Why were the helots so important to the Spartans?
The helots’ work helped to make Sparta a wealthy city, and in time they became trusted members of Spartan families. A number of ancient sources mention helots that acted as domestic servants or companions to high-ranking Spartan elites.
Who are helots and where were they in society?
In Ancient Sparta, the Helots were a subjugated population of slaves. Formerly warriors, the Helots outnumbered the Spartans considerably. During the time of the Battle of Plataea, which took place in 479 B.C., there were seven Helots for every Spartan.
Why were Ephors important to Sparta?
The ephors presided over meetings of the council of elders, or gerousia, and assembly, or apella, and were responsible for the execution of their decrees.
How did the helots help the Spartans survive?
They ploughed fields, grew olives, made wine, took care of homes, constructed buildings, worked as artisans or tradesmen, carried the Spartans weapons into the battle, cleaned their armour, cooked their food, and everything in between.
How did the helots influence the Spartan development of a strong military?
Since they were considered slaves, they could work them as hard as they wanted to, and they wanted to get a stronger army because there were twice as many helots than there were citizens in Sparta, so they made a strong military so there was absolutely no chance of rebelling.
Why did the helots revolt?
Around 660 B.C., the Spartans attacked the Argives, who demolished the Spartans. The report of Sparta’s lost gave encouragement to the Helots who started a revolt against Sparta, which is now known as the Second Messenian War.
What do helots mean?
Definition of helot 1 Helot : a member of a class of serfs in ancient Sparta. 2 : someone held in forced servitude : an enslaved person or serf.
Who were the helots and what was their role in Spartan society?
The helots were in a sense state slaves, bound to the soil and assigned to individual Spartans to till their holdings; their masters could neither free them nor sell them, and the helots had a limited right to accumulate property, after paying to their masters a fixed proportion of the produce of the holding.
What did the ephors do to the helots?
The ephors also held power over the Helots and the Perioeci. They controlled the Crypteia, the secret police who repressed the Helots, and they were even able to sentence Perioeci to death without a trial.
What did the helots nearly accomplish?
The earthquake gave Spartan helots an opportunity to revolt against their aristocratic rulers, and the Athenians were called to their aid. Their immediate dismissal upon arrival is said to have been a key event that lead up to the First Peloponnesian War….464 BC Sparta earthquake.
| Local date | 464 BC |
|---|---|
| Casualties | up to 20,000 |
Why did Athens help the helots?
The Helots decided to take a stronghold on Mount Ithome, that the Helots, before their enslavement, held at one time. The Spartans did not attempt to attack alone with the forces they had, so they asked the Athenians to help them in their predicament.
Who were helots and what did they do?
Were the helots liberated by the Romans?
The victorious Thebans then invaded the Peloponnese, and the Helots of Messenia were liberated. The last Helots (the Helots of Laconia) were emancipated at the end of the 3 rd century BC by the reformer kings Cleomenes III and Nabis.
Was the helots citizens of Sparta?
Who were citizens in ancient Sparta? The population of Sparta consisted of three main groups: the Spartans, or Spartiates, who were full citizens; the Helots, or serfs/slaves; and the Perioeci, who were neither slaves nor citizens. The Perioeci, whose name means “dwellers-around,” worked as craftsmen and traders, and built weapons for the Spartans.
Where is helots located in the Athens or Sparta?
Phonetic spelling of thebes. thebes. th-EE-b-s.…
What was the role of the helots in Greek society?
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