Lykourgos Flashcards
What was Lykourgos believed to have done?
Caused a radical revolution to Sparta after the Second Messenian War.
What did Lykourgos change in Spartan life?
He introduced a professional army, an education system, a government and equality.
What did he decide about the army?
He decided that all Spartan citizens should become full-time soldiers and spend their lives training for war, so that they were able to overcome any threat from helots.
What was special about the Spartan army?
It was the first professional army in Greek history.
Why did Lykourgos introduce an education system?
To develop the future generations of Spartan warriors.
How did Lykourgos develop the education system?
He established a state education system which trained boys from age 7 to become outstanding soldiers.
Why did Lykourgos also establish education for girls?
So that they too would serve the state as effectively as possible.
What did Lykourgos notice about equality?
There was great inequality of wealth and land ownership between Spartan citizens.
Why did he change the levels of equality?
He believed that they would only fight for each other if they felt equal.
How did Lykourgos change equality?
He tried to make sure all Spartan citizens were equal in wealth - they were all given a plot of farmland the same size and had an equal number of helots to work it.
What were Spartiates not allowed to do?
To build grand houses.
Where did all Spartiates have to eat?
Had to eat together every evening in dining-clubs.
Outline the legend of Lykourgos?
- Supposed to have overseen the changes that made Sparta so unique and was viewed as a founding father by the Spartans.
- Said to have gone to Delphi.
- Sought advice from the gods on how Sparta should be run.
- Credited with the establishment of the professional army made up of every Spartan man.
- Setting up the agoge.
- The government.
- The krypteia.
- Establishment of equality among Spartans, including money and messes.
Why did Lykourgos introduce his system of laws?
- After the second Messenian war, Sparta needed to change its social system in order to keep control over the helots.
- The Spartans were vastly outnumbered by the people they had conquered so they had to have means to control them.
- Professional army was needed to control the helots but the helots were needed to feed the professional army.
- Professional army was also to defend Sparta from its enemies.
- Krypteia also controlled the helots and kept the kings safe.
- Government was designed to keep itself in check.
- Lykourgos saw great inequality in wealth among the Spartans so he shared out the land more fairly and banned money.
- He was obeying the gods as he got the advice from Delphi.
How far do you think Lykourgos had a positive influence on Sparta?
- Shared out the land equally and removed temptation of acquiring wealth.
- Equality was only among Spartaiai so it was really unfair on the helots, periokoi and women.
- Created an excellent fighting force to keep city safe.
- Took away freedom of thought and independence and stopped art from progressing.
- Krypteia was efficient in keeping helots in fear but could be seen as morally wrong as trained killers were attacking unarmed civilians.
