While the kings were considered to be at the top of Spartan government, they actually held very little political power. Another big task was serving on the gerousia. But in the case of larger wars, both kings might head to war, each commanding a different army.īeyond that, their main duties included overseeing certain religious ceremonies and working with the priests. Depending on the nature of the conflict, one king might stay in Sparta while the other would campaign. The primary duties of the kings were leading the Spartan army into war. But they were still expected to adhere to Sparta’s strict social norms, mainly self-discipline and being serious. This made them the wealthiest members of society. To help maintain their status, the king was given the largest plot of land out of any other Spartan citizen.
#ANCIENT WARS SPARTA SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS INSTALL#
Unable to decide who would rule this new city, they compromised and decided to install two kings, one from each of the two most powerful families, the Agiads and Eurypontids. Five towns, all ruled by separate families, united to form one polis, the Greek word for city. This rather unusual arrangement came from the early days of Spartan civilization. The Spartans took this even further, placing strict limitations on who could weigh in on Spartan politics.īut who were those people? And what role did they play in Spartan government? Was Sparta the oligarchy of all the oligarchies? Spartan KingsĪt the very top of the Spartan government were its two kings. This means power belonged to a very small group of people.
Made famous by its powerful army and heavy emphasis on personal discipline, Sparta was an oligarchy. There, democracy flourished for over four hundred years in a world where kings and despots had most of the power.Įlsewhere, power was in the hands of the few, and regular citizens had little to no say in the affairs of the state. However, when we think of these things, we’re usually thinking of Athens. Spartan Government: The Oligarchy of all the Oligarchiesīetween inventing democracy, advancing philosophy, and discovering key mathematical principles still in use today, it’s easy to see why many people saw the ancient Greeks as “ahead of their times.”
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