''Sparta''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] ''Σπάρτη'') was a city in ancient  [[Greece]], whose territory included, in Classical times, all [[Laconia]] and [[Messenia]],  and which was the most powerful state of the [[Peloponnesus]]. It is also the name of a modern town some kilometres away from the ancient site. (Technically, Sparta was the name of the ancient town; ''Lacedaemon'', Greek ''Λακεδαιμων'', was the [[city-state]]. Sparta is now normally used for both.)
+'''Sparta''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] ''Σπάρτη'') was a city in ancient  [[Greece]], whose territory included, in Classical times, all [[Laconia prefecture|Laconia]] and [[Messinia prefecture|Messinia]],  and which was the most powerful state of the [[Peloponnesus]]. It is also the name of a modern town some kilometres away from the ancient site. (Technically, Sparta was the name of the ancient town; ''Lacedaemon'', Greek ''Λακεδαιμων'', was the [[city-state]]. Sparta is now normally used for both.)
 The city of Sparta lay at the northern end of the central Laconian plain, on the right bank of the river [[Eurotas]]. The site was strategically located; guarded from three sides by mountains and controlling the routes by which invading armies could penetrate Laconia and the southern Peloponnesus via the [[Langhda Pass]] over Mt [[Taygetus]].  At the same time, its distance from the sea&mdash;Sparta is 27 miles from its seaport, [[Gythium]]&mdash;made it difficult to blockade. <!--Thucydides would disagree-->