State and Law of Sparta and Ancient Greece. Ancient Sparta

Spartans are residents of one of the ancient Greek policies (city-states) on the territory of Ancient Greece, which existed from the 8th century BC. BC. Sparta ceased to exist after the Roman conquest of Greece in the 2nd half of the 2nd century BC. BC, but the decline of Sparta began already in the 3rd century. BC. The Spartans created an original and original civilization, strikingly different from the civilization of other ancient Greek cities, and still attracting the attention of researchers. The basis of the Spartan state was the laws of Lycurgus, the Spartan king who lived in the 7th century BC.

Nature

The Spartan state was located in the southern part of the Greek Peloponnese peninsula. The geographical position of Sparta was isolated. Sparta was located in a valley sandwiched between a river and mountains. The valley contained a large amount of fertile land, and the foothills abounded with wild fruit trees, rivers and streams.

Lessons

The main occupation of the Spartans was military affairs. Craft and trade were engaged in perieks - personally free, but deprived of political rights, the inhabitants of Sparta. Helots were engaged in agriculture - the inhabitants of the lands conquered by the Spartans, turned into state slaves. In connection with the focus of the Sparatan state on the equality of all free citizens (moreover, equality not in the legal, but in the literal - everyday sense), only the manufacture of the most necessary items - clothes, utensils and other household utensils - was distributed from crafts. In connection with the military orientation of Sparta, only the manufacture of weapons and armor was at a high technical level.

Means of transport

The Spartans used horses, wagons and chariots. According to the laws of Lycurgus, the Spartans did not have the right to be sailors and fight at sea. However, in later periods, the Spartans had a navy.

Architecture

The Spartans did not recognize excesses and therefore their architecture (both external and internal decoration of buildings) was extremely functional. Naturally, with this approach, the Spartans did not create outstanding architectural structures.

Warfare

The Spartan army had a rigid organizational structure that evolved and differed in different time periods. Heavily armed foot soldiers - hoplites were recruited from the citizens of Sparta and formed the basis of the army. Each Spartan went to war with his own weapon. The set of weapons was clearly regulated, and consisted of a spear, a short sword, a round shield and armor (bronze helmet, armor and greaves). Each hoplite had a helot squire. The army also served perieks, armed with bows and slings. The Spartans did not know fortification and siege work. In the later periods of history, Sparta had a navy and won a number of naval victories, but the Spartans never paid much attention to military affairs at sea.

Sport

Spartans have been preparing for war since childhood. From the age of 7, the child was taken away from the mother, and a long and complex learning process began, lasting 13 years. This made it possible to bring up a strong, skillful and experienced warrior by the age of 20. Spartan warriors were the best in Ancient Greece. In Sparta, many types of athletic activities and competitions were practiced. Spartan girls also underwent military and athletic training, which included such sections as running, jumping, wrestling, discus and javelin throwing.

Art and literature

The Spartans despised art and literature, recognizing only music and singing. Spartan dances had a military rather than an aesthetic focus.

The science

The Spartans studied only the basics of literacy - reading, writing, military and religious songs; history, religion and traditions of Sparta. All other types of science and education (including people involved in them) were expelled from the country and banned.

Religion

In general, the Spartans adhered to the ancient Greek polytheistic religion, with the difference that fewer religious holidays were celebrated in Sparta, and they celebrated with less fanfare. To a certain extent, the role of religion in Sparta was taken over by Spartan morality.

Ancient Sparta was the main economic and military rival of Athens. The city-state and its surrounding territory were located on the Peloponnese peninsula, southwest of Athens. Administratively, Sparta (also called Lacedaemon) was the capital of the province of Laconia.

The adjective "Spartan" in the modern world came from energetic warriors with an iron heart and steel endurance. The inhabitants of Sparta were famous not for arts, science or architecture, but for brave warriors, for whom the concept of honor, courage and strength were put above all else. Athens of that time, with its beautiful statues and temples, was a stronghold of poetry, philosophy and politics, which dominated the intellectual life of Greece. However, such superiority was bound to end someday.

Raising children in Sparta

One of the principles that guided the inhabitants of Sparta was that the life of every person, from the moment of birth until death, belongs entirely to the state. The elders of the city were empowered to decide the fate of newborns - healthy and strong children were left in the city, and weak or sick children were thrown into the nearest abyss. So the Spartans tried to secure physical superiority over their enemies. Children who have passed the "natural selection" were brought up in conditions of severe discipline. At the age of 7, the boys were taken away from their parents and brought up separately, in small groups. The strongest and most courageous young men eventually became captains. The boys slept in the common rooms on hard and uncomfortable reed beds. Young Spartans ate simple food - a soup of pig blood, meat and vinegar, lentils and other coarse food.

One day, a wealthy guest who came to Sparta from Sybaris decided to taste the “black stew”, after which he said that now he understands why Spartan warriors lose their lives so easily. Often the boys were left hungry for several days, thereby inciting petty theft in the market. This was not done with the intent to make the young man a skilled thief, but only to develop ingenuity and dexterity - if he was caught stealing, he was severely punished. There are legends about a young Spartan who stole a young fox from the market, and when it was time for dinner, he hid it under his clothes. So that the boy would not be convicted of theft, he endured the pain from the fact that the fox gnawed his stomach, and died without issuing a single sound. Over time, the discipline only became tougher. All adult males between the ages of 20 and 60 were required to serve in the Spartan army. They were allowed to marry, but even after that, the Spartans continued to spend the night in barracks and eat in common canteens. Warriors were not allowed to own any property, especially gold and silver. Their money looked like iron bars of various sizes. Restraint extended not only to life, food and clothing, but also to the speech of the Spartans. In conversation, they were very laconic, limiting themselves to extremely concise and specific answers. This manner of communication in ancient Greece was called "conciseness" on behalf of the area in which Sparta was located.

Life of the Spartans

In general, as in any other culture, issues of life and nutrition shed light on interesting little things in people's lives. The Spartans, unlike the inhabitants of other Greek cities, did not attach much importance to food. In their opinion, food should not serve to satisfy, but only to saturate the warrior before the battle. The Spartans dined at a common table, while the products for lunch were handed over in the same amount - this was how the equality of all citizens was maintained. Neighbors on the table vigilantly watched each other, and if someone did not like the food, he was ridiculed and compared with the spoiled inhabitants of Athens. But when the time came for the battle, the Spartans changed dramatically: they put on the best outfits, and marched towards death with songs and music. From birth, they were taught to perceive each day as their last, not to be afraid and not to retreat. Death in battle was desirable and equated to the ideal end of a real man's life. There were 3 classes of inhabitants in Laconia. The first, most revered, were inhabitants of Sparta who had military training and participated in the political life of the city. Second class - perieki, or residents of surrounding small towns and villages. They were free, although they did not have any political rights. Engaged in trade and handicrafts, the perieks were a kind of "service personnel" for the Spartan army. lower class - helots, were serfs, and did not differ much from slaves. Due to the fact that their marriages were not controlled by the state, the helots were the most numerous category of inhabitants, and were kept from rebellion only thanks to the iron grip of their masters.

Political life of Sparta

One of the features of Sparta was that two kings were at the head of the state at the same time. They ruled jointly, serving as high priests and military leaders. Each of the kings controlled the activities of the other, which ensured the openness and fairness of the decisions of the authorities. The kings were subject to a "cabinet of ministers", consisting of five ethers or observers, who exercised general guardianship over laws and customs. The legislative branch consisted of a council of elders headed by two kings. The Council elected the most respected people of Sparta who have overcome the 60-year age barrier. Army of Sparta, despite the relatively modest number, was well trained and disciplined. Each warrior was filled with the determination to win or die - to return with a loss was unacceptable, and was an indelible shame for life. Wives and mothers, sending their husbands and sons to war, solemnly handed them a shield with the words: "Come back with a shield or on it." Over time, the militant Spartans captured most of the Peloponnese, significantly expanding the boundaries of possessions. A clash with Athens was inevitable. The rivalry came to a head during the Peloponnesian War, and led to the fall of Athens. But the tyranny of the Spartans caused the hatred of the inhabitants and mass uprisings, which led to the gradual liberalization of power. The number of specially trained warriors decreased, which allowed the inhabitants of Thebes, after about 30 years of Spartan oppression, to overthrow the power of the invaders.

History of Sparta interesting not only from the point of view of military achievements, but also the factors of the political and life structure. Courage, selflessness and the desire for victory of the Spartan warriors - these are the qualities thanks to which it was possible not only to restrain the constant attacks of enemies, but also to expand the boundaries of influence. The warriors of this small state easily defeated armies of many thousands and were a clear threat to the enemies. Sparta and its inhabitants, brought up on the principles of restraint and the rule of force, were the opposite of the educated and pampered by the rich life of Athens, which in the end led to a clash of these two civilizations.

More is known about this city of the ancient civilization of the Greeks according to the legends of Homer. He mentions this policy in his Iliad. However, archaeological excavations confirm the existence of the once powerful city-state in Greece. However, some sources refute these claims. It is officially known that Troy (Ilion) was a small settlement on the territory of Asia Minor. It is located on the coast of the Aegean Sea, on the Troad peninsula. It was within easy reach of the Dardanelles. Now it is the Turkish province of Canakkale.

Rosary "Tears of the Virgin" - a gift for salvation from Greece

How often do we evaluate our actions and look to the future, looking back at the past? According to statistics, every third inhabitant of the Earth, who has always condemned the cult of something, after a certain time, returns to spirituality. Atheists ask the Lord God for enlightenment, those who did not believe in holy attributes, over time began to understand that the healing power of faith helps to recover from diseases, improves well-being.

Temple of Zeus

Zeus is the Olympic god, the thunder of all, the thunderer, to whom statues, bas-reliefs, temples are dedicated, this is one of the most angry Greek deities. It was in his honor that the largest temple throughout the country was erected. In ancient times, the temple of Olympian Zeus was more majestic than the Parthenon itself. It was in it that gilded ivory sculptures were once located, which emphasized the status of Zeus and his divine principle.

Themistocles

One of the most gifted politicians of Ancient Greece. Themistocles was the leader of the democratic party and one of the best generals in the whole of Greece. Thanks to his talents, making the right decisions and the ability to correctly assess the situation, Themistocles managed to win a number of significant victories over the Persians, as well as make a significant contribution to the transformation of Athens into the most powerful maritime and trading state of Greece.

Sparta was the main state Dorian tribe. Her name already plays a role in the legend of the Trojan War, since Menelaus, Helen's husband, because of which the war of the Greeks with the Trojans flared up, was the Spartan king. The history of later Sparta began with Dorians conquest of the Peloponnese under the leadership of the Heraclides. Of the three brothers, one (Temen) received Argos, the other (Cresfont) - Messenia, the sons of the third (Aristodem) Proclus and Eurysthenes - Laconia. There were two royal families in Sparta, who descended from these heroes through their sons. Agisa and Eurypont(Agides and Eurypontides).

Genus Heraclides. Scheme. Two dynasties of Spartan kings - in the lower right corner

But all these were only folk tales or conjectures of Greek historians, which do not have full historical authenticity. Among such legends, one should also include most of the legend, which was very popular in antiquity, about the legislator Lycurgus, whose life time was attributed to the 9th century. and to whom directly attributed the entire Spartan device. Lycurgus, according to legend, was the youngest son of one of the kings and the guardian of his young nephew Charilaus. When the latter himself began to rule, Lycurgus went on a wandering trip, and visited Egypt, Asia Minor and Crete, but had to return to his homeland at the request of the Spartans, who were dissatisfied with internal strife and with their king Harilaus himself. Lycurgus was instructed draw up new laws for the state, and he took up the matter, asking the advice of the Delphic oracle. The Pythia told Lycurgus that she did not know whether to call him a god or a man, and that his decrees would be the best. Having finished his work, Lycurgus took an oath from the Spartans that they would fulfill his laws until he returned from a new trip to Delphi. The Pythia confirmed her previous decision to him, and Lycurgus, having sent this answer to Sparta, took his own life, so as not to return to his homeland. The Spartans honored Lycurgus as a god, and built a temple in his honor, but in essence Lycurgus was originally a deity who later turned into a popular fantasy in the mortal legislator of Sparta. The so-called legislation of Lycurgus was kept in memory in the form of short sayings (retros).

102. Laconia and its population

Laconia occupied the southeastern part of the Peloponnese and consisted of the river valley Eurota and limiting it from the west and east of the mountain ranges, of which the western one was called Tayget. In this country there were arable lands, and pastures, and forests in which a lot of game was found, and in the mountains of Taygetus there were a lot of iron; from it the locals made weapons. There were few cities in Laconia. In the center of the country near the bank of the Eurotas lay Sparta, otherwise called Lacedaemon. It was a combination of five settlements, which remained unfortified, while in other Greek cities there was usually a fortress. In essence, however, Sparta was the real a military camp that held the whole of Laconia in obedience.

Laconia and Sparta on the map of the ancient Peloponnese

The population of the country consisted of descendants Dorian conquerors and the Achaeans they conquered. First, spartans, were alone full citizens states, the latter were divided into two classes: some were called helots and were serfs, subordinate, however, not to individual citizens, but to the entire state, while others were called perieks and represented personally free people, but standing to Sparta in relation subjects without any political rights whatsoever. Most of the land was considered common property of the state, of which the latter gave the Spartans separate plots for subsistence (clear), originally former approximately the same size. These plots were cultivated by the helots for a certain dues, which they paid in kind in the form of the greater part of the collection. The Periecs were left part of their land; they lived in cities, engaged in industry and trade, but in general in Laconia these studies were underdeveloped: already at the time when other Greeks had a coin, in this country, as an instrument of exchange, were used iron bars. Perieki were obliged to pay tax to the state treasury.

Theater ruins in ancient Sparta

103. Military organization of Sparta

Sparta was military state, and its citizens were primarily warriors; the perieks and helots were also involved in the war. Spartans, divided into three phyla with division into phratries, in an era of prosperity there were only nine thousand for 370 thousand perieks and helots, whom they by force kept under their power; The main occupations of the Spartans were gymnastics, military exercises, hunting and war. Education and lifestyle in Sparta were directed to be always ready against the possibility helot uprisings, which actually flared up from time to time in the country. The mood of the helots was monitored by detachments of youth, and all suspicious were ruthlessly killed. (cryptia). The Spartan did not belong to himself: the citizen was above all a warrior, all life(actually up to the age of sixty) obligated to serve the state. When a child was born in the family of a Spartan, he was examined whether he would later be fit for military service, and frail babies were not left to live. From the age of seven to eighteen, all the boys were brought up together in state "gymnasiums", where they were taught gymnastics and exercised in military affairs, as well as taught singing and playing the flute. The upbringing of the Spartan youth was severe: boys and youths were always dressed in light clothes, walked barefoot and bareheaded, ate very poorly and were subjected to cruel corporal punishment, which they had to endure without screaming and groaning. (They were flogged for this on purpose in front of the altar of Artemis).

Spartan army warrior

Adults also could not live as they wanted. And in peacetime, the Spartans were divided into military partnerships, even having dinner together, for which the participants in common tables (sissy) they brought in a certain amount of different products, and their food was necessarily the most coarse and simple (the famous Spartan stew). The state observed that no one deviated from the implementation of the general rules and did not deviate from the way of life prescribed by law. Each family had their own allotment from common state land, and this plot could neither be divided, nor sold, nor left under a spiritual will. Between the Spartans was to dominate equality; they so bluntly called themselves "equal" (ομοιοί). Luxury in private life was pursued. For example, when building a house, it was possible to use only an ax and a saw, with which it was difficult to make anything beautiful. Spartan iron money could not buy anything from the products of industry in other states of Greece. Moreover, the Spartans were not allowed to leave their country, and foreigners were forbidden to live in Laconia (xenelasia). The Spartans did not care about mental development. Eloquence, which was so valued in other parts of Greece, was out of use in Sparta, and Laconian laconic ( conciseness) even became a proverb among the Greeks. The Spartans became the best warriors in Greece - hardy, persistent, disciplined. Their army consisted of heavily armed infantry (hoplites) with lightly armed auxiliary detachments (from the helots and part of the perieks); they did not use cavalry in their wars.

Ancient spartan helmet

104. The structure of the Spartan state

105. Spartan conquests

This military state set out on the path of conquest very early. The increase in the number of inhabitants forced the Spartans look for new lands from which one could make new allotments for citizens. Having gradually mastered the whole of Laconia, Sparta in the third quarter of the 8th century conquered Messenia [First Messenian War] and its inhabitants too turned into helots and perieks. Part of the Messenians moved out, but the rest did not want to put up with someone else's domination. In the middle of the 7th century they rebelled against Sparta [Second Messenian War], but were again subdued. The Spartans made an attempt to extend their power towards Argolis, but were at first repulsed by Argos and only later took possession of part of the coast of Argolis. They had more luck in Arcadia, but having already made the first conquest in this area (the city of Tegea), they did not annex it to their possessions, but entered into with the inhabitants military alliance under its leadership. This marked the beginning of a great Peloponnesian Union(symmachy) under Spartan supremacy (hegemony). To this symmachy, little by little, all the parts arcadia, and also Elis. Thus, by the end of the VI century. Sparta stood at the head of almost the entire Peloponnese. Symmachy had an allied council, in which issues of war and peace were decided under the chairmanship of Sparta, and Sparta also owned the very leadership in the war (hegemony). When the Persian Shah undertook the conquest of Greece, Sparta was the most powerful Greek state and therefore could become the head of the rest of the Greeks in the fight against Persia. But already during this struggle she had to yield superiority to Athens.

Ancient Sparta is an ancient state, a city-polis located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, in the Peloponnese.

The name of the province of Laconica gave the second name to the Spartan state in the ancient period of history - Lacedaemon.

History of occurrence

In world history, Sparta is known as an example of a militarized state in which the activities of each member of society are subordinated to a single goal - to grow a strong and healthy warrior.

In the ancient period of history in the south of the Peloponnese there were two fertile valleys - Messenia and Laconia. They were separated from each other by a rugged mountain range.

Initially, the state-city of Sparta arose in the Lakonika valley and represented a very small territory - 30 X 10 km. The swampy terrain prevented access to the sea and nothing promised this tiny state of world glory.

Everything changed after the violent conquest and annexation of the Messenian valley and during the reign of the ancient Greek philosopher and great reformer Lycurgus.

His reforms were aimed at the formation of a state with a certain doctrine - to create an ideal state and eradicate such instincts as greed, greed, the thirst for personal enrichment. He formulated the basic laws that concerned not only the administration of the state, but also strictly regulated the private life of each member of society.

Gradually, Sparta turns into a militarized state whose main goal was its own national security. The main task is to produce soldiers. After the conquest of Messenia, Sparta won back some lands from Argos and Arcadia, her neighbors in the northern part of the Peloponnese, and switched to a policy of diplomacy backed up by military superiority.

Such a strategy allowed Sparta to become the head of the Peloponnesian Union and play the most important political role among the Greek states.

Government of Sparta

The Spartan state consisted of three social classes - the Spartans or Spartans, the perieks inhabiting the conquered cities and the slaves of the Spartans, the helots. The complex, but logically coherent structure of the political administration of the Spartan state was a slave-owning system with remnants of tribal relations that have survived from primitive communal times.

At the head were two rulers - hereditary kings. Initially, they were completely independent and did not report to anyone else and did not report to anyone. Later, their role in government was limited to the council of elders - gerousia, which consisted of 28 elected members for life over 60 years old.

The ancient state of Sparta photo

Further - the national assembly, in which all the Spartans who have reached the age of 30 and have the means necessary for a citizen took part. A little later, another government body appeared - the ephorate. It consisted of five officials elected by the general meeting. Their powers were practically unlimited, although they did not have clearly defined boundaries. Even the ruling kings had to coordinate their actions with the ephors.

The structure of society

The ruling class in Ancient Sparta was the Spartans. Each had his own land allotment and a certain number of helot slaves. Using material goods, the Spartiate could not sell, donate or bequeath land or slaves. It was the property of the state. Only the Spartans could enter the governing bodies and vote.

The next social class is the perieki. These were the inhabitants of the occupied territories. They were allowed to trade, engage in crafts. They had the privilege of enlisting in the military. The lowest class of helots, who were in the position of slaves, were state property and came from the enslaved inhabitants of Messenia.

sparta warriors photo

The state provided helots for rent to the Spartans to cultivate their land plots. During the period of the highest prosperity of Ancient Sparta, the number of helots exceeded the ruling class by 15 times.

Spartan upbringing

The education of citizens was considered a state task in Sparta. From birth to 6 years, the child was in the family, and after that he was transferred to the care of the state. From 7 to 20 years old, young men underwent very serious physical training. Simplicity and moderation in an environment full of hardships from childhood accustomed a warrior to a strict and harsh life.

The 20-year-old boys who passed all the tests completed their training and became warriors. Upon reaching the age of 30, they became full members of society.

Economy

Sparta owned the two most fertile regions - Laconia and Messenia. Arable agriculture, olives, vineyards, and horticultural crops prevailed here. This was the advantage of Lacedaemonia over the Greek policies. The most basic food product, bread, was grown, not imported.

Among grain crops, barley prevailed, the processed product of which was used as the main one in the diet of the inhabitants of Sparta. Wealthy Lacedaemonians used wheat flour as a supplement to their main diet at public meals. Among the main population, wild wheat, spelt, was more common.

Warriors needed good nutrition, so cattle breeding was developed in Sparta at a high level. Goats and pigs were raised for food, and bulls, mules, and donkeys were used as draft animals. Horses were preferred for the formation of mounted military detachments.

Sparta is a warrior state. He needs, first of all, not decorations, but weapons. Luxurious excesses were replaced by practicality. For example, instead of painted, elegant ceramics, the main task of which is to delight, the craft of making vessels that can be used on long trips reaches perfection. Using the rich iron mines, the strongest "Laconian steel" was made in Sparta.

A copper shield was an obligatory element of the Spartan's military weapons. History knows many examples when politicking, power ambitions destroyed the most stable economy and destroyed statehood, despite all its military power. The ancient ancient state of Sparta is a clear example of this.

• In ancient Sparta, healthy and viable offspring were taken care of very cruelly. Newborn children were examined by the elders and the sick or weak were thrown into the abyss from the Taygetskaya rock. Healthy returned to the family.
• Girls in Sparta were involved in athletics on a par with boys. They also ran, jumped, threw the spear and discus to grow strong, hardy and produce healthy offspring. Regular exercise made Spartan girls very attractive. They stood out for their beauty and stateliness among the rest of the Hellenes.
• We owe the ancient Spartan upbringing to such a concept as “conciseness.” This expression is due to the fact that in Sparta young men were taught modest behavior, and their speech had to be short and strong, that is, “laconic”. This is what distinguished the inhabitants of Laconia among the inhabitants of Athens who love to orate.

Sparta is an ancient state in Greece, now known throughout the world. Such concepts as "Spartan", "Spartan" came from Sparta. Everyone also knows the custom of the Spartans to kill weak children in order to maintain the gene pool of the nation.

Now Sparta is a small town in Greece, the center of the Laconia nome, located in the Peloponnese region. And earlier, the Spartan state was one of the main contenders for supremacy in the ancient Greek world. Some milestones in the history of Sparta are sung in the works of Homer, including the outstanding Iliad. In addition, we all know the films "300 Spartans" and "Troy", the plot of which also touches on some historical events involving Sparta.

Officially, Sparta was called Lacedaemon, hence the name of the nome Laconia. The emergence of Sparta is attributed to the 11th century BC. Some time later, the area in which the city-state was located was conquered by the Dorian tribes, who, having assimilated with the local Achaeans, became Spartakiates in the sense we know. The former inhabitants of the city were turned into helot slaves.

One of the key figures in the formation of Sparta as a strong state is Lycurgus, who ruled the city in the 9th century BC. Before the advent of Lycurgus Sparta, Greece was not much different from other ancient Greek city-states; art, trade, and crafts were also developed here. The poetry of its poets also speaks of the high culture of the Spartan state. However, with the coming to power of Lycurgus, the situation changed radically, military art received priority in development. From that moment on, Lacedaemon was transformed into a powerful military state.

Beginning in the 8th century BC, Sparta began to wage wars of conquest in the Peloponnese, conquering its neighbors one by one. So, the glory of the so-called Messenian wars, the 1st and 2nd, has reached our days, as a result of which Sparta won. The citizens of Messenia were turned into helot slaves. Argos and Arcadia were conquered in the same way.

After a series of military operations to seize works and new territories, Lacedaemon moved on to establishing diplomatic relations with neighbors. Through the conclusion of treaties, Lacedaemon became the head of the union of the Peloponnesian states - a powerful formation of Ancient Greece.

The creation of the Peloponnesian Union of States by Sparta served as a prototype for a future alliance with Athens to repel the threat of a Persian invasion. During the war with Persia in the 5th century BC, the famous Battle of Thermopylae took place, which served as the source for the plot of the famous American film "300 Spartans". And although the plot of the film is far from historical reality, thanks to it, millions of people around the world learned about this battle.

Despite the joint victory in the war with the Persians, the union of Athens and Sparta did not last long. In 431 BC, the so-called Peloponnesian War broke out, in which, a few decades later, the Spartan state won.

However, not everyone in Ancient Greece was satisfied with the supremacy of Lacedaemon, and 50 years after the Peloponnesian War, a new war broke out. This time, Thebes and its allies became the rivals of the Spartans, who managed to inflict a serious defeat on Sparta, after which the power of the Spartan state was lost. It is worth noting that between these two bloody and cruel wars for dominance on the peninsula, the Spartans did not sit idle, almost all this time there were wars against various city-states of Ancient Greece, which ultimately crippled the forces of Lacedaemon.

After being defeated by Thebes, Lacedaemon waged several more wars. Among them are the war with Macedonia in the 4th century BC, which brought the defeat of the Spartans, the war with the invading Galatians in the early 3rd century BC. The Spartans also fought for dominance in the Peloponnese with the newly created Achaean Union, and a little later, already at the beginning of the 2nd century BC, they were participants in the Laconian War. All these battles and wars clearly showed a strong decline in the former power of the Spartan state. In the end, Sparta, Greece was forcibly included in Ancient Rome, along with other ancient Greek states. Thus ended an independent period in the history of a proud and warlike state. Sparta - the ancient state in Greece ceased to exist, becoming one of the provinces of Ancient Rome.

The device of the ancient Spartan state differed significantly from other ancient Greek city-states. So, the rulers of Lacedaemon were two kings from two dynasties - Agids and Eurypontides. They ruled the state together with a council of elders, the so-called gerousia, which included 28 people. The composition of the gerusia was for life. In addition, important state decisions were made at a national assembly called an appellation. Only free citizens who had reached the age of 30 and had sufficient funds took part in the meeting. A little later, the state body of the ephors arose, which included 5 officials from 5 Spartan regions, who in the aggregate had more power than the kings.

The population of the Spartan state was class unequal: Spartans, perieks - free residents from nearby cities who did not have the right to vote, and helots - state slaves. The Spartans had to deal exclusively with the war, they could not participate in trade, crafts and agriculture, all this was at the mercy of the perieks. The estates of the Spartans were processed by helots rented from the state. During the heyday of the Spartan state, the Spartans were 5 times less than the perieks and 10 times less than the helots.

Such was the ancient Sparta, from which the ruins of its buildings, the unfading glory of the state-warrior and a small city of the same name in the south of the Peloponnese now remain.