Notes for Year 12 HSC Ancient History 2019 PDF

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Notes for Year 12 HSC Ancient History 2019 . Covers all dot-points of Sparta with analysis of archeological evidence...

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ANCIENT HISTORY HSC TOPIC 1: SPARTAN SOCIETY AND THE BATTLE OF LEUCTRA

SECTION 1: SURVEY HISTORICAL CONTEXT •

• • •

900-750 BCE: Spartans took control of Lakonia >>> attacked the neighbouring Messenia and forced them into serfdom (slavery), known as the Messenian Wars Control of Messenia improved Spartan agricultural conditions After the Messenian Wars, Sparta became a severely militant society and proceeded to take dominion over the Greek world. They were eventually defeated in the battle of Leuctra in 371BC

LITERARY SOURCES • • •

Very few pieces of evidence of Sparta exist as written records were forbidden Most of them are compiled by ancient writers (often Athenian), who did not pay that much attention to Sparta Problems with this include - bias toward Athens even though Sparta is also located in Greece.

1.1: GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING, NATURAL FEATURES AND RESOURCES OF ANCIENT SPARTA LOCATION • Located on the Southern Peloponnese in a fertile valley near the Eurates river • To the north is the Arcadian Mountain Range • To the west are the Taygetus Mountains • To the east is the Parnon Mountain Range • To the South is the Lakonian Gulf RESOURCES Stone • Porphyry - a hard green stone • Marble from Mount Taygetus Minerals and Ores • Iron • Copper and tin imported from bronze-making • Lead and clay

Food and Animals • Crops like barley, wheat, grapes and figs • Bees to make their renowned honey • Sheep and goats to make cheeses • Pigs • Chickens • Hare and wild boar • Leather made from the dried hides of the animals

1.2: SIGNIFICANT SITES: SPARTA No proper town centres A collection of rural communities Comprised of four villages with a fifth one at Amyclae A low spur from the Arcadian mountains formed a small 'acropolis' At the base of this was the marketplace and building for council meetings To the east of the acropolis was the Temple of Artemis Orthia Temple of Athena was located in north eastern Sparta

Stymphalos Epidaurus

A R

C A

D I

A

Argos

Mantineia Olympia Tegea eios A lph

Megalopol is

Thyrea Oion

Phigalia

P

Neda

A

Aulon

Thuria

N Sparta

Y G

Amyklae

Kyphanta

E urotas

E

Pharae

Geronthrae

Therapne

Zarax

T U

Petalidi

Helos

S

Kardamyli Thalamae

Mothona

Prasiae

O

A

Messene

isos Pam

Pylos

Mt. Ithome

N

Sellasia

Pellana

T

Kyparissia

Tyros

R

Belemina

M E S S E N I A

• • • • • • •

Akriae Las

Epidaurus Limera

Gytheion Asopos

Koroni Oitylos

Territory of Lacedaemon Sovereign cities

Teuthrone

CAPE MALEA

Perioeci cities Border of state Lacedaemon Tenarus

Hypothetical limits of the territory of Sparta

Boeae

CAPE ACRITAS

CAPE TENARO

SECTION 2: SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND POLITICAL ORAGNISATON 2.1: THE GREAT RHETRA: THE ISSUE OF LYCURGUS SPARTAN MIRAGE • Phrase coined in the early 20th century that claims that Sparta wasn’t that austere- Orthodox view • 1960s, traditional view of Sparta as a strict disciplined and militant society • Rawson stated that Sparta was a "militaristic and totalitarian society…deliberately turning its back on the intellectual and artistic life of the rest of Greece." • Thucydides stated that "Our city (Athens) is open to the world unlike Sparta." SPARTAN REFORM • Fitzhardinge said that Spartans were not different in outlook and social organisation until the 5th Century BCE • Lycurgus revolutionised Spartan ideology and made them conform to Eunomia WHO WAS LYCURGUS? • Maybe a fictional lawgiver • Plutarch stated that it is "impossible to make any undisputed statement about Lycurgus" • Herodotus and Aristotle said that he lived between the 9th-7rh centuries BCE • Xenophon said he loved in the first half of the 8th century BCE DIFFERING VIEWS • Xenophon claimed that "for they (Spartans) have achieved success by obeying the laws laid for them by Lycurgus. I certainly admire him and consider him…a wise man WHAT WAS THE GREAT RHETRA? • Word that means "a law" or "a political enactment" • Spartan constitution that was established by Lycurgus around the 7th century BCE • Spartans forbade written records, so Lycurgus introduced changes and reforms in a Rhetra, an oral pronouncement from the Delphic oracle. • Coinage wasn’t allowed rather bars of iron

POLITICAL REFORMS • Established the three main parts of the constitution (gerousia, ephorate and the ekklesia) • Key component of "eunomia" ECONOMIC REFORMS • Land distribution was reformed to ensure equality for citizens • Plutarch said that there was dreadful inequality… as wealth poured completely into just a few hands.” • All gold and solver coinage was invalid, and was replaced with iron bars SOCIAL REFORMS • Intense militaristic system called the agoge • Boys left home and began training at the age of 7 to develop skill and endurance • Common messes (syssitia) were introduced where men donate food and did everything together • Herodotus claimed that by following Lycurgan reforms Sparta “became a well-ordered state.” EUNOMIA • Spartan concept of "good order" • Promoted the following • Equality among Spartitates • Military fitness • Communalism • Basic and restrained lifestyle

2.2: ROLES AND PRIVILEGES OF THE KINGS 2 Kings - diarchy/monarchy Gerousia (council of elders) = oligarchy (rule by few) Ephorate (magistrates) = oligarchy Ekklesia (assembly) = democracy (rule by many) 2 KINGS (DIARCHY) • From the Agiad Family and the Eurypontid Family • Both claimed heritage from Heracles • Had religious/priesthood role - performed sacrifices and ceremonies Roles • Commanded the army • Judge and lawgiver • Employed so they can check power • One king stayed in Sparta while the other went to war. • They made oaths every month with their ephors when switching roles

Religious Roles Ephorate • • • • • •

Political body made up of five ephors Each ephor came from a different village (oba) Elected annually from among the Spartiates Most powerful group in Spartan government Oversaw activities of kings Controlled daily life in Sparta (education or agoge and judicial roles)

Upheld through their supposed divine lineage They were chief priests of Sparta Herodotus said that they led to two priesthoods of Zeus Laekdaemon and Zeus Uranios”. • •

Kept the Delphic prophecies and were responsible for the safekeeping of the oracles • Led religious festivals and practices Made animal sacrifices before going to war and made monthly ones to Apollo • Xenophon said that their religious privileges included being “given a piglet from every litter and receiving the best seats at religious festivals”. • Herodotus said that they were “allotted the skins and chines of all animals offered for sacrifice”. •

Military Roles • It was the kings right to command the army whenever there was war • Aristotle called the “the Spartan kingship a perpetual hereditary generalship” • King had absolute control over everything during the war • As accompanied by two ephors that could report back and impeach him if they see fit Judicial Roles • The kings acted as judge over legal matters and worked with the ephorate in creating suitable laws • Hinged on the oracles of Delphi • Also had control over who would marry fatherless girls as well as adoptions 2.3: GOVERNMENT: EPHORATE, GEROUSIA, EKKLESIA EPHORATE (NOTE: IT IS NOT PART OF THE GEROUSIA) • Political body made up of five ephors • Each ephor came from a different village (oba) • Elected annually from among the Spartiates • Most powerful group in Spartan government • Oversaw activities of kings • Controlled daily life in Sparta (education or agoge and judicial roles)

GEROUSIA • Political council made up of the gerontes • 28 members with the 2 kings so 30 members • Elected for life membership • At least 60 years old and acted as the guardians for Spartan society • Executive powers and supreme jurisdiction in judicial matters and initiated policies and laws EKKLESIA • All Spartiates over the age of 30 • Elected the ephors and members of the Gerousia • Voted on/proposed new laws suggested by the Gerousia • Voted by acclamation (shouting the loudest to pick a leader)

2.4 SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND OCCUPATIONS: SPARTIATES, PERIOIKOI, ‘INFERIORS’, HELOTS

Spartiates - Spartan citizens Perioikoi - 'dwellers around' free inhabitants of Laconia and Messenia, not citizens Helots - The enslaved population of Laconia and Messenia, state owned slaves Inferiors - Spartans who lost their citizenship THREE PRINCIPLES OF PRACTICE IN SPARTA • Uniformity • Priority of collective interests over private ones, going toward the syssitia • Conformity to regulations, specific actions and types of behaviour SOCIAL STRUCTURE • Entirely hierarchal and was dependent on each other in order to fulfil Spartan state values such as militarism and discipline • Inferiors were separated from the hierarchy SPARTIATES (HOMOIOI AS REFERRED TO BY ATHENIANS) • Full time soldiers • Each received a plot of land (kleros), as well as helots to work for them • Were not allowed to farm, trade or engage in any industry work SPARTAN CITIZENSHIP Based on 4 criteria 1. Birth (proof of descendant from the Dorian conquerors) 2. Training; Submission and completion of the agoge 3. Ownership of public land (kleros) 4. Membership to and continual contribution toward the syssition

PERIOIKOI • Those who were dwellers/free inhabitants of Lakonia, Messenia and along the coast of Sparta. • Perioikoi contributed to the overall economical growth of Sparta as they engaged in trade and industry, particularly manufacturing of weapons and armour • They were expected to contribute militarily in times of war • Provide hoplites for military service • They had no voice in the government or foreign policy of Sparta • Not allowed to intermarry with Spartiates HELOTS • • •

• • • • •

Enslaved population of Messenia and Lakonia Helots worked for individual Spartiates --> lived with Spartiate families on their kleroi Main duty: supply a fixed amount of produce (half of what they grew) annually to Spartan masters --> this was donated to the syssition --> helots were able to keep the other half Accompany Spartiates to war --> aides or servants / light armed skirmishers/slingers Restricted property rights Some marriage rights No legal or political standing in the community Krypteia were used to control the helots --> as part of their training, young men were sent at night into the countryside to kill any helots they found

INFERIORS • Spartiates that lost their citizenship • Citizenship could be lost through acts of cowardice or from committing criminal activity, or not upholding/conforming to Spartan values. TYPES OF INFERIORS • Monthaces: • Sons of helots --> brought up as foster-brothers/playmates of young Spartans • Parthenaiai: • Sons of the illegitimate union of a Spartiate and a helot woman • Hypomeiones: • Young Spartans who failed to gain entrance into a syssition • Neodamodeis: • Helots who were given freedom for some special action (e.g. bravery in battle) • Tresantes: • Showed cowardice in battle

2.5: THE SPARTAN ARMY: TRAINING (AGOGE)

ROLES AND PURPOSE • Ducat underlines that the Spartan agoge sought to “shape dissimilar individuals in order to make them conform to the collective norm.” • Spartan values imparted onto agoge training 1. Courage 2. Fitness, Strength and endurance 3. Military Prowess 4. Obedience and Loyalty 5. Comradeship 6. Loyalty • •

Training began at age 7 and encouraged socialisation and communalism Became full time soldiers at age 23

FEATURES OF TRAINING IN THE AGOGE • Education was a state responsibility • Public speaking and Oration were forbidden as it was considered unnecessary • Music and dance was practiced to improve dexterity and agility • Kept hungry and were encouraged to steal, but were punished if they were caught • Boys learnt to read and write no more than necessary STAGES OF TRAINING IN THE AGOGE BIRTH •

Babies were examined, if they were weak, then they were left to die at the top of Mount Taygetus

•

Boys were raised at home with their mothers and were instilled with Spartan values At age 7, they were sent to the agoge and sorted into barracks by Lycurgus himself

0-7

•

7-12 • • •

In the care of the state and were encouraged to develop a communal bond with their comrades Lived in military barracks where they learnt discipline and learnt to fend for themselves At age 10, they began lessons on dance, music and athletics

12-18 • • • •

Continued their life in the barracks, developed endurance and skill and were encouraged to steal Were punished if they were caught though, not because they stole, but because they were caught. Discipline included going barefoot, exercising naked, having short hair and sleeping on beds of rushes Clothing was limited to one garment and they were given limited rations

18-23 •

Enrolled as an eirene and could fight (not in the front line) and marry

•

Full time soldier

23-30 30 onwards • Citizen and soldier • Able to live at home but had to come for mealtimes in the barracks • Allowed to grow their hair PAIDOMONOS AND EIRENES (18-23 YEARS) • Paidomonos oversaw the agoge • At 18, they began training as Eirenes or Spartan "cadets", who were like leaders of troops and could also apply for membership of the syssitia

2.5: THE SPARTAN ARMY: COMPOSITION AND ROLE

THE SPARTAN ARMY • Originally comprised of just the Spartiate class, but because there wasn't enough, the helots, soldiers from other states and perioikoi joined (mostly Periokoi) • After their conquest of Messenia, the Spartans devoted their lives to maintain the army FEATURES OF THE ARMY • Egalitarian army (everyone is treated as an equal) • Armour and weapons were most likely provided by the state • All hoplites were required to wear the standard short red cloak and hair grown long (Lycurgus liked the barbaric look of long untamed hair) • Discipline was exercised to extremity

SPARTAN ARMY AND STATE VALUES • Abandoning the army as a solider was considered shameful and could result in loss of citizenship • Those that died in battle had the honour of their name being inscribed onto a gravestone and brought prestige to their relatives • Spartan songs were in praise of men • Those that displayed exceptional bravery were idolised as heroes COMPOSITION OF THE ARMY • Initially organised according to the five obai that furnished one regiment for the army • Contained one man out of every age class from ages 20 to 50 • Could not be in the same troop as relatives they felt it would adhere from Spartan values of state before self if solider developed an emotional attachment to others

HOPLITES WEAPONS AND ARMOUR • Corinthian style helmet which made hearing difficult • Red cloak (Lycurgus felt it was the most masculine thing to wear in battle) • Long thrusting spear around 3m long • Short stabbing sword attached at the waist • Large round shield inscribed with the Greek letter L that looks like a V • Greaves (shin guards) made of leather or metal • Protective leather corslet worn over their cloth tunic SHIELD INFO • Around 1 metre in length and weighing around 7kg • Made of wood and reinforced with bronze (to clean easily and tarnish slower) • Convex to deflect impacts from enemies SPARTAN PHALANX • Undefeated for a century due to this formation • Closely packed group designed to push through and break enemy ranks • Hoplites were packed in rows with interlocking shields • Most experienced fighters were at the front, with second ranks as backup • Extreme discipline and uniformity were required for its success

• •

Were virtually unstoppable as long as the rear and flanks were protected. Limitations include that it was inflexible, immobile, slow and could not move very well on uneven terrain

ROLES OF THE SPARTAN ARMY • Supress the helots and subdue rebellion • Protect the borders of Laconia and Messenia through a well trained army • Defend Greece from external threats such as the Persians • Aimed to fortify and secure relationships by establishing treaties with other Peloponnesian states • Sparta became the leader of the Peloponnesian League and swore to protect Greece with their lives if other allies were attacked • Maintained this authority until their defeat by the Thebans in the Battle of Leuctra (371BCE) MILITARY • Operating through the Peloponnesian League and protecting threatened allies CIVIC •

All professional hoplites were Spartiates that made decisions about war and peace as members of the assembly

DOMESTIC • Suppression of the helots ECONOMIC • Consumers of goods and resources from the perioikoi and helots IDEOLOGICAL • Facilitators of military values such as heroism, unity, comradeship, communalism, loyalty, obedience and sacrifice. THE SPARTAN MIRAGE • Term first used by French scholar Ollier in the 1930s • Refers to orthodox viewpoints of Sparta that idealised and perpetuated disotrted images of Spartan life • Claimed that Spartans lived a reserved life devoid of luxury and relaxation

1. The Spartan polis had been uniquely free from internal disorder 2. Utopian situation was owed to the Spartan citizens, dutifully obeying the laws laid down by the lawgiver Lycurgus 3. Promoted that these laws, strikingly different from all other Greek states affected absolutely every aspect of Spartan life, both public and private • Raises questions of whether or not the Spartans practiced uniformity and discipline in the army • Also doubted whether or not the Spartans were as brave as they seemed HISTORIAN VIEWPOINTS • Herodotus and Thucydides emphasised the difference Spartan customs were compared to the Athenians, and exemplified their strange practices • Xenophon admired Sparta and viewed it as the ideal polis (city state) • Plutarch and Pausanias also perpetuated this idealised notion • Aristotle's view juxtaposed this idea and blamed it on Spartan women and how it reflected Athenian gender bias TYRTAEUS' POETRY • Wrote during the 7th century BCE • Gained insight into fighting methods and tactics • Poetry aimed to inspire soldiers and young Spartiates into serving the army well • Influenced by Homer's Iliad • Represents every Spartan as a potential hero • Sung as part of children's education in the agoge and before battles to inspire hoplites ROLES OF THE SPARTAN ARMY (HSC RESPONSE) • Important for sustaining state values such as communalism, militarism and discipline upon which Spartan society was founded. (Social) • Important for controlling the helots and defending Sparta (Military) • Important in influencing the practices and conditions of the agoge (Educational and Training) 2.6: CONTROL OF THE HELOTS: THE MILITARY, SYSSITIA, KRYPTEIA

THE SYSSITIA • Public dining groups where Spartiates ate their evening meals • Contributions to the syssitia were compulsory to maintain Spartan citizenship • Produce was grown by the helots which facilitated their citizenship • All ate together to promote a sense of comradery/comradeship/communalism

KRYPTEIA • Known as the Spartan secret police, and controlled the helots • Specially chosen eirens were sent to the countryside with a dagger and basic rations • Tasked to kill any helots that looked strong and well built as they were a threat ...