The Ancient Greeks

The Spartans
Seat work
Students will quietly enter the room, find your seats and
discuss your three sticky notes on pages 318-321 with
your row group.
Central Question:
How was power gained, justified and used in Sparta?
(6.5i)
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The Ancient Greeks

The Spartans
Who were the people who were forced to farm their land for
the Spartans called?
The helots
A society organized for the purpose of waging war.
military state
What was Spartas main governing body called?
The council of elders
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The Ancient Greeks

Oligarchy in Sparta

Importance of the Military

How does the military help a country?

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The Ancient Greeks

Oligarchy in Sparta

Key Ideas
Sparta developed an oligarchic government
based on military conquest.
Sparta differed greatly from Athens in terms of
education, citizenship, and womens roles.

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The Ancient Greeks

Oligarchy in Sparta

Key Terms
ephora Spartan official, elected by the
assembly, who was responsible for the
governments day-to-day operations
helotone of the conquered Messenians who
were forced to farm their land for the Spartans

military statea society organized for the

purpose of waging war
barracksmilitary housing

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The Ancient Greeks

Oligarchy in Sparta

Spartas Government
Spartas government was an oligarchy with two kings.

The council of elders was Spartas main governing

body.
An assembly of citizens could pass laws with the
councils approval.
Ephors, elected by the assembly, oversaw the daily
operations of the government. They also ensured that
the kings and the council operated within the law.
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The Ancient Greeks

Oligarchy in Sparta

Spartan Military Might

Why did Sparta become a military state?

In what way did the helots enable Spartan men

to become a warrior class?

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The Ancient Greeks

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The Ancient Greeks

Oligarchy in Sparta

Steps to Election to the Council of Elders

Step 1Male youths undergo years of military
training and service.
Step 2To become citizens, Spartan men must gain
entry into a mens club.
Step 3When Spartan men become citizens, they
obtain membership in the assembly and the right to
land worked by helots.
Step 4At age 60, citizens are eligible to join the
council of elders.

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The Ancient Greeks

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The Ancient Greeks

Oligarchy in Sparta

Roles and Rights in Sparta

Spartan
Men

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Shared

Spartan
Women

The Ancient Greeks

Oligarchy in Sparta

Sparta and Athens: A Stark Contrast

Thucydides made observations about the differences
between these city-states:
The Athenians were addicted to innovation.
The Spartans had a genius for keeping what you
have got.
In time, the differences between Sparta and Athens
led to conflict and war.

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The Ancient Greeks

Oligarchy in Sparta

Two Extremes in Ancient Greece

Why did other Greek city-states
both fear and admire Sparta?

Why do you think Thucydides said

Athenians were addicted to innovation?

Why did he say the Spartans had

a genius for keeping what you have got?

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