What Life Was Really Like for the Average Spartan
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Date: 2022-12-29
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Comments and reviews: 20
Dr.
Really good video but I wish you would of talked about the the Class of citizens known as the Periokoi. They were a free non citizen class of Sparta. As the Spartans themselves would pursue no other profession besides warfare they needed the roles of artisans and merchants in the cities who were not treated like helots. They also took positions in the spartan military that were considered too risky for True Spartans like skirmishes and weak Calvary. They acted as the barrier between the Spartans and the helots and were friendly with both classes. They were allowed their own laws and customs but they could not vote on spartan foreign or military policy. I believe I even read mention somewhere that if a Perikoi performed well in battle and impress Spartans they could be elevated to the class of being a Spartan but I dont know how true that one is. Still I feel like its important to mention because in your video to someone who might be new to spartan culture they would probably view them as ruthless owners which is true helots were treated very poorly.
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Really good video but I wish you would of talked about the the Class of citizens known as the Periokoi. They were a free non citizen class of Sparta. As the Spartans themselves would pursue no other profession besides warfare they needed the roles of artisans and merchants in the cities who were not treated like helots. They also took positions in the spartan military that were considered too risky for True Spartans like skirmishes and weak Calvary. They acted as the barrier between the Spartans and the helots and were friendly with both classes. They were allowed their own laws and customs but they could not vote on spartan foreign or military policy. I believe I even read mention somewhere that if a Perikoi performed well in battle and impress Spartans they could be elevated to the class of being a Spartan but I dont know how true that one is. Still I feel like its important to mention because in your video to someone who might be new to spartan culture they would probably view them as ruthless owners which is true helots were treated very poorly.
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jlrinc
I'm skeptical that the helots were killed or abused as readily as is claimed. These stories come from Spartas enemies who had reason to disparage the Spartans for their cruelty. In fact the Athenians were much more cruel to their slaves than the Spartans. The Helots provided food for the Spartans and would be important when the Spartans were away at war. It would have made no sense for the Spartans to abuse the helots as randomly as is usually claimed and then expect them to provide a stable food supply when the army left and no one was their to keep discipline. The Spartans probably rewarded loyal slaves as would be expected for a master who relied on them to supervise the farms when they were away.
Athenians on the other hand had no use for their slaves if they couldnt be ransomed for money. They were generally thrown into silver mines never to see the sun again in their all too short lives where they were barely fed and subject to extreme violence to keep them working in the mines. It was a lot worse to be a slave in Athens than Sparta.
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I'm skeptical that the helots were killed or abused as readily as is claimed. These stories come from Spartas enemies who had reason to disparage the Spartans for their cruelty. In fact the Athenians were much more cruel to their slaves than the Spartans. The Helots provided food for the Spartans and would be important when the Spartans were away at war. It would have made no sense for the Spartans to abuse the helots as randomly as is usually claimed and then expect them to provide a stable food supply when the army left and no one was their to keep discipline. The Spartans probably rewarded loyal slaves as would be expected for a master who relied on them to supervise the farms when they were away.
Athenians on the other hand had no use for their slaves if they couldnt be ransomed for money. They were generally thrown into silver mines never to see the sun again in their all too short lives where they were barely fed and subject to extreme violence to keep them working in the mines. It was a lot worse to be a slave in Athens than Sparta.
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james
it's a simple concept basic logic if life is not free why the hell would death be any cheaper it's not. So the question one may wonder is the spiritual cost to one's own soul and spirit for having lived and died to the lowest standards of quality for so many years now global pollution has diminished the quality of life to the point where today's people are living, dying and yielding the worst spiritual kickback that has ever been manifested since the beginning of life only getting worse. The polar opposite extreme to that is today's people should be living and dying to the highest standards of quality which would make each and every moment physically, mentally, financially and spiritually beneficial. S. R. F.
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it's a simple concept basic logic if life is not free why the hell would death be any cheaper it's not. So the question one may wonder is the spiritual cost to one's own soul and spirit for having lived and died to the lowest standards of quality for so many years now global pollution has diminished the quality of life to the point where today's people are living, dying and yielding the worst spiritual kickback that has ever been manifested since the beginning of life only getting worse. The polar opposite extreme to that is today's people should be living and dying to the highest standards of quality which would make each and every moment physically, mentally, financially and spiritually beneficial. S. R. F.
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Mike
Lots of pronunciation issues in this video. I get it you dont speak Ancient Greece but like for example mount Taygtus, also some Spartans would take the baby put it in wine and have it drink the wine and then if it was good theyd keep it otherwise theyd toss the baby off the cliff. But like you said they didnt really throw babies off cliffs like savages just left them exposed to the elements of Lakonia honestly being thrown off a cliff might of been more Merciful
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Lots of pronunciation issues in this video. I get it you dont speak Ancient Greece but like for example mount Taygtus, also some Spartans would take the baby put it in wine and have it drink the wine and then if it was good theyd keep it otherwise theyd toss the baby off the cliff. But like you said they didnt really throw babies off cliffs like savages just left them exposed to the elements of Lakonia honestly being thrown off a cliff might of been more Merciful
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education
Poor helots, the Spartans are probably one of the worst Slave owners in history with the way they treated the Helots. How come we have so many movies with American slave owners as the villains from transatlantic slave trade, but none of the Spartans as villains? The only Spartan themed movie I have watched cast them as the protagonists/good guys
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Poor helots, the Spartans are probably one of the worst Slave owners in history with the way they treated the Helots. How come we have so many movies with American slave owners as the villains from transatlantic slave trade, but none of the Spartans as villains? The only Spartan themed movie I have watched cast them as the protagonists/good guys
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Levi
Spartan boys were encouraged to steal and were punished if they were caught, because they were caught after being punished for stealing food because they were punished for stealing food. WHO WROTE THIS SCRIPT? Stop repeating the same things 20 times in a row. I feel like I'm having a stroke listening to this.
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Spartan boys were encouraged to steal and were punished if they were caught, because they were caught after being punished for stealing food because they were punished for stealing food. WHO WROTE THIS SCRIPT? Stop repeating the same things 20 times in a row. I feel like I'm having a stroke listening to this.
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Tomas
It might seem cruel, the way Sparta used to work, but it's absolutely natural. Look at us now. Weak, fat people with no discipline. Even the weakest can survive thanks to the medicine and spread their defective genome. I am a living example with my crooked teeth, jaw, and my OAB.
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It might seem cruel, the way Sparta used to work, but it's absolutely natural. Look at us now. Weak, fat people with no discipline. Even the weakest can survive thanks to the medicine and spread their defective genome. I am a living example with my crooked teeth, jaw, and my OAB.
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featureEnvy
Wow these people sucked. I kinda feel like we should just forget they ever existed on purpose just to dishonor them and how much they glorified abuse. Also all the people in these comments must be straight because to me this sounds like a heteronormative nightmare.
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Wow these people sucked. I kinda feel like we should just forget they ever existed on purpose just to dishonor them and how much they glorified abuse. Also all the people in these comments must be straight because to me this sounds like a heteronormative nightmare.
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Tyrone
It sounds like a pretty good life besides the fact that children were ended if they weren't perfect. Also, making them starve and go without shoes is a bit sickening.
And poor mothers had to watch as their babies were sentenced to death.
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It sounds like a pretty good life besides the fact that children were ended if they weren't perfect. Also, making them starve and go without shoes is a bit sickening.
And poor mothers had to watch as their babies were sentenced to death.
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Kyra
The Spartans hated the Helots. eventually the Helots could earn their freedom by joining the military, not that is mattered. The Spartans could kill a Helot, even if they were free, at any time and it was completely legal.
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The Spartans hated the Helots. eventually the Helots could earn their freedom by joining the military, not that is mattered. The Spartans could kill a Helot, even if they were free, at any time and it was completely legal.
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Fanzy
I could live the life but i would never stand the mutiny of Spartans. Media has romanticized sparta with all the Sigma male bs. it was a shit hole for people of sparta and the people around it
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I could live the life but i would never stand the mutiny of Spartans. Media has romanticized sparta with all the Sigma male bs. it was a shit hole for people of sparta and the people around it
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Saifullah
Men were thrown into an abusive and violent life. Women were nothing more than baby factorys and slaves were just play things. Murdered for fun and sport
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Men were thrown into an abusive and violent life. Women were nothing more than baby factorys and slaves were just play things. Murdered for fun and sport
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Joey
Its not really a question of would. If thats how the times were then thats how it is. Just like how were born into a soft world nowadays. Its just how it is.
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Its not really a question of would. If thats how the times were then thats how it is. Just like how were born into a soft world nowadays. Its just how it is.
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Uriel
helots= eilotes = warprisoners no slaves. At that time warprisoners were executed. Only the spartans allowed them to live as servants with no rights.
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helots= eilotes = warprisoners no slaves. At that time warprisoners were executed. Only the spartans allowed them to live as servants with no rights.
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dylan
pfffft WHAAATT? i woulda THRIVED as a dam Spartan lol. hell i feel like maybe i was one in a past life. how badass. but also sad lol. very very sad
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pfffft WHAAATT? i woulda THRIVED as a dam Spartan lol. hell i feel like maybe i was one in a past life. how badass. but also sad lol. very very sad
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Rajendra
And today we have millionaire footballers with prime human physiques flopping and rolling on the ground at the slightest physical contact.
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And today we have millionaire footballers with prime human physiques flopping and rolling on the ground at the slightest physical contact.
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Shann
It would be cool if they figured out exactly what the Spartans did to ready themselves and then there could be a Spartan Workout Plan
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It would be cool if they figured out exactly what the Spartans did to ready themselves and then there could be a Spartan Workout Plan
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weird_history
Alexander didnt even need to send his whole army to conquer Sparta, let alone be there. He called it a battle of rats.
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Alexander didnt even need to send his whole army to conquer Sparta, let alone be there. He called it a battle of rats.
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CoD
They also touched little kids as a sign of passage. Those kids then, if they made it to elders, would repeat the pattern.
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They also touched little kids as a sign of passage. Those kids then, if they made it to elders, would repeat the pattern.
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JimAK49
Interesting how you ignored the pederasty which may have been a causal link to the downfall of the Spartan society.
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Interesting how you ignored the pederasty which may have been a causal link to the downfall of the Spartan society.
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