How did the helots contribute to Spartan society?

The helots produced agricultural products for their Spartan masters, but in emergency war situations, they had to serve as light-armed troops. When the slaves delivered their quota of produce to their masters, they could keep the remaining part. This was most of the time half of the crop.

How did Spartans treat helots?

Spartans, who were outnumbered by the Helots, often treated them brutally and oppressively in an effort to prevent uprisings. Spartans would humiliate the Helots by doing such things as forcing them to get debilitatingly drunk on wine and then make fools of themselves in public.

Did Sparta rely on helots?

Xenophon saw the Helots as being integral to the Spartan state, much like slaves elsewhere[18]. Other than agricultural tasks, the functions performed by Helots were as domestic servants, wet nurses, grooms, attendants to Spartans on military campaigns, as well as troops and even hoplites between 424-369BCE[19].

Who were helots and what did they do?

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.

What was the result of the status of helots?

They made sure that kings followed the law. They presented laws for the kings’ approval. The status of the helots was a result of their. wealth.

How did helots become slaves?

It tells a lot of how efficient Sparta was at controlling helots, by murdering them, terrorizing them, brainwashing them and beating them into submission. When the Spartans dominance eroded and Greece fell to Rome, helots still did not get their freedom. Instead of being slaves in Sparta, they became slaves in Rome.

What happened helots?

The Messenian helots were lost to Sparta when Epaminondas liberated Messenia circa 370, but the helot system continued in Laconia until the 2nd century bce. It was definitely in the 8th century that Sparta took the step which was to make it unique among Greek…

Why did the helots revolt?

The 464 BC Sparta earthquake occurred along the Sparta fault in the year 464 BC destroying much of what was Sparta and many other city-states in ancient Greece. The earthquake gave Spartan helots an opportunity to revolt against their aristocratic rulers, and the Athenians were called to their aid.

What was helots job?

The helots (/ˈhɛləts, ˈhiːləts/; Greek: εἵλωτες, heílotes) were a subjugated population that constituted a majority of the population of Laconia and Messenia – the territories comprising Sparta. Tied to the land, they primarily worked in agriculture as a majority and economically supported the Spartan citizens. …

What is the definition of helot?

helot – (Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord. serf , villein. Europe – the 2nd smallest continent (actually a vast peninsula of Eurasia ); the British use `Europe’ to refer to all of the continent except the British Isles . cottier, cotter – a medieval English villein.

Who were the helots of ancient Sparta?

The Spartan helots were the serfs of ancient Sparta, they were owned by the state and used by the Spartans for various purposes and tasks. The helots are believed to have been laconians that was brought to service by the Spartans when their needs for farmers to grow food, and support the growing Spartan community arose.

Who were the helots?

Helot, a state-owned serf of the ancient Spartans. The ethnic origin of helots is uncertain, but they were probably the original inhabitants of Laconia (the area around the Spartan capital) who were reduced to servility after the conquest of their land by the numerically fewer Dorians .

How did the helots contribute to Spartan society? The helots produced agricultural products for their Spartan masters, but in emergency war situations, they had to serve as light-armed troops. When the slaves delivered their quota of produce to their masters, they could keep the remaining part. This was most of the time half of the…