Government

Question 1

How many Kings were there?

Answer 1

2.

Question 2

How was a King chosen?

Answer 2

The first born son of the previous King.

Question 3

What were the main roles of the Kings?

Answer 3

Commanders of the Spartan army, religious leaders, judicial powers.

Question 4

When the King was on campaign what happened?

Answer 4

One King commanded the army and he was accompanied by two ephors who reported back to the ecclesia on his efforts.

Question 5

How were the Kings religious leaders?

Answer 5

They were effectively chief priests of Sparta and people believed they were intermediaries with the gods. They led important religious ceremonies.

Question 6

What judicial powers did Kings have?

Answer 6

Marriage of heiresses, adoption of children and maintenance of public highways. They were also afforded power by their automatic membership of the gerousia.

Question 7

What did Spartans believe about their Kings?

Answer 7

To have divine ancestry, thus they were powerful symbols of Spartan history and society, so were treated with reverence by their people.

Question 8

What happened on the death of a King?

Answer 8

The whole city observed ten days of mourning.

Question 9

What privileges did Kings have over Spartans?

Answer 9

• Children didn’t have to go through the agoge.
• Were served meals first at their syssition.
• Served double portions.
• Had seats of honour at public festivals.

Question 10

How many ephors were there?

Answer 10

5.

Question 11

Who elected the ephors?

Answer 11

Elected yearly by the Ecclesia.

Question 12

Who were the ephors?

Answer 12

The most powerful element of the government and the senior ephor gave his name to the year.

Question 13

How long did ephors serve for?

Answer 13

One term.

Question 14

Who could stand to be an ephor?

Answer 14

Any Spartiate over the age of 30.

Question 15

Why did ephors only serve for one term?

Answer 15

To ensure none of them gained any long-term power.

Question 16

What roles did the ephors take on when going to war?

Answer 16

• Decided how many Spartiates, perioeci and helots were called up.
• How many wagons and pack animals would be needed to carry medical supplies and spare equiptment.
• Also had to supervise the King when he went on campaign and report back on his performance.

Question 17

What other duties did the ephors have?

Answer 17

• Dealing with foreign ambassadors.
• Presiding over the Ecclesia.
• Acting as judges in some law cases.
• Declaring war on the helots at the beginning of each year and choosing the members of the Krypteia.
• Running the education system and choosing the Paidonomos.

Question 18

What was the Gerousia?

Answer 18

Council of elders.

Question 19

Who was in the Gerousia?

Answer 19

30 men - 2 kings and 28 elected Spartiates over the age of 60.

Question 20

How long did you serve in the Gerousia?

Answer 20

Served for life.

Question 21

What was the Gerousia seen as?

Answer 21

Highest honour a Spartiate could achieve.

Question 22

What did the Gerousia do to the king?

Answer 22

Acted as advisors.

Question 23

What was the most important role of the Gerousia?

Answer 23

Prepared bills to be presented to the Ecclesia for them to vote on.

Question 24

What were these bills about?

Answer 24

Proposed bills on foreign policy, changes in the law and matter of war and peace.

Question 25

What happened if the Gerousia didn’t like the way the Ecclesia voted?

Answer 25

They were able to reject the decision.

Question 26

What else did the Gerousia act as?

Answer 26

A court and jury to try criminal cases and could administer punishments, which included the death penalty, banishment or the levying of fines.

Question 27

How was a new member of the Gerousia elected?

Answer 27

Candidates were brought into the Ecclesia one by one, their order decided by lot. In an adjoining room, a selected group of Spartiates could not see what was happening, but could still hear the cheers for each candidate. They decided which candidate received the loudest cheer and he was elected.

Question 28

What was the Ecclesia?

Answer 28

The assembly which was open to all male citizens over the age of 30.

Question 29

When did the Ecclesia meet and under who?

Answer 29

Monthly under the chairman of the ephors.

Question 30

What could the Ecclesia not do?

Answer 30

Could not discuss or amend proposals made by the Gerousia.

Question 31

What did the Ecclesia do?

Answer 31

Had to listen to the views of the ephors and the Kings then vote for or against them.

Question 32

What did the Ecclesia vote on?

Answer 32

• The election of the Gerousia and the ephors.
• Questions on war and peace.
• Foreign policy and the signing of treaties.

Question 33

What sort of duties did the Gerousia carry out?

Answer 33

• Advised the Kings.
• Prepared bills for the Ecclesia.
• Proposed bills on foreign policy, changes in law and matters of war and peace.
• Acted as a court and jury to try criminal cases and could administer punishments.

Question 34

Explain whether you think the council of elders was a good way of governing Sparta?

Answer 34

• Age brought experience and wisdom which the Kings could draw upon.
• Carried out essential duties in the governing of the state.
• Served for life, so there was continuity.
• Guided the Ecclesia and could restrain if necessary.
• However too much power - could withdraw if they didn’t agree with a proposal.
• Accoding to Aristotle was childish.
• Members were possibly too old, senile, and out of touch with Spartan society.