1.3 Sparta

If you consider how much has been written about in ancient Sparta, the picture is surprisingly contradictory, confused and incomplete. In part this is because the mirage continually intersects the reality, deforming and often hiding it altogether; in part because the Spartans were silent. There was a time, in the Archaic Period, in which Sparta had a leading role in the development of lines of Greek civilization principaòi: in poetry, as we know from the fragments that remain; in music, according to ancient traditions reliable; and also in navigation and in some institutions typical of the city-state. But after the 600 there was a sudden interruption. From then on, not even a Spartan citizen is remembered for some cultural activities. The famous "spoken laconic", indicated that they had nothing to say.

By number of inhabitants Sparta could not be counted among the larger Member States. In fact, the largest training that deployed in battle, was that of the 5 thousand of Plataea in 479. Sparta then declined steadily and the middle of the fourth century was no longer able to deploy a thousand men, although the territory under its control could maintain 1500 knights and 10 thousand infantry. Sparta had conquered the territories of Laconia and Messinia, very fertile and which gave access to the sea, as well as the invaluable natural resource that was the iron, adequate counterpart Athenian silver. These territories subsisted a free population, but subjugated nations of two types, the helots and the perieci. The helots were in a state of absolute slavery and forced labor on the land lent the Spartans. The number certainly exceeded by many times that of the Spartans. The perieci kept their personal freedom and their organization in the community, in exchange for giving, in favor of Sparta, to any right of action in the military and foreign policy. With these limitations the community perieci poleis were unfinished. No doubt the resignation was a cautious attitude, but there were also other considerations: the pace, protection and economic benefit. The perieci cared trade and industrial production for the needs Spartans, and that kept the ceramic laconic to a level sometimes high, quality craftsmanship and artistic. Quite different was the condition of helots. In ancient times, was ordinary practice, when a city was enslaved, to sell the inhabitants as slaves, and to disperse. The Spartans instead, had adopted the dangerous alternative of keeping the vanquished subdued at home, in their native territories. While the Greek history was, almost always, free of slave revolts, even where they had high concentrations as in the silver mines of Attica, the revolts of the helots always smoldering under the ashes, bursting from time to time with great violence. What kept her enslaved helots and preventing even more frequent riots, was the sort of Sparta as a military camp. Immediately after the mid-seventh century, the Messinian helots rebelled against Sparta, and this conflict lasted no less than seventeen. At the end of the Messenians were defeated, but the lesson was translated into a profound social and constitutional reform that created the Spartan system in its final form. Thereafter, citizens of Sparta formed a militia professional, trained military valor and absolute obedience, Free (or rather excluded) any other activity staff, who lived a life of barracks, always ready to stand against all enemies, Ilot on Stranieri. For the subsistence needs of the militia were provided the helots and perieci while the training was taken care of by the State. The strict obedience was secured from education and the laws that prevented economic inequalities and all forms of gainful employment. The Spartan system was closed against any external influence, against foreigners and against imported goods. In conclusion, Sparta was protectionist and xenophobic.

The structure of government, for its mixed character, seemed to ensure a balance between the monarchical element, the aristocratic and the democratic. The two hereditary kings commanded the armies in the field, and were members of the council of elders; other, in number of 28 were elected for life among the citizens over 60 age. The meeting was open to all, but could not take any action or to amend the proposals that were submitted; could only approve or reject. The judges were the most powerful of the five ephors, elected annually by all citizens, they exercised supervision over the affairs of the state and had important judicial functions. The discipline and valor of the Spartans, Sparta elevated to the role of a great power, greater than its size would otherwise allow the.

In the sixth century Sparta became the greatest military power on the Greek mainland, while his allies also provided aid ship that remained adequate until it was created the all-powerful Athenian fleet.

But the fact remains that after the Persian Wars, history of Sparta becomes a story of decadence, despite the victory of coalition, with the aid of gold Persian, reported on in Athens 404. His xenophobic society is continuously reduced number of, because it stubbornly refused to recruit new citizens, preferring to arm freed helots, social waste of all kinds and even mercenaries. The Peloponnesian War exerted unbearable pressure on the political leadership: the Spartan system had not planned military campaigns continued with numerous armies, and some of the new General, for example Lisandro who brought the final victory, showed not to have other qualities as well as a ruthless military competence, often combined with an inordinate ambition staff. The narrow-mindedness and lack of mental flexibility, in the political and social, caused the worst damage in times of success. The kings and generals were often in dispute, between them and with the ephors, and one suspects that the discord had not only object to the tactics and politics. The system of land ownership collapsed, although we do not know exactly how. They were always more numerous than the Spartans who lost their plots of land, with the permission from the State and worked by helots, and together with the land they lost their status as full-fledged Spartans. Herodotus traces the early fifth century the widespread access to the corruption of the Spartans, with the kings who pocketed the sums higher.

Then came the 371, defeat at the hands of Thebes, and even if Sparta continued to have its weight in Greek politics, His power was now only a memory. It was the model of a closed society, admired especially by those who refused an open society with his political leanings of part, with its acceptance of the demos as a political force, with its frequent lack of discipline, with its recognition of the dignity and needs of the individual. Even in advance of the story, Sparta could be called conservative today, Athens could be defined as progressive.