3. The Economy
3.1 Land ownership: agriculture, kleroi, helots
- Since Spartiate full time soldier, state obliged to support him by granting basic allotment of land ‘kleros’ and helots to farm it. Spartan’s land may have been scattered in different parts of country.
- Exactly when Spartan endowed with kleros unknown
- Plutarch states tribal leaders assigned land after satisfying themselves that child would grow up strong and healthy
- State owned kleroi couldn’t be sold or given away as gift. Kleros famed by family or families of helots had to
- Support Spartan citizen and family
- Provide Spartiate’s continuing contributions to mess
- Provide surplus so state had income to pay for armour equipment made by perioeci
- Support helots and their families
- Fertility of land of Laconia and particularly Messenia allowed abundant food produce
- Despite distribution of allotments to all Spartan ‘equals’ there was never equality in land ownership. Amount of land owned by individual Spartans varied considerably as did prosperity. E.g. some Spartans had private property that could be given away as inheritance
- Plutarch wrote land divided evenly and division constantly kept even by state
- 4th and 5th cent: decline in Spartan economy due to
- Reduced Spartiate numbers due to involvement in wars of 5th cent (Persian and Peloponnesian Wars) and lives lost in
earthquake and 10 year conflict with Messenian helots in 460s
- Concentration of land in hands of fewer and fewer people. More land held by state and women. Since Spartan women could
inherit and own property, some Spartiates saw a way of adding to their property by marrying heiress. Spartan with small
amount of land might get into financial difficulties especially those w/ passion for expensive sport of chariot racing and have to
mortgage private property
- 4th cent: law passed allowing Spartans to dispose or sell kleros any way wanted
- Increased disturbances among helots and decline in successful relationship between Spartans and perioeci
- Exactly when Spartan endowed with kleros unknown
- Plutarch states tribal leaders assigned land after satisfying themselves that child would grow up strong and healthy
- State owned kleroi couldn’t be sold or given away as gift. Kleros famed by family or families of helots had to
- Support Spartan citizen and family
- Provide Spartiate’s continuing contributions to mess
- Provide surplus so state had income to pay for armour equipment made by perioeci
- Support helots and their families
- Fertility of land of Laconia and particularly Messenia allowed abundant food produce
- Despite distribution of allotments to all Spartan ‘equals’ there was never equality in land ownership. Amount of land owned by individual Spartans varied considerably as did prosperity. E.g. some Spartans had private property that could be given away as inheritance
- Plutarch wrote land divided evenly and division constantly kept even by state
- 4th and 5th cent: decline in Spartan economy due to
- Reduced Spartiate numbers due to involvement in wars of 5th cent (Persian and Peloponnesian Wars) and lives lost in
earthquake and 10 year conflict with Messenian helots in 460s
- Concentration of land in hands of fewer and fewer people. More land held by state and women. Since Spartan women could
inherit and own property, some Spartiates saw a way of adding to their property by marrying heiress. Spartan with small
amount of land might get into financial difficulties especially those w/ passion for expensive sport of chariot racing and have to
mortgage private property
- 4th cent: law passed allowing Spartans to dispose or sell kleros any way wanted
- Increased disturbances among helots and decline in successful relationship between Spartans and perioeci
3.2 Technology: weapons, armour, pottery
- Although Spartans may have been craftsmen until 6th cent, perioeci carried out most manufacturing and crafts.
- Of most importance to Spartans was manufacture of armour and weapons. Famous shields of Spartans required availability of leather and iron possibly mined by perioeci.
- Laconia noted for
- Bronze work (weapons, greaves, helmets, vases, ornaments and religious figurines);
- Pottery for daily use (pots, cups bowls, amphorae) as well as highly decorative painted and relief pieces for which area famous;
- Woollen cloth and fine patterned textiles
- Production of famous purple/red dye from shellfishplentiful around coasts of southern Peloponnese
- Spartiates renowned for red woollen military cloaks
- Of most importance to Spartans was manufacture of armour and weapons. Famous shields of Spartans required availability of leather and iron possibly mined by perioeci.
- Laconia noted for
- Bronze work (weapons, greaves, helmets, vases, ornaments and religious figurines);
- Pottery for daily use (pots, cups bowls, amphorae) as well as highly decorative painted and relief pieces for which area famous;
- Woollen cloth and fine patterned textiles
- Production of famous purple/red dye from shellfishplentiful around coasts of southern Peloponnese
- Spartiates renowned for red woollen military cloaks
3.3 Economic roles of the periokoi (‘dwellers around’) and helots
Assess the role of helots and periokoi in the Spartan economy. (15) (TBC)
The hierarchy of Spartan society is rather dominated by the helots and periokoi, despite being on the bottom and fringes of the social ladder and, thus, have a rather influential impact on the economy. The periokoi are known to have been craftsmen and laborers, contributing to trade and providing items for Spartan markets. The helots were similarly involved as, though they were slaves to the state, could have found work in trades or housework amongst other Lacedaemonions. Aside from products and trade, both helots and periokoi would have been the workers who built roads, boats, etc. to contribute to the transport of goods, thus contributing to the economy itself.
The periokoi are known to be on the periphery of Spartan society, therefore not involved in the Spartiate’s education and training, despite being a part of their army, and being left the few in charge of laborious tasks and trades which directly contribute to the Spartan economy. The bronze figurines, pottery fragments and marble reliefs found in the areas the periokoi were believed to have lived provide evidence of these people being tradespeople, and the fragments and other evidence that matches the craftsmanship found throughout the rest of Laconia provide evidence of trade of these items, contributing to the Spartan economy
The hierarchy of Spartan society is rather dominated by the helots and periokoi, despite being on the bottom and fringes of the social ladder and, thus, have a rather influential impact on the economy. The periokoi are known to have been craftsmen and laborers, contributing to trade and providing items for Spartan markets. The helots were similarly involved as, though they were slaves to the state, could have found work in trades or housework amongst other Lacedaemonions. Aside from products and trade, both helots and periokoi would have been the workers who built roads, boats, etc. to contribute to the transport of goods, thus contributing to the economy itself.
The periokoi are known to be on the periphery of Spartan society, therefore not involved in the Spartiate’s education and training, despite being a part of their army, and being left the few in charge of laborious tasks and trades which directly contribute to the Spartan economy. The bronze figurines, pottery fragments and marble reliefs found in the areas the periokoi were believed to have lived provide evidence of these people being tradespeople, and the fragments and other evidence that matches the craftsmanship found throughout the rest of Laconia provide evidence of trade of these items, contributing to the Spartan economy
3.4 Economic exchange: use of iron bars, trade
- According to sources, Spartans not permitted to trade and use money
- Trade left to perioeci and overseas products passed through port of Gytheion,
- H Michel suggests there is evidence that use of money never forbidden in Sparta and foreign coins circulated throughout society
- Members of syssition expected to contribute certain amount of money each month to buy meat
- Accusations of bribery made against Spartans
- Probably had no need to mint own coins. Medium of exchange used in Sparta believed to have been iron bars
- Believed by Cartledge that Sparta’s retention of iron currency in form of bars, as opposed to silver coinage, contributed to both a decline in trade and culture as wasn’t appealing for other Greek states
- Spartans always suspicious of outsiders with foreign ideas and probably one reason why coinage never developed
- Trade left to perioeci and overseas products passed through port of Gytheion,
- H Michel suggests there is evidence that use of money never forbidden in Sparta and foreign coins circulated throughout society
- Members of syssition expected to contribute certain amount of money each month to buy meat
- Accusations of bribery made against Spartans
- Probably had no need to mint own coins. Medium of exchange used in Sparta believed to have been iron bars
- Believed by Cartledge that Sparta’s retention of iron currency in form of bars, as opposed to silver coinage, contributed to both a decline in trade and culture as wasn’t appealing for other Greek states
- Spartans always suspicious of outsiders with foreign ideas and probably one reason why coinage never developed