12 Ancient History - Home



The Economy Land OwnershipLYCURGUS: in his reforms he convinced the Spartans to pool their land together divide it into allotments and then distribute these among Spartan citizens and perioki AgricultureVERY IMPORTANT: as most other Greek states the agricultural industry was the most important for Spartan society SPARTANS + HELOTS: the land had to be sufficient to sustain the helots who worked on it and to provide produce for the Spartinate’s family SYSSITION: the produce from the land was also important for the male Spartan’s contribution to the mess if they could not contribute they would lose citizenship KleroiKLEROI: these were the allotments of land being the Spartan’s citizens state PRIVATE LAND: aristocratic or rich Spartiates held private lands in addition to their kleroi this caused some inequalityHelotsWORK ON KELROS: the kleroi were managed by the Spartans however all the work was performed by the Helot families TechnologyPERIOKOI: this group was mainly responsible for the industry and trade in Sparta Weapons & Armour ARMOUR: these were usually made from metals and other materials:Bronze Helmet: usually crowned with horsehair crest to make the hoplite appear taller and more intimidatingBreastplate: worn over a linen tunic bronze breastplates were sculptured to resemble chest muscles Hoplon: I metre in diameter was made of wood covered with a sheet of bronze on the outside Greaves: made of bronze covered the lower leg like metal shin guards 397065553975WEAPONS: these were usually made from metals and other materials:Wooden Spear: between 2.5-3 metres long with a bronze spear point Short Sword: or iron or bronze was carried but seldom used last resort Bronze Making5037455-595630IRON ORE + IMPORTED COPPER + TIN: there were good supplies of iron ore in Laconia, but copper and tin may have been imported to mix with the iron to make bronze 6th CENTURY: archaeological evidence shows that high quality bronze work was being produced and exported from Laconia throughout the 6th century TECHNIQUES: there were two main techniques used in bronze working:Sheets: casting of molten alloy into a mould and then beating it out into thin sheeting with a hammer 485648012065Indirect Casting: by the 5th century the new technique was developed in which clay was used to produce a negative, thus making possible the mass production of cast objects SCULPTURES/FIGURINES/STATUES: many objects were made out of bronze including smaller figurines and larger statues and sculptures e.g. a bronze statue of Zeus on a bronze base about 5.5 metres tall built by Telestas PotteryLOCAL CLAY: there were plentiful supplies of local clay, but little is known about how Laconian pottery was made or who made it FAMOUS POTTERY ‘laconian III’: the most famous pottery is known as Laconian III dated back to c.575BC and “was primarily interested in human subjects and telling a story. The figures are painted in black on a creamy yellow slip, with the detail elaborately drawn by incision, and lavish use of purple gives an effect of colour” (Fitzharidage) ATTIC RED FIGGRUEWARE: the laconian potters eventually copied the Attic red figure wareSMALL FIGURINES: small figurines, mould made reliefs or baked clay (terracottas) have also been found at most religious sites Economic Roles of the Periokoi (‘dwellers around’) and helotsDEPENDENT: the Spartan economy, geared to enabling Spartinates to maintain military preparedness, was dependent on the vital roles played by the perioikoi and helots Periokoi (dwellers around) 4533900370840PROFESSIONALS/MERCHANTS/INDUSTRIES: were professionals, merchants, trade and crafts workers of Spartan society they monopolised all trades, businesses and professions Miners/metal workers: through these metals they developed weapons and armour Manufactures: all goods such as furniture, armour and weapons Fishermen: the fishermen, shipwrights and naval personnel at Gytheum were perioki Clothing: shoes purple garments and other objects of wood and iron CURRENCY: they could use gold and silver currency Helots GOVERNMENT PROPERTY: were the property of the Spartan government, attached to state owned land (kleroi) they were controlled by Spartinates however not owned FARMING: the main economic role they played was in the food production and farming:Military Activities: this freed Spartans from needing to work the land allowing them to focus on military activities and training Sysstion: also allowed them to contribute to the mess each month HELOT WOMEN DOMESTICS: Helot women did the spinning and weaving and there domestic activities which freed Spartan women to follow their privileged lifestyle Economic Exchange: Use of iron bars, trade Iron Bars IRON BARS: the Spartan state did not sue metal coins for currency but instead used iron bars which may have symbolised a transaction rather than acting as cash could not be used elsewhere in Greece REASONS WHY: there are a number of reasons Lycurgus may have introduced this including: Reduce Theft: because it would be harder to steal an iron bar unnoticed Restricted Hoarding: to restrict the possible hoarding of money Reduced Conspicuous Consumption: as it restricted the inability to trade with other Greek states Reduced Trade (other Greek states): reducing their potential influence on Sparta SKPETICAL (iron bars): scholars generally agree that the idea Sparta banned gold and silver coinage is a myth: Hellenic Currency: it has been suggested that Spartans must have always used some Hellenic currency rather than the iron splits because they needed to pay for mercenaries and send embassies abroad MINT 3RD CENTURY: the Spartans did not build mint coins until 3rd century TradePERIOKOI: Spartan trade was carried out mainly by the periokoi and was conducted through its port Gytheum 46km from Sparta on the Laconium coast CENTRAL TRADING POINT: later on it became a central trading point after initially being visited by Syrian and Phoenician traders MAIN EXPORTS: were wool, wine, oil, pottery and bronzes ................
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