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Helots were Messenian servants who lived in Sparta after Sparta took over their homeland. They had very little rights and were treated as servants, though they are not considered common slaves because they often fought in wars and had families. In fact, if a helot served honorably in a war, it could be possible that they would be allowed to be free. yo yo yo

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15y ago
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10y ago

"Helots" was the name for the slaves of the Spartan citizens. Force is a traditional way of slaveholders to keep their slaves in line. Moreover, Spartan law explicitly allowed its citizens to use any kind of force (including killing) on its Helots with impunity. As history has shown over and over, giving any group of people unlimited and unchecked power over another group of people always and invariably leads to excesses and violence.

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10y ago

The Spartans took helots to war with them - for two reasons.

First was to use them as light infantry and archers.

Second was that the helots outnumbered the Spartan citizens by a large factor, so that they took seven helots for each Spartan armoured warrior with them went they went on campaign to reduce the number left at home and able to get up to mischief in their absence.

It is rarely mentioned, but at the fight at Thermopylae as well as the 300 Spartan warriors who died, 2,100 helots died fighting with them.

At the battle of Plataea the following year, as well as the 5,000 Spartan hoplites there were 35,000 helots backing them up - making it by far the largest contingent in the Greek army facing the Persians.

After a series of wars, the numbers of Spartan warriors declined seriously, and during the Peloponnesian War, helots were recruited as armoured warriors as well, on a promise that if they served well they would be freed from serfdom.

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12y ago

the helots were captive works from ancient Greece. this name comes from the Greek word for "capture". but I'm not sure the answer to the second question. sorry:(

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14y ago

they were treated terribly with very little rights. they did get to live with there families though.

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Q: What did the Spartans do to the Helots?
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Related questions

What did the Spartans do to the helots that defeated them?

If the helots defeated the Spartans, the Spartans, being defeated, could not do anything to them.


What did Spartans call their slaves?

Helots


Why did the Spartans treat the Helots badly?

The Helots were the Spartans slaves. If the Spartans treated them well they would have been more likely to successfully rebel.


The Spartans called their captive workers?

Helots


What did the Spartans call their captive workers?

Helots


The Spartans called their captive workers what?

Helots


What did the Spartans call the captive workers?

Helots


What was the Spartans justification for killing the helots?

The Spartans believed that the helots were a threat to their society due to their large numbers and the potential for uprising. Therefore, they justified the killing of helots as a means of maintaining control and order in their society.


How did the helots make the Sparta a military power?

Spartans needed to be able to keep helots at bay


Why were helots important?

Helots were important because they revolted often. The average Spartan citizen had 12 helots to himself. So, the helots outnumbered the Spartans. The helots' large rebellions caused the Spartans to strenghten their army. This constant test of military ability made the Spartan military strong and powerful.


Who were the native people the Spartans enslaved to do work?

Helots


What were Spartans slaves called?

Spartan Slaves, or to be more accurate, serfs, were called helots. Sparta became the military state as most know it by today after a revolution of the helots, in which many Spartans died, but were able to gain control over the helots and began to build a viscous army