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
Helots
helots
The Spartans did not grow crops. The serf population (helots) were obliged to deliver half their produce to the Spartan state, which distributed it to the Spartan citizens.
In Sparta, the status of the helots resulted from the conquest and subjugation of the neighboring Messenian population. After defeating Messenia in the 8th century BCE, the Spartans enslaved the Messenians, turning them into helots who were forced to work the land and support the Spartan economy. This system allowed Spartans to focus on military training and governance while maintaining a constant fear of helot revolts, which shaped Spartan society and its militaristic culture.
Because the leaders thought that a military society created more obedient and loyal citizens
If the helots defeated the Spartans, the Spartans, being defeated, could not do anything to them.
Helots
The Helots were the Spartans slaves. If the Spartans treated them well they would have been more likely to successfully rebel.
Helots
Helots
Helots
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.
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.
Spartans needed to be able to keep helots at bay
Helots
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