CLASSICS 1M03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Agoge, Helots, Hoplite
Document Summary
The peloponnesus - lots of trade: argos, corinth, athens, thebes, sparta. Assembly: only 5 of them, overseeing the kings. Assembly = all adult male citizens = the army. Peloponnese: a peninsula attached to the mainland near corinth, sparta is in the valley. Messenia: the spartans conquered them, enslaved the entire population. Helots: slaves/ serfs for the spartans from messenia, the spartans become worried about an uprising and become hyper- militarized, farmers. Phalanx = the major unit of battle. Special maneuvers: pretend to be in disarray, could turn and wield at a moment"s notice, turning as a unit. Entire society based around keeping this system going. Come back with your shield or upon it : come back victorious or die with your shield and your members will carry your body back. Agoge: training, starts as soon as you"re born, parents present you and see if you"ll be fit enough. If yes then you live a hard life with your mother.