the southeast of the biggest Greek peninsula - the Peloponnese - the once mighty Sparta was located.This state is in the area of Laconia, in the picturesque valley of the river Eurotas.Its official name is often mentioned in international treaties - Sparta.It is from this state went to such concepts as "Spartan" and "Spartan".Everyone has heard also about the brutal custom that has developed in this ancient polis: kill the weak newborns to maintain the gene pool of the nation.
History of
Officially Sparta, which was called Sparta (from the word was the name of the nome - Laconia), originated in the eleventh century BC.After some time, the whole area, which hosts the city-state, was invaded by Doric tribes.Those assimilated with the local Achaeans became spartakiatami in a certain sense, today, and former residents were turned into slaves, known as helots.
Doric most of all the states that once knew Ancient Greece, Sparta, was on the west bank of the Eurotas, on the site of the modern town of the same name.Its name can be translated as "scattered."It consisted of manors and estates that were scattered Laconia.But the center was a small hill, which later became known as the Acropolis.Initially, Sparta had no walls and has remained true to this principle up to the second century BC.
The political system of Sparta
At its heart was the principle of the unity of all citizens with full rights policy.For this state and the right of Sparta strictly regulated life and the life of his subjects, holding their stratification.Basics like the social system were laid down by the contract of the legendary Lycurgus.According to him, the duties of the Spartans were the only sport or martial art and crafts, agriculture and trade were the work of helots and periekov.
As a result of operation, established by Lycurgus, transformed spartiatskuyu democracy in military-oligarchic slaveholding republic, which thus still retained some signs of the tribal system.It does not allow for private ownership of land, which was divided into equal portions, which are considered the property of the community and not be sold.The slaves-helots as well as historians assume, belonged to the state, not the wealthy citizens.
Sparta - this is one of the few countries, led by the same time there were just two of the king, who called arhagetami.Their power was hereditary.The powers possessed by every king of Sparta, is not merely a military power, but also to the organization of sacrifice, as well as to participate in the council of elders.Last
called Gerus and consisted of two arhagetov and twenty-eight Gerontopsychiatry.Elders elected by the National Assembly for life only Spartan elite, has reached sixty years.Gerousia Sparta performed functions of a governmental body.It prepares the issues that need to be discussed at public meetings, as well as direct foreign policy.In addition, the Council of Elders hear criminal cases, as well as crimes against the state, aimed, among other things, against arhagetov.
Court Proceedings and the right ancient Sparta regulated the board ephors.For the first time this body appeared in the eighth century BC.It consisted of the five most worthy citizens of the state, where the national assembly elected for only one year.Initially Efor powers were limited to property disputes proceedings.But in the sixth century BC their power and authority to grow.Gradually they begin to displace Gerus.Eforie has been given the right to convene the national assembly and Gerousia, adjust foreign policy to carry out internal management of Sparta and its proceedings.The body was so important in the social order of the state, that its mandate is to control officials, including arhageta.
National Assembly
Sparta - is an example of the aristocratic state.In order to suppress the servile population, whose representatives were called helots, artificially constraining the development of private property, to preserve equality among themselves Spartans.
Apella, or national assembly, in Sparta featured passivity.The right to participate in this body had only full male citizens who have reached the age of thirty.First national meeting convened arhaget, but later they also guide and transferred to the board of ephors.Apella could not discuss the issues put forward, it is only reject or accept the proposed solution to it.Voting members of the national assembly rather primitive: shouting or division members on opposite sides, and then to the eye and most determined.
population
Residents Lacedaemonian state has always been unequal class.This situation created a social system of Sparta, which included three estates: the elite, periekov - free inhabitants from nearby cities who do not have the right to vote, as well as state slaves - helots.
Spartans, who are in a privileged environment dedicated exclusively to the war.They were far from the trade, crafts and agriculture, it was like right at the mercy periekam.At the same time, it is the elite of the Spartans treated the Helots who last rented from the state.During the heyday of the nobility of the state were five times less than periekov and ten - helots.
history of Sparta
all periods of the existence of one of the most ancient states can be divided into prehistoric, ancient, classical, Hellenistic and Roman era.Each of them has left its mark not only in the formation of the ancient state of Sparta.Greece has borrowed a lot from the story in the making.
Prehistory
Lacaune on lands originally lived Leleges, but after the capture of the Dorians of the Peloponnese region, which has always been considered the most barren and generally minor, by fraud got two minor sons of the legendary king Aristodemus - Evrisfenu and cursed.
soon became the main city of Lacedaemon Sparta system which for a long time does not stand out among the other Doric states.She was persistent foreign wars with the neighboring cities of Argos and Arcadia.The most significant rise around the time of the reign of Lycurgus - drevnespartanskogo legislator, which the ancient historians unanimously attributed to the political structure, then prevailed in Sparta for several centuries.
ancient times
After winning wars lasting from 743 to 723 and from 685 to 668 years.BC, Sparta was able to finally defeat and capture Messenia.As a result of its ancient inhabitants have been deprived of their land and turned into helots.Six years later, at the cost of enormous efforts Sparta won and Arcadians, in 660 BC.e.Tegea forced to admit its hegemony.According to the agreement, stored on a nearby set of Alpheus column, she made it a military alliance.Since that time, in the eyes of the peoples of Sparta was considered the first state in Greece.
history of Sparta at this stage is to ensure that its citizens have begun to attempt to overthrow the tyrants, emerging from the seventh millennium BC.e.almost all Greek states.That helped drive the Spartans Kipselidov from Corinth, Pisistratus of Athens, they contributed to the liberation of Sicyon and Phocis, and several islands in the Aegean Sea, thereby acquiring in different states of grateful supporters.
history of Sparta in the classical era
an alliance with the tag, and Elis, the Spartans began to attract to its side and the rest of the city and neighboring areas of Laconia.As a result, he formed the Peloponnesian alliance hegemony which took over Sparta.It was for her wonderful times she exercised leadership in the wars, was the center of meetings and all meetings of the Union, without encroaching on the independence of individual States maintain their autonomy.
Sparta never tried to distribute their own power on the Peloponnese, but the threat of danger has pushed all other states except Argos, during the Greco-Persian wars go under her patronage.By eliminating the immediate danger, the Spartans, realizing that he could not fight a war with the Persians away from the borders of their own, did not object when Athens undertook further guidance superiority in war, confining only a peninsula.
Since that time, began to show signs of rivalry between these two states, then vylivsheesya the First Peloponnesian War, which ended the Thirty Years' world.Fighting not only to break the power of Athens and established the hegemony of Sparta, but also led to a gradual loss of its principles - laws of Lycurgus.
As a result, in the year 397 before our era happened Kinadona uprising, which, however, was not successful.However, after some setbacks, especially the defeat in the battle of Knidos in 394-m BC.e, Sparta lost to Asia Minor, but became a judge and mediator in Greek affairs, thus justifying its policy of freedom of all nations, and could provide for a championship in alliance with Persia.Only Thebes did not obey the conditions imposed, thus depriving Sparta advantages such shameful for her world.
Hellenistic and Roman eras
Beginning with the years, the state has become fast enough to decline.Impoverished and debt-plagued its citizens, Sparta, whose operation was based on the laws of Lycurgus, become an empty form of government.It was an alliance with fokeyanami.Although the Spartans, and sent them to help, but did not provide this support.In the absence of Alexander the Great, king Agis using money received from Darius was an attempt to get rid of the Macedonian yoke.But he, having failed in the battles in the metropolis, was killed.Gradually I began to disappear, and become a household spirit, which is so famous Sparta.
Rise of an Empire
Sparta - a state that for three centuries it was the envy of all Ancient Greece.In the period between the eighth and fifth centuries BC, it was the accumulation of hundreds of cities, often warring with each other.One of the key figures for the emergence of Sparta as a powerful and strong state became Lycurgus.Prior to his appearance differs little from the other Greek city-states.But with the advent of Lycurgus the situation has changed, and development priorities were given to the art of war.From that point Sparta and became transformed.And it was at this period is his heyday.
Since the eighth century BC.e.Sparta began to conduct wars of conquest, conquering one after another of its neighbors in the Peloponnese.After a series of successful military operations Sparta moved to establish diplomatic ties with its most powerful opponents.Entered into several agreements, Sparta stood at the head of the Union of the Peloponnesian states, is considered one of the most powerful formations of ancient Greece.Creating this alliance Sparta had to serve to repel the Persian invasion.
state Sparta was a mystery to historians.The Greeks admired not only its citizens, but were afraid of them.One kind of bronze shields and scarlet cloaks worn by the warriors of Sparta, paid opponents to flight, forcing them to surrender.
not only enemies, but also to the Greeks do not really like the army, however small, was located next to them.The explanation is very simple: the warriors of Sparta had a reputation for invincibility.View their phalanges led into a state of panic, even the worldly-wise.Although the battles in those days, was attended by only a handful of fighters, however, they never lasted long.
Empire began to decline
But in the early fifth century BC.e.a massive invasion, undertaken from the east, was the beginning of the decline of the power of Sparta.The great Persian Empire, had always dreamed of expanding their territories, he sent a large army to Greece.Two hundred thousand people stood at the borders of Greece.But the Greeks, which were headed by the Spartans, took up the challenge.
King Leonid
Anaksandrida The son of this king belonged to the dynasty Agiadov.After the death of his older brothers, and Klemen Dorieya First, the board assumed the name of Leonid.Sparta in 480 years before our era was at war with Persia.And the name of Leonid associated with the immortal feat of Spartans in Thermopylae Gorge when the battle took place, go down in history forever.
happened in 480 BC.e., when the hordes of the Persian king Xerxes attempted to grab the narrow passage that connects Central Greece with Thessaly.At the head of the troops, including the Union, was King Leonidas.Sparta at the time occupied a position of superiority among friendly nations.But Xerxes using treachery unhappy, bypassed Thermopylae Gorge and walked to the rear of the Greeks.
Sparta Warriors
hearing this, Leonid, who fought alongside their soldiers, dissolved the allied troops, sending them home.And he and a handful of soldiers, whose number was only three hundred people, stood in the way twenty thousandth of the Persian army.Thermopylae Gorge is strategic for the Greeks.In case of defeat they would be cut off from central Greece, and their fate would be sealed.
Within four days, the Persians were unable to break the strength of the enemy is incomparably smaller.Heroes of Sparta fought like lions.But forces were unequal.
fearless warriors of Sparta were killed every one.Together with them until the end of fighting, and their king Leonidas, who did not want to give up comrades.
name Leonidas has gone down in history.Chroniclers, including Herodotus, who wrote: "Many kings have died long ago and forgotten.But Leonid know and revere it.His name will always remember Sparta, Greece.And not because he was a king, but because it is before the end of his duty to his country and died as a hero.This episode in the life of the heroic Greeks filmed, written books.
feat Spartans
Persian king Xerxes, which did not leave a dream to capture Hellas invaded Greece in 480, the year before the birth of Christ.At this time, the Greeks carried the Olympic Games.The Spartans also ready to celebrate Carney.
Both holiday obliged to comply with the Greeks sacred truce.This is what has been one of the main reasons why the Persians at Thermopylae Gorge resisted only a small force.
Towards army of thousands of Xerxes headed a detachment of three hundred Spartans, led by King Leonidas.Warriors were selected on the basis of whether they have children.On the way to the militia Leonid joined a thousand people tegeytsev, Arcadians and mantineytsev, as well as one hundred and twenty - of Orchomenus.Corinth was sent four soldiers from Phlius and Mycenae - three hundred.When
it a few troops approached Thermopylae passage and saw the number of Persians, many soldiers were frightened and began to conduct conversations about the retreat.Part of the Allies offered to move to the peninsula to protect Eastman.But others came to the outrage of such a decision.Leonid, ordered the army to remain in place, sent messengers to all the cities with a request for aid because they were too few soldiers to successfully repel the Persians.
four days Xerxes, hoping that the Greeks fled, and did not start fighting.But seeing that this does not happen, he sent against them the Medes and Cassius with the order to take Leonid alive and bring him.Those swiftly attacked the Greeks.Every onslaught of the Medes ended with huge losses, but others came Revenge of the Fallen.It was then that the Spartans and the Persians became clear that people have a lot of Xerxes, but few warriors among them.The battle lasted all day.
received a decisive rebuff, the Medes were forced to retreat.But they were replaced by the Persians, led Gidarn.Xerxes called them "immortal" squad and hoping that they can easily do away with the Spartans.But in close quarters combat and they did not succeed, as well as Medes, much success.e.
