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The helots were an unfree population group that formed the main population of Laconia and the whole of Messenia (areas of Sparta).
A hoplite was a citizen-soldier of the Ancient Greek City-states. Hoplites occasionally served with the Spartan army.
Addition:
Hoplites were armoured soldiers, so the Spartan infantry was comprised of hoplites.
The Spartan helots (serfs) were used as light infantry and archers, however later during the Peloponnesian War (the force which Brasidas took north in 422 BCE were helot hoplites), and later when the ongoing wars had depleted the Spartan hoplite numbers, they expanded the use of helots as hoplites, often with the inducement of being freed of serfdom (being bound to their plot of land) after successful service.
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Were the serfs in Sparta known as Hoplites?
No. The Serfs were called "Helots" and were mainly based in Messenia. They worked to provide food for the Spartiates, the elite Spartan class. Hoplites were the Spartan warriors. The common image of these men in helmets, with a large shield and spear each, arranged in rows was called the Phalanx.
Where did the hoplites reside?
the hoplites reside near libya
How did the Greeks use helots?
Depends. What the heck are helots?
How many Spartans were there for every helot?
Each Spartan citizen was allotted the produce of seven helots to support them. They also took seven helots to war for each Spartan warrior - these acted as light infantry, and at the same time reduced the threat of a helot uprising at home while the Spartans were away. At the battle of Plataea in 479 BCE, there were 5,000 Spartan hoplites (armoured warriors) and 35,000 helot light infantry.
Why were hoplites called hoplites?
Hoplites were important to ancient Greece because they battled for their individual city-states. This allowed for warfare between the city-states to play out. Hoplites were not effective for large scale warfare, however.
Were the serfs in Sparta known as Hoplites?
No. The Serfs were called "Helots" and were mainly based in Messenia. They worked to provide food for the Spartiates, the elite Spartan class. Hoplites were the Spartan warriors. The common image of these men in helmets, with a large shield and spear each, arranged in rows was called the Phalanx.
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.
How many Greeks fought against the Persians at the battle of Thermopylai?
300 Spartan Hoplites (armoured warriors) plus 2,000 of their Helots (serfs used as light infantry), plus contingents from other cities totalling 7000.
Why was it a concern for Sparta that the helots outnumbered the Spartans?
In one way the Spartans were glad the serfs (helots) outnumbered them - each Spartan was allotted the produce paid by seven helots (50 percent of their production), which allowed them to devote themselves to military training and social life rather than farming for themselves. However the serf population was restive and, with these seven-to-one numbers, posed a threat which came to a head in 460 when they revolted. As a precautionary move, whenever a Spatan expeditionary force was sent out, it took seven helots per Spartan hop[lite (armoured soldier) to act as light infantry, archers and slingers. This gave the Spartans good support on the battlefield and also reduced the threat at home in their absence. At the battle of Plataia against the Persians, Sparta fielded 5,000 hoplites and 35,000 light infantry, making it by far the biggest contribution to the Greek army against the Persian force (other Greek contingents took one slave per hoplite as suport). At Thermopylae the Spartan contingent was 300 hoplites an 2,100 helot light infantry, the helots going down with the Spartan hoplites in the final stand which let the other Greek soldiers escape.
What was it like to be a helot?
The helots were the state-owned serfs of the Spartans. They were most likely Laconian and Messenian. There was a greater number of helots than Spartans, therefore each year when a Spartan Magistrate took office he declared war on the helots. This meant that the helots could be murdered at any time. The Krypteia, or the Spartan secret police, also routinely killed helots.
Why did the Spartans mostly fear the Helots?
They were heavily outnumbered by about 7 to I. The helots farmed the land and provided half their produce to the Spartans, which allowed the Spartans to concentrate on military training and activity. This is one of the reasons that when they sent out an expeditionary force, they sent 7 helots as light infantry for each Spartan hoplite to ensure the balance they left behind was not completely overwhelming. The other reason they sent them was it gave the armoured warriors a strong support force of archers and javelin men. At the battle of Plataea against the Persian invasion the Spartan contingent was 5,000 hoplites and 35,ooo helot support troops - by far the larges Greek contingent. The next largest was 8,000 Athenian hoplites and 8,000 light infantry.
Where did the hoplites reside?
the hoplites reside near libya
Where did hoplites reside?
the hoplites reside near Libya
Greek slave or peasant forced to stay on the land they worked?
helots
What did Spartans call their slaves?
Helots
How did the Greeks use helots?
Depends. What the heck are helots?
How many Spartans were there for every helot?
Each Spartan citizen was allotted the produce of seven helots to support them. They also took seven helots to war for each Spartan warrior - these acted as light infantry, and at the same time reduced the threat of a helot uprising at home while the Spartans were away. At the battle of Plataea in 479 BCE, there were 5,000 Spartan hoplites (armoured warriors) and 35,000 helot light infantry.
