Ancient Sparta- an ancient state, a city-polis, located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, in the Peloponnese.

The name of the province of Laconica gave the second name to the Spartan state in the ancient period of history - Lacedaemon.

History of occurrence

In world history, Sparta is known as an example of a militarized state in which the activities of each member of society are subordinated to a single goal - to grow a strong and healthy warrior.

In the ancient period of history in the south of the Peloponnese there were two fertile valleys - Messenia and Laconia. They were separated from each other by a rugged mountain range.

Initially, the state-city of Sparta arose in the Lakonika valley and represented a very small territory - 30 X 10 km. The swampy terrain prevented access to the sea and nothing promised this tiny state of world glory.

Everything changed after the violent conquest and annexation of the Messenian valley and during the reign of ancient Greek philosopher and the great reformer Lycurgus.

His reforms were aimed at the formation of a state with a certain doctrine - to create an ideal state and eradicate such instincts as greed, greed, the thirst for personal enrichment. He formulated the basic laws that concerned not only the administration of the state, but also strictly regulated privacy every member of society.


Gradually, Sparta turns into a militarized state whose main goal was its own national security. The main task is to produce soldiers. After the conquest of Messenia, Sparta won back some lands from Argos and Arcadia, her neighbors in the northern part of the Peloponnese, and switched to a policy of diplomacy reinforced by military superiority.

Such a strategy allowed Sparta to become the head of the Peloponnesian Union and play the most important political role among the Greek states.

Government of Sparta

The Spartan state consisted of three social classes - the Spartans or Spartans, the perieks inhabiting the conquered cities and the slaves of the Spartans, the helots. Complex but logically coherent device political management The Spartan state was a slave-owning system with the remnants of tribal relations that have survived from primitive communal times.

At the head were two rulers - hereditary kings. Initially, they were completely independent and did not report to anyone else and did not report to anyone. Later, their role in government was limited to the council of elders - gerousia, which consisted of 28 elected members for life over 60 years old.

The ancient state of Sparta photo

Further - the national assembly, in which all the Spartans who have reached the age of 30 and have the means necessary for a citizen took part. A little later, another organ appeared government controlled- ephorate. It consisted of five officials elected by the general assembly. Their powers were practically unlimited, although they did not have clearly defined boundaries. Even the ruling kings had to coordinate their actions with the ephors.

The structure of society

The ruling class in Ancient Sparta was the Spartans. Each had his own land allotment and a certain number of helot slaves. Using material goods, the Spartiate could not sell, donate or bequeath land or slaves. It was the property of the state. Only the Spartans could enter the governing bodies and vote.

The next social class is the perieki. These were the inhabitants of the occupied territories. They were allowed to trade, engage in crafts. They had the privilege of enlisting in the military. The lowest class of helots, who were in the position of slaves, were state property and came from the enslaved inhabitants of Messenia.

sparta warriors photo

The state provided helots for rent to the Spartans to cultivate their land plots. During the period of the highest prosperity of Ancient Sparta, the number of helots exceeded the ruling class by 15 times.

Spartan upbringing

The education of citizens was considered a state task in Sparta. From birth to 6 years, the child was in the family, and after that he was transferred to the care of the state. From 7 to 20 years old, young men underwent very serious physical training. Simplicity and moderation in an environment full of hardships from childhood taught me to be strict and harsh life warrior.

The 20-year-old boys who passed all the tests completed their training and became warriors. Upon reaching the age of 30, they became full members of society.

Economy

Sparta owned the two most fertile regions - Laconia and Messenia. Arable agriculture, olives, vineyards, and horticultural crops prevailed here. This was the advantage of Lacedaemonia over the Greek policies. The most basic food product, bread, was grown, not imported.

Among grain crops, barley prevailed, the processed product of which was used as the main one in the diet of the inhabitants of Sparta. Wealthy Lacedaemonians used wheat flour as a supplement to their main diet at public meals. Among the main population, wild wheat, spelt, was more common.

Warriors needed good nutrition, so cattle breeding was developed in Sparta for high level. Goats and pigs were raised for food, and bulls, mules, and donkeys were used as draft animals. Horses were preferred for the formation of mounted military detachments.

Sparta is a warrior state. He needs, first of all, not decorations, but weapons. Luxurious excesses were replaced by practicality. For example, instead of painted, elegant ceramics, the main task of which is to delight, the craft of making vessels that can be used on long hikes reaches perfection. Using the rich iron mines, the strongest "Laconian steel" was made in Sparta.

A copper shield was an obligatory element of the Spartan's military weapons. History knows many examples when politicking, power ambitions destroyed the most stable economy and destroyed statehood, despite all its military power. The ancient ancient state of Sparta is a clear example of this.

  • In ancient Sparta, healthy and viable offspring were taken care of very cruelly. Newborn children were examined by the elders and the sick or weak were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetskaya rock. Healthy returned to the family.
  • Girls in Sparta were involved in athletics on a par with boys. They also ran, jumped, threw the spear and discus to grow strong, hardy and produce healthy offspring. Regular exercise made Spartan girls very attractive. They stood out for their beauty and stateliness among the rest of the Hellenes.
  • We owe to the ancient Spartan upbringing such a concept as “conciseness.” This expression is due to the fact that in Sparta young men were taught modest behavior, and their speech had to be short and strong, that is, “laconic”. This is what distinguished the inhabitants of Laconia among the inhabitants of Athens who love to orate.

Sparta - ancient state in Greece, now known all over the world. Such concepts as "Spartan", "Spartan" came precisely from Sparta. Everyone also knows the custom of the Spartans to kill weak children in order to maintain the gene pool of the nation.

Now Sparta is a small town in Greece, the center of the Laconia nome, located in the Peloponnese region. And earlier, the Spartan state was one of the main contenders for supremacy in the ancient Greek world. Some milestones in the history of Sparta are sung in the works of Homer, including the outstanding Iliad. In addition, we all know the films "300 Spartans" and "Troy", the plot of which also affects some historical events with Sparta.

Officially, Sparta was called Lacedaemon, hence the name of the nome Laconia. The emergence of Sparta is attributed to the 11th century BC. After some time, the area in which the city-state was located was conquered by the Dorian tribes, who, having assimilated with the local Achaeans, became Spartakiates in the sense we know. The former inhabitants of the city were turned into helot slaves.

One of the key figures in the formation of Sparta as a strong state is Lycurgus, who ruled the city in the 9th century BC. Before the advent of Lycurgus Sparta, Greece was not much different from other ancient Greek city-states; art, trade, and crafts were also developed here. The poetry of its poets also speaks of the high culture of the Spartan state. However, with the coming to power of Lycurgus, the situation changed radically, military art received priority in development. From that moment on, Lacedaemon was transformed into a powerful military state.

Beginning in the 8th century BC, Sparta began to wage wars of conquest in the Peloponnese, conquering its neighbors one by one. So, the glory of the so-called Messenian wars, the 1st and 2nd, has reached our days, as a result of which Sparta won. The citizens of Messenia were turned into helot slaves. Argos and Arcadia were conquered in the same way.

After a series of military operations to seize works and new territories, Lacedaemon moved on to establishing diplomatic relations with neighbors. Through the conclusion of treaties, Lacedaemon became the head of the union of the Peloponnesian states - a powerful formation of Ancient Greece.

The creation of the Peloponnesian Union of States by Sparta served as a prototype for a future alliance with Athens to repel the threat of a Persian invasion. During the war with Persia in the 5th century BC, the famous Battle of Thermopylae took place, which served as the source for the plot of the famous American film "300 Spartans". And although the plot of the film is far from historical reality, thanks to it, millions of people around the world learned about this battle.

Despite the joint victory in the war with the Persians, the union of Athens and Sparta did not last long. In 431 BC, the so-called Peloponnesian War broke out, in which, a few decades later, the Spartan state won.

However, not everyone in Ancient Greece was satisfied with the supremacy of Lacedaemon, and 50 years after the Peloponnesian War broke out new war. This time, Thebes and its allies became the rivals of the Spartans, who managed to inflict a serious defeat on Sparta, after which the power of the Spartan state was lost. It is worth noting that between these two bloody and cruel wars for dominance on the peninsula, the Spartans did not sit idle, almost all this time there were wars against various city-states of Ancient Greece, which ultimately crippled the forces of Lacedaemon.

After being defeated by Thebes, Lacedaemon waged several more wars. Among them are the war with Macedonia in the 4th century BC, which brought the defeat of the Spartans, the war with the invading Galatians in the early 3rd century BC. The Spartans also fought for dominance in the Peloponnese with the newly created Achaean Union, and a little later, already at the beginning of the 2nd century BC, they were participants in the Laconian War. All these battles and wars clearly showed a strong decline in the former power of the Spartan state. In the end, Sparta, Greece was forcibly included in Ancient Rome, along with other ancient Greek states. Thus ended an independent period in the history of a proud and warlike state. Sparta - the ancient state in Greece ceased to exist, becoming one of the provinces of Ancient Rome.

The device of the ancient Spartan state differed significantly from other ancient Greek city-states. So, the rulers of Lacedaemon were two kings from two dynasties - Agids and Eurypontides. They ruled the state together with a council of elders, the so-called gerousia, which included 28 people. The composition of the gerusia was for life. In addition, important state decisions were made at a national assembly called an appellation. Only free citizens who had reached the age of 30 and possessed sufficient in cash. Somewhat later arose government agency ephors, which included 5 officials from 5 Spartan regions, who together had more power than the kings.

The population of the Spartan state was class unequal: Spartans, perieks - free residents from nearby cities who did not have the right to vote, and helots - state slaves. The Spartans were supposed to deal exclusively with war, they could not participate in trade, crafts and agriculture, all this was at the mercy of the perieks. The estates of the Spartans were processed by helots rented from the state. During the heyday of the Spartan state, the Spartans were 5 times less than the perieks and 10 times less than the helots.

Such was the ancient Sparta, from which the ruins of its buildings, the unfading glory of the state-warrior and a small city of the same name in the south of the Peloponnese now remain.

Before the Dorian invasion, Sparta was a modest village of peasants and shepherds. The Dorians defeated them, despite stubborn resistance, subjugated them and divided the entire population into classes, as a result of which the local tribes were at the lowest level - they made up the class of helots, real slaves, deprived of any rights and brutally oppressed. At the top of the social ladder were the Spartans, a class made up of the victorious Dorians and their descendants. They alone were granted all rights, so that only the Spartans were true citizens of Sparta, that is, only they could choose and be elected to various positions in the state. Only the Spartans had the right to bear arms; thus, a conquered people could never arm themselves and threaten their dominance. The middle class were the perieks; it was made up of the inhabitants of the environs of Sparta, who submitted to the Dorians without a fight, receiving in return some freedom, but they were also deprived of the right to take part in the formation of the government. Perieki were a class of producers: artisans, merchants, farmers, civilians.

Head of a Spartan warrior

Each member of Spartan society was forever associated with any of the three classes, and he could not change his position; therefore, marriages between people belonging to different social groups were forbidden: those who violated this law were punished extremely severely.

The abilities of Greek artisans were manifested in all areas, including the art of fashion, which was then very developed.

However, the whole life of Sparta was cruel and harsh. It was cruel for the helots, who were at the very bottom of the social ladder; cruel for the perieks, who were heavily taxed, and often simply extortionate, especially in the event of a war, which required a lot of money to wage. Finally, life was cruel for the Spartans themselves, who obeyed a harsh regime, preparing to become warriors capable of enduring the most difficult trials. Sad and harsh, therefore, was the whole life of this city, constantly striving to prove its superiority over other policies, which, however, it never succeeded in; a city closed to the rest of the world for fear of losing and wasting its ideal of strength, which in the end turned out to be a fatal weakness.

Teachers were highly respected in Athens: they taught children Greek, poetry, gymnastics.

In order to get an idea of ​​the pressure of the ruling circles of society on representatives of the lower classes, only a few figures can be given: for 10 thousand Spartans there were about 100 thousand perieks and 200 thousand helots. And in order to understand how severe the Spartans were even in relation to their children, it is enough to remember that they killed babies born with some kind of physical defect that would prevent them from becoming strong and brave warriors. In addition, from the age of six, the child was taken away from the family in order to raise a future defender-warrior from him. It has rightly been observed that Sparta was nothing more than one large barracks. Young people were subjected to all kinds of trials: they were forced to endure hunger and thirst, cold and heat, they performed physical exercises with weapons until they were completely exhausted; for the slightest offense they were severely beaten with sticks. Only in this way, the Spartans believed, the body would become invulnerable, and the soul would prepare for the harsh military everyday life.

From twenty to sixty, a Spartan citizen was a warrior at every moment of his life: food was common, clothes were the same, the same hours of rise, military exercises and rest were the same for everyone. Young Spartan warriors got acquainted only with the very basics of education: a little reading, a little writing, a few war songs; some lucky ones were allowed to play the simplest musical instruments. Above all, for the Spartans it was good hometown, but not culture, art or science, but the only desire is to fight and die for the motherland.

The great Athenian commander and politician Themistocles (left). Pericles (right), the age of Pericles is the golden age in Greek history

The Spartans never missed an opportunity to deliver military glory to their city: they subjugated Messenia, part of Argolis, for a long time did not cede Arcadia its own territory; the Spartans were known as the most powerful force among all members of the union that united the cities of the Peloponnese, the so-called Peloponnesian Union.

Tradition ascribes the political structure of Sparta to the Spartan Lycurgus, who lived around the 9th century BC. Power in the state was in the hands of two kings at the same time, who could thus rule in turn. The kings were chiefly in charge of military matters; For driving civil affairs A special council was established to which even the kings were accountable. It was the so-called gerousia, an assembly of 28 members - geronts, each of which had to be, firstly, over 61 years old (geros means old man, old man), and secondly, the head of the family. Gerousia submitted laws for consideration to the people's assembly - the appeal, in which, of course, only the Spartans were allowed to participate. The popular assembly could approve or reject the law, but not discuss it; only the apella could elect five experts every year - ephors who observed the activities of the government and were in charge of the improvement of the city.

Sparta

The Spartan way of life was well described by Xenophon in his work: “Lacedaemonian Politics”. He wrote that in most states everyone enriches himself as much as he can, without disdaining any means. In Sparta, on the other hand, the legislator, with his usual wisdom, deprived wealth of any attraction. All Spartariats - poor and rich lead exactly the same way of life, eat the same at the common table, wear the same modest clothes, their children without any distinctions and concessions to military drill. So acquisitiveness is devoid of any meaning in Sparta. Lycurgus (the Spartan king) turned money into a laughingstock: they are so inconvenient. From here the expression "Spartan way of life" means - simple, without any frills, restrained, strict and harsh.

Random photos of nature
All the ancient classics from Herodotus and Aristotle to Plutarch agreed that before Lycurgus came to rule Sparta, the existing orders there were ugly. And that there were no worse laws in any of the then Greek city-states. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the Spartans had to constantly keep in obedience the masses of the indigenous Greek population of the once conquered lands, turned into slaves or semi-dependent tributaries. It goes without saying that internal political conflicts posed a threat to the very existence of the state.

In ancient Sparta, there was a bizarre mixture of totalitarianism and democracy. The founder of the “Spartan way of life”, the legendary reformer of antiquity, Lycurgus, created, according to many researchers, the prototype of both social communist and fascist political systems 20th century Lycurgus not only transformed the political and economic system of Sparta, but also completely regulated the private life of fellow citizens. Severe measures to "correct morals" implied, in particular, the decisive eradication of "private property" vices - greed and greed, for which money was almost completely devalued.

Lycurgus thoughts, therefore, not only aimed to restore order, but were also called upon to solve the problem of national security of the Spartan state.

History of Sparta
Sparta, main city region of Laconia, was located on the western bank of the river Evros and extended north from the modern city of Sparta. Laconia (Laconica) is the abbreviated name of the region, which was fully called Lacedaemon, therefore the inhabitants of this area were often called "Lacedaemonians", which is equivalent to the words "Spartan" or "Spartiate".

From the VIII century BC. Sparta began to expand by conquering its neighbors - other Greek city-states. During the 1st and 2nd Messenian Wars (between 725 and 600 BC), the Messenian region west of Sparta was conquered, and the Messenians were turned into helots, i.e. state slaves.

Having won another part of the territory from Argos and Arcadia, Sparta moved from a policy of conquest to building up its power through the conclusion of agreements with various Greek city-states. As the head of the Peloponnesian Union (began to emerge c. 550 BC, took shape c. 510-500 BC), Sparta actually turned into the most powerful military power in Greece. Thus, a force was created that became a counterweight to the impending invasion of the Persians, the combined efforts of the Peloponnesian League and Athens with their allies led to a decisive victory over the Persians at Salamis and Plataea in 480 and 479 BC.

The conflict between the two greatest states of Greece, Sparta and Athens, land and sea power, was inevitable, and in 431 BC. The Peloponnesian War broke out. Ultimately, in 404 BC. Sparta took over.

Dissatisfaction with Spartan dominance in Greece led to a new war. The Thebans and their allies, led by Epaminondas, inflicted a heavy defeat on the Spartans and Sparta began to lose its former power.

Sparta had a special political and social structure. The head of the Spartan state has long been two hereditary kings. They held meetings together with the gerousia - the council of elders, to which 28 people over 60 were elected for life. All Spartans who had reached the age of 30 and had sufficient funds to perform what was considered necessary for a citizen, in particular, to contribute their share to participate in joint meals (phiditia), participated in the national assembly (apella). Later, the institution of ephors arose, five officials who were elected by the assembly, one from each region of Sparta. The five ephors had power superior to that of kings.

The type of civilization now called "Spartan" is not characteristic of early Sparta. Before 600 BC Spartan culture generally coincided with the way of life of the then Athens and other Greek states. Fragments of sculptures, fine ceramics, ivory, bronze, lead and terracotta figurines found in this area testify to the high level of Spartan culture, just like the poetry of the Spartan poets Tyrtaeus and Alcman (7th century BC) . However, shortly after 600 BC. there was a sudden change. Art and poetry disappear. Sparta suddenly became a military camp, and from then on, the militarized state produced only soldiers. The introduction of this way of life is attributed to Lycurgus, the hereditary king of Sparta.

The Spartan state consisted of three classes: the Spartans, or Spartans; perieki ("living nearby") - people from allied cities that surrounded Lacedaemon; Helots are the slaves of the Spartans.

Only Spartans could vote and enter the governing bodies. They were forbidden to engage in trade and, in order to discourage them from making a profit, use gold and silver coins. The land plots of the Spartans, cultivated by helots, were supposed to give their owners sufficient income to purchase military equipment and meet daily needs. Spartan hosts had no right to release or sell the helots attached to them; helots were given to the Spartans as if for temporary use and were the property of the Spartan state. Unlike an ordinary slave, who could not have any property, helots had the right to that part of the products produced on their site, which remained after paying a fixed share of the harvest to the Spartans. To prevent uprisings of the helots who had a numerical superiority and to maintain the combat readiness of their own citizens, secret sorties (cryptia) were constantly arranged to kill the helots.

Trade and production were carried out by the perieks. They did not participate in political life Sparta, but had some rights, as well as the privilege to serve in the army.

Thanks to the labor of numerous helots, the Spartans could devote all their time exercise and military affairs. By 600 BC there were about 25 thousand citizens, 100 thousand perieks and 250 thousand helots. Later, the number of helots exceeded the number of citizens by 15 times.

Wars and economic hardships reduced the number of Spartans. During the Greco-Persian Wars (480 BC), Sparta fielded ca. 5000 Spartans, but a century later at the Battle of Leuctra (371 BC) only 2000 fought. It is mentioned that in the 3rd century. Sparta had only 700 citizens.

Spartan upbringing
The state controlled the life of citizens from birth to death. At birth, all children were examined by the elders, who decided whether they were healthy, strong and not crippled. In the latter case, children, as they could not become a capable instrument of the state, were doomed to death, for which they were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetskaya rock. If they were healthy, then they returned to their parents for upbringing, which lasted up to 6 years.

The upbringing was extremely harsh. From the age of 7, the child completely belonged to the power of the state, and almost all the time the children devoted to physical exercises, during which they were allowed to kick, bite, and even scratch each other with their nails. All city boys were divided into ranks and classes and lived together under the supervision of state-appointed guards. The guards, in turn, with all their subordinates, were under the command of the chief guard - the pedon. This position was usually occupied by one of the most distinguished and honored citizens. This joint upbringing ensured that all children were imbued with one common spirit and direction. In addition to gymnastics, the Spartans were taught at school to play the flute and sing religious martial hymns. Modesty and respect for elders were the first duty of young people.

Children were brought up in the greatest simplicity and moderation, subjected to all kinds of hardships. Their food was bad and so inadequate that they had to provide for themselves what they lacked. For this, as well as for the development of resourcefulness and dexterity in young Spartans, they were allowed to steal something from food with impunity, but if a thief was caught, then he was severely punished. The children's clothing consisted of a simple cloak, and they always went barefoot. They slept on hay, straw or reeds, collected by themselves from the river Evrota. Every year on the feast of Artemis, boys were flogged to the point of blood, and some of them fell dead without uttering a single sound, without uttering a single plaintive moan. By this they thought to achieve that the men who came out of such boys would not be afraid of either wounds or death in battle.

After the probationary period, at the age of 15, teenagers fell into the group of Eirens. Here, the training was based on drill exercises and mastery of weapons. base itself physical training were pentathlon (penathlon) and fisticuffs. Fisticuffs, as well as hand-to-hand combat techniques, were "Spartan gymnastics." Even the dance served as a preparation for a warrior: in the course of rhythmic movements, it was necessary to imitate a duel with an enemy, throwing a spear, manipulate a shield in order to dodge stones thrown by educators and adults during the dance. Spartan youths usually walked the streets with a quiet, even step, with lowered eyes and holding their hands under a cloak (the latter was considered a sign of modesty in Greece). From childhood they were taught not to produce speeches, but to answer shortly and strongly. Hence, such answers are now called "laconic".

At the age of twenty, a Spartiate completed his education and entered the army. He had the right to marry, but he could only visit his wife in secret.

At the age of 30, a Spartiate became a full-fledged citizen, could legally marry and participate in the people's assembly, but he spent the lion's share of his time in the gymnasium, forestry (something like a club) and fidity. Marriage was concluded between young people freely, according to inclination. Usually, a Spartiate abducted his girlfriend (however, with the knowledge of her parents) and saw her secretly for some time, and then openly declared her his wife and brought her into the house. The position of the wife in Sparta was quite honorable: she was the mistress of the house, did not lead such a reclusive life as in the East and partly among other Greek tribes, and in better times Sparta showed a high patriotic spirit.

Spartan girls also received athletic training that included running, jumping, wrestling, discus and javelin throwing. Lycurgus introduced such training for girls so that they would grow up strong and courageous, capable of producing strong and healthy children. Spartan women were famous for their beauty throughout Greece; Spartan nurses became so famous that rich people everywhere tried to entrust their children to them.

Customs and life of the Spartans
The laws concerning the private way of life were entirely aimed at the elimination of inequality.

The Spartans were prescribed the most rigorous lifestyle. For example, men could not dine at home, they gathered at common tables, where they dined in groups, or partnerships. This custom of public tables was called sissitia. Each member of the partnership brought to the table a certain amount of flour, wine, fruits and money. They dined very moderately, their favorite dish was black soup boiled on pork, seasoned with blood, vinegar and salt. To cover the costs of such a common table, each Spartan citizen was obliged to deliver monthly a certain amount of food supplies: barley flour, wine, cheese and figs. Seasonings were purchased with small donations. The poorest people who were unable to pay these contributions were exempted from them. But only those who were busy sacrificing or felt tired after the hunt could be freed from sissitia. In this case, in order to justify his absence, he had to send to the sissitia part of the sacrifice made or the animal he had killed.

In private dwellings, Lycurgus banished every sign of luxury, for which they were ordered not to use any other tools in the construction of houses, except for an ax and a saw.

The natural consequence of the simplicity of such relations and needs was that money in the state did not circulate in in large numbers, and with limited trade with other states, especially in the early days, it was easy to do without gold and silver.

The greatest simplicity was also observed in clothing and dwellings. Only before the battle, the Spartans dressed up as if for a holiday: they then put on scarlet cloaks, decorated their long hair with wreaths and walked with songs to the sounds of flutes.

With the unusual attachment of the Spartans to their laws and customs mental development they were detained by the whole system of ancient institutions, adapted to their state structure. And when orators, sophists, philosophers, historians and dramatic poets appeared in other Greek states, the mental side of education among the Spartans was limited only to teaching literacy and writing, sacred and warlike songs that they sang at the festivities and starting the battle.

Such originality in morals and education, which was supported by the laws of Lycurgus, further strengthened the opposition between the Spartans and all other Hellenes, led to even greater alienation. natural character Spartan-Dorian tribe. Therefore, although they point to the Lycurgus law, according to which no foreigner could stay in Sparta longer than necessary and had no right to live long outside the fatherland, it is obvious that this was just a custom that followed from the very essence of things.

The natural severity of Sparta in itself removed the stranger from her, and if anything could attract him there, it was only one curiosity. For the Spartan, however, any side could not have any temptation, since there he met customs and living conditions alien to him, to which he was accustomed from childhood to relate only with contempt.

In addition to the laws outlined, establishing moderation, the preservation of bodily health, contempt for all kinds of dangers, there were also other decrees that directly sought to form warriors and brave men from the Spartans.

Staying in a military camp was considered a holiday. Here the severity of domestic life received some relief and life was somewhat freer. The scarlet clothes worn by the Spartans in the war, the wreaths with which they were decorated when entering the battle, the sounds of flutes and songs that accompanied them when attacking the enemy - all this gave the previously terrible war a cheerful, solemn character.

Brave warriors who fell on the battlefield were buried crowned with laurel wreaths. Even more honorable was the burial in scarlet clothes; names were indicated only on the graves of those killed in battle. The coward was punished with insulting shame. Who fled from the battlefield or left the line, he was deprived of the right to participate in gymnastic games, in sissitia, he did not dare to buy or sell, in a word, he was exposed to universal contempt and reproach in everything.

Therefore, before the battle, mothers admonished their sons: "With a shield or on a shield." “With a shield” means I expect your return with victory. “On the shield” means that it’s better to bring you dead than you run away from the battlefield and return in disgrace.

Conclusion
The Spartans deliberately introduced a despotism that deprived the individual of freedom and initiative and destroyed the influence of the family. However, the Spartan way of life was very appealing to Plato, who included in his ideal state many of its militaristic, totalitarian and communist features.

The upbringing of the younger generation was considered a matter in Sparta national importance and direct task of the state.

In essence, Sparta was a rather backward agrarian state, which not only did not care about the development of its productive forces, but, paradoxically, Furthermore, saw as its goal every kind of obstruction to him. Trade and handicrafts were considered occupations here that dishonored the citizen; only newcomers (perieki) could do this, and even then on a relatively limited scale.

However, the backwardness of Sparta lies not only in the structure of its economy. In essence, the remnants of the tribal organization of society are still very strong here, the polis principle is weakly manifested, and last but not least, it is precisely this circumstance that prevents it from uniting Greece. However, the remnants of the tribal organization, and the weakness of the polis beginning are superimposed on strict ideological restrictions. The ancient policy rigidly links its ideas about freedom, among other things, with complete economic independence. It's just that in Sparta, as, perhaps, in no other Greek state, the general backwardness and the desire for absolute economic self-sufficiency manifested itself in the most sharp and contrasting form.

Sparta is not in vain considered the strangest state Ancient Hellas: this reputation was firmly entrenched in her even among the ancient Greeks. Some looked at the Spartan state with undisguised admiration, while others denounced the orders that reigned in it, considering them bad and even immoral. And, nevertheless, it was Sparta, militarized, closed and law-abiding, that became a model ideal state, invented by Plato, a native of the eternal rival of Sparta - democratic Athens.

Week tour, one day hiking and excursions combined with comfort (trekking) in the mountain resort of Khadzhokh (Adygea, Krasnodar region). Tourists live at the camp site and visit numerous natural monuments. Rufabgo Waterfalls, Lago-Naki Plateau, Meshoko Gorge, Big Azish Cave, Belaya River Canyon, Guam Gorge.

The glory of Sparta - the Peloponnesian city in Laconia - is very loud in historical chronicles and in the world. It was one of the most famous policies of ancient Greece, which did not know unrest and civil upheavals, and its army never retreated from enemies.

Sparta was founded by Lacedaemon, who reigned in Laconia one and a half thousand years before the birth of Christ and named the city after his wife. In the first centuries of the existence of the city, there were no walls around it: they were erected only under the tyrant Naviz. True, they were later destroyed, but Appius Claudius soon erected new ones.

The ancient Greeks considered the legislator Lycurgus to be the creator of the Spartan state, whose life time falls approximately in the first half of the 7th century BC. e. The population of ancient Sparta in its composition was divided in those days into three groups: Spartans, perieks and helots. The Spartans lived in Sparta itself and enjoyed all the rights of citizenship of their city-state: they had to fulfill all the requirements of the law and they were admitted to all honorary public positions. The occupation of agriculture and handicrafts, although it was not forbidden to this class, did not correspond to the image of the upbringing of the Spartans and therefore was despised by them.

Most of the lands of Laconia were at their disposal and cultivated for them by the helots. To own land plot, the Spartan had to fulfill two requirements: to follow all the rules of discipline exactly and to provide a certain part of the income for sissitia - a public table: barley flour, wine, cheese, etc.

Game was obtained by hunting in state forests; moreover, everyone who sacrificed to the gods sent a part of the carcass of the sacrificial animal to the sissitium. Violation or failure to comply with these rules (for any reason) led to the loss of citizenship rights. All full citizens of ancient Sparta, young and old, had to participate in these dinners, while no one had any advantages and privileges.

The circle of perieks was also made up of free people, but they were not full citizens of Sparta. Perieki inhabited all the cities of Laconia, except for Sparta, which belonged exclusively to the Spartans. They did not constitute a politically whole city-state, since they received control in their cities only from Sparta. The periaeci of the various cities were independent of each other, and at the same time each of them was dependent on Sparta.

Helots made up the rural population of Laconia: they were slaves of those lands that were cultivated in favor of the Spartans and perieks. Helots also lived in cities, but urban life was not typical for helots. They were allowed to have a house, a wife and a family, it was forbidden to sell the helot outside the possessions. Some scholars believe that the sale of helots was generally impossible, since they were the property of the state, and not individuals. Some information has come down to our times about the cruel treatment of the Helots by the Spartans, although again some of the scientists believe that contempt was more visible in this respect.


Plutarch reports that every year (by virtue of the decrees of Lycurgus) the ephors solemnly declared war against the helots. Young Spartans, armed with daggers, went all over Laconia and exterminated the unfortunate helots. But over time, scientists found that this method of exterminating the helots was not legalized during Lycurgus, but only after the First Messenian War, when the helots became dangerous for the state.

Plutarch, the author of biographies of prominent Greeks and Romans, starting his story about the life and laws of Lycurgus, warned the reader that nothing reliable could be reported about them. Yet he had no doubt that this political figure was a historical figure.

Most modern scholars consider Lycurgus to be a legendary person: one of the first to doubt his historical existence back in the 1820s was the well-known German historian of antiquity K.O. Muller. He suggested that the so-called "laws of Lycurgus" are much older than their legislator, since these are not so much laws as ancient folk customs, rooted in the distant past of the Dorians and all other Hellenes.

Many of the scientists (W. Wilamowitz, E. Meyer and others) consider the biography of the Spartan legislator, preserved in several versions, as a late revision of the myth of the ancient Laconian deity Lycurgus. Adherents of this trend questioned the very existence of "legislation" in ancient Sparta. customs and rules that govern everyday life E. Meyer classified the Spartans as “the everyday way of the Dorian tribal community”, from which classical Sparta grew almost without any changes.

But the results of archaeological excavations, which were carried out in 1906-1910 by the English archaeological expedition in Sparta, served as a pretext for the partial rehabilitation of the ancient legend about the legislation of Lycurgus. The British explored the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia - one of the most ancient temples of Sparta - and found many works of art local production: wonderful examples of painted ceramics, unique terracotta masks (not found anywhere else), objects made of bronze, gold, amber and ivory.

For the most part, these finds somehow did not fit in with the ideas of the harsh and ascetic life of the Spartans, of the almost complete isolation of their city from the rest of the world. And then scientists suggested that the laws of Lycurgus in the 7th century BC. e. have not yet been put into operation both economic and cultural development Sparta proceeded in the same way as the development of other Greek states. Only towards the end of the 6th century BC. e. Sparta closes in on itself and turns into the city-state as ancient writers knew it.

Because of the threats of a rebellion by the helots, the situation was then restless, and therefore the “initiators of reforms” could resort (as was often the case in ancient times) to the authority of some hero or deity. In Sparta, Lycurgus was chosen for this role, who gradually began to turn from a deity into a historical legislator, although ideas about his divine origin persisted until the time of Herodotus.

Lycurgus had a chance to put in order a cruel and outrageous people, therefore it was necessary to teach him to resist the onslaught of other states, and for this to make everyone skillful warriors. One of the first reforms of Lycurgus was the organization of the management of the Spartan community. Ancient writers claimed that he created the Council of Elders (gerousia) of 28 people. The elders (geronts) were elected by the apella - the people's assembly; The Gerousia also included two kings, one of whose main duties was to command the army during the war.

From the descriptions of Pausanias, we know that the period of the most intense construction activities in the history of Sparta was the VI century BC. e. At that time, the temple of Athena Mednodomnaya on the acropolis, the portico of Skiada, the so-called "throne of Apollo" and other buildings were erected in the city. But on Thucydides, who saw Sparta in the last quarter of the 5th century BC. e., the city made the most bleak impression.

Against the backdrop of the luxury and grandeur of Athenian architecture from the time of Pericles, Sparta already seemed a nondescript provincial town. The Spartans themselves, not being afraid to be considered old-fashioned, did not stop worshiping archaic stone and wooden idols at a time when Phidias, Myron, Praxiteles and other outstanding sculptors of Ancient Greece created their masterpieces in other Hellenic cities.

In the second half of the VI century BC. e. there was a noticeable cooling of the Spartans for the Olympic Games. Prior to that, they took an active part in them and accounted for more than half of the winners, and in all major types of competitions. Subsequently, for all the time from 548 to 480 BC. e., only one representative of Sparta, King Demarat, won the victory, and only in one type of competition - horse racing at the hippodrome.

In order to achieve harmony and peace in Sparta, Lycurgus decided to permanently eradicate wealth and poverty in his state. He forbade the use of gold and silver coins, which were used throughout Greece, and instead introduced iron money in the form of obols. They bought only what was produced in Sparta itself; in addition, they were so heavy that even a small amount had to be transported on a wagon.

Lycurgus also prescribed the way of home life: all Spartans, from a simple citizen to a king, had to live in exactly the same conditions. A special order indicated what houses could be built, what clothes to wear: it had to be so simple that there was no place for any luxury. Even the food had to be the same for everyone.

Thus, in Sparta, wealth gradually lost all meaning, since it was impossible to use it: citizens began to think less about their own good, and more about the state. Nowhere in Sparta did poverty coexist with wealth, and as a result, there was no envy, rivalry, and other greedy passions that exhausted a person. There was also no greed that opposes private benefit to the public good and arms one citizen against another.

One of the Spartan youths, who bought land for nothing, was put on trial. The accusation said that he was still very young, and was already tempted by profit, while self-interest is the enemy of every inhabitant of Sparta.

The upbringing of children was considered in Sparta one of the main duties of a citizen. The Spartan, who had three sons, was exempted from guard duty, and the father of five from all existing duties.

From the age of 7, the Spartan no longer belonged to his family: the children were separated from their parents and began social life. From that moment on, they were brought up in special detachments(agelach), where they were supervised not only by fellow citizens, but also by specially appointed censors. Children were taught to read and write, they were taught to be silent for a long time, and to speak concisely - briefly and clearly.

Gymnastic and sport exercises they had to develop dexterity and strength in them; so that there was harmony in the movements, the young men were obliged to participate in choral dances; hunting in the forests of Laconia developed patience for hard trials. They fed the children rather poorly, therefore they made up for the lack of food not only by hunting, but also by theft, since they were also taught to steal; however, if someone came across, they beat them mercilessly - not for theft, but for awkwardness.

Young men who reached the age of 16 were subjected to a very severe test at the altar of the goddess Artemis: they were cruelly flogged, but they had to be silent. Even the smallest cry or groan contributed to the continuation of the punishment: some did not stand the test and died.

In Sparta, there was a law according to which no one was supposed to be more complete than necessary. According to this law, all young men who have not yet reached civil rights were shown to ephors - members of the election commission. If the young men were strong and strong, then they were honored with praise; young men, whose body was considered too flabby and loose, were beaten with sticks, as their appearance dishonored Sparta and its laws.

Plutarch and Xenophon wrote that Lycurgus legitimized that women also perform the same exercises as men, and through that they became strong and could give birth to strong and healthy offspring. Thus, Spartan women were worthy of their husbands, as they were also subject to a harsh upbringing.

The women of ancient Sparta, whose sons died, went to the battlefield and looked where they were wounded. If in the chest, then the women proudly looked at those around them and honorably buried their children in their father's tombs. If they saw wounds on their backs, then, weeping with shame, they hurried to hide, leaving others to bury the dead.

Marriage in Sparta was also subject to the law: personal feelings did not matter, because it was all a matter of state. Boys and girls could marry physiological development which corresponded to each other and from which one could expect healthy children: marriage between persons of unequal builds was not allowed.

But Aristotle speaks of the position of Spartan women in a completely different way: while the Spartans led a strict, almost ascetic life, their wives indulged in extraordinary luxury in their home. This circumstance forced men to get money often in dishonest ways, because direct funds were forbidden to them. Aristotle wrote that Lycurgus tried to subject Spartan women to the same strict discipline, but met with a decisive rebuff from their side.

Left to themselves, women became self-willed, indulged in luxury and licentiousness, they even began to interfere in state affairs, which eventually led to a real gynecocracy in Sparta. “And what difference does it make,” Aristotle asks bitterly, “whether the women themselves rule or whether the ruling persons are under their power?” The blame for the Spartans was that they behaved boldly and impudently and allowed themselves luxury, which challenged the strict norms of state discipline and morality.

To protect his legislation from foreign influence, Lycurgus limited Sparta's ties with foreigners. Without permission, which was given only in cases of special importance, the Spartan could not leave the cities and travel abroad. Foreigners were also forbidden from entering Sparta. The inhospitality of Sparta was the most famous phenomenon in the ancient world.

The citizens of ancient Sparta were something like a military garrison, constantly exercising and always ready for war either with the helots or with an external enemy. The legislation of Lycurgus took on an exclusively military character also because those were times when there was no public and personal security, there were no general principles on which state tranquility is based. In addition, the Dorians in a very small number settled in the country of the helots they conquered and were surrounded by half-subdued or not subdued Achaeans at all, therefore they could hold on only by battles and victories.

Such a harsh upbringing, at first glance, could make the life of ancient Sparta very boring, and the people themselves unhappy. But from the writings of ancient Greek authors it is clear that such unusual laws made the Spartans the most prosperous people in the ancient world, because everywhere only rivalry in the acquisition of virtues dominated.

There was a prediction according to which Sparta would remain a strong and powerful state as long as it followed the laws of Lycurgus and remained indifferent to gold and silver. After the war with Athens, the Spartans brought money to their city, which seduced the inhabitants of Sparta and forced them to retreat from the laws of Lycurgus. And from that moment on, their prowess began to gradually fade away ...

Aristotle, on the other hand, believes that it was the abnormal position of women in Spartan society that led to the fact that Sparta in the second half of the 4th century BC. e. terribly depopulated and lost its former military power.