The Economy

Land Ownership- LYCURGUS: in his reforms he convinced the Spartans to pool their land together divide it into

allotments and then distribute these among Spartan citizens and perioki

Agriculture- VERY IMPORTANT: as most other Greek states the agricultural industry was the most important

for Spartan society - SPARTANS + HELOTS: the land had to be sufficient to sustain the helots who worked on it and

to provide produce for the Spartinate’s family - SYSSITION: the produce from the land was also important for the male Spartan’s contribution

to the mess if they could not contribute they would lose citizenship

Kleroi- KLEROI: these were the allotments of land being the Spartan’s citizens state - PRIVATE LAND: aristocratic or rich Spartiates held private lands in addition to their kleroi this

caused some inequality

Helots- WORK ON KELROS: the kleroi were managed by the Spartans however all the work was

performed by the Helot families

Technology- PERIOKOI: this group was mainly responsible for the industry and trade in Sparta

Weapons & Armour - ARMOUR: these were usually made from metals and other materials:

Bronze Helmet: usually crowned with horsehair crest to make the hoplite appear taller and more intimidating Breastplate: worn over a linen tunic bronze breastplates were sculptured to resemble chest muscles Hoplon: I metre in diameter was made of wood covered with a sheet of bronze on the outside Greaves: made of bronze covered the lower leg like metal shin guards

- WEAPONS: these were usually made from metals and other materials:

Wooden Spear: between 2.5-3 metres long with a bronze spear point Short Sword: or iron or bronze was carried but seldom used last

resort

Bronze Making- IRON ORE + IMPORTED COPPER + TIN: there were good supplies of iron ore in

Laconia, but copper and tin may have been imported to mix with the iron to make bronze

- 6th CENTURY: archaeological evidence shows that high quality bronze work was being produced and exported from Laconia throughout the 6th century

- TECHNIQUES: there were two main techniques used in bronze working: Sheets: casting of molten alloy into a mould and then beating it out into thin sheeting with a

hammer Indirect Casting: by the 5th century the new technique was developed in which clay was

used to produce a negative, thus making possible the mass production of cast objects

- SCULPTURES/FIGURINES/STATUES: many objects were made out of bronze including smaller figurines and larger statues and sculptures e.g. a bronze statue of Zeus on a bronze base about 5.5 metres tall built by Telestas

Pottery- LOCAL CLAY: there were plentiful supplies of local clay, but little is known

about how Laconian pottery was made or who made it - FAMOUS POTTERY ‘laconian III’: the most famous pottery is known as Laconian III dated

back to c.575BC and “was primarily interested in human subjects and telling a story. The figures are painted in black on a creamy yellow slip, with the detail elaborately drawn by incision, and lavish use of purple gives an effect of colour” (Fitzharidage)

- ATTIC RED FIGGRUEWARE: the laconian potters eventually copied the Attic red figure ware- SMALL FIGURINES: small figurines, mould made reliefs or baked clay (terracottas) have also

been found at most religious sites

Economic Roles of the Periokoi (‘dwellers around’) and helots - DEPENDENT: the Spartan economy, geared to enabling Spartinates to maintain military

preparedness, was dependent on the vital roles played by the perioikoi and helots

Periokoi (dwellers around) - PROFESSIONALS/MERCHANTS/INDUSTRIES: were professionals, merchants, trade and crafts

workers of Spartan society they monopolised all trades, businesses and professions Miners/metal workers: through these metals they developed weapons and armour Manufactures: all goods such as furniture, armour and weapons Fishermen: the fishermen, shipwrights and naval personnel at Gytheum were perioki Clothing: shoes purple garments and other objects of wood and iron

- CURRENCY: they could use gold and silver currency

Helots - GOVERNMENT PROPERTY: were the property of the Spartan

government, attached to state owned land (kleroi) they were controlled by Spartinates however not owned

- FARMING: the main economic role they played was in the food production and farming:

Military Activities: this freed Spartans from needing to work the land allowing them to focus on military activities and training

Sysstion: also allowed them to contribute to the mess each month

- HELOT WOMEN DOMESTICS: Helot women did the spinning and weaving and there domestic activities which freed Spartan women to follow their privileged lifestyle

Economic Exchange: Use of iron bars, trade Iron Bars - IRON BARS: the Spartan state did not sue metal coins for currency but instead used iron bars

which may have symbolised a transaction rather than acting as cash could not be used elsewhere in Greece

- REASONS WHY: there are a number of reasons Lycurgus may have introduced this including: Reduce Theft: because it would be harder to steal an iron bar unnoticed Restricted Hoarding: to restrict the possible hoarding of money Reduced Conspicuous Consumption: as it restricted the inability to trade with other Greek states Reduced Trade (other Greek states): reducing their potential influence on Sparta

- SKPETICAL (iron bars): scholars generally agree that the idea Sparta banned gold and silver coinage is a myth:

Hellenic Currency: it has been suggested that Spartans must have always used some Hellenic currency rather than the iron splits because they needed to pay for mercenaries and send embassies abroad

- MINT 3RD CENTURY: the Spartans did not build mint coins until 3rd century

Trade- PERIOKOI: Spartan trade was carried out mainly by the periokoi and was conducted through its

port Gytheum 46km from Sparta on the Laconium coast - CENTRAL TRADING POINT: later on it became a central trading point after initially being visited

by Syrian and Phoenician traders - MAIN EXPORTS: were wool, wine, oil, pottery and bronzes