The helots were a serf class in Sparta. According to Thucydides they revolted four different times during the 5th century.
In 460 BC, the helots, who were the subjugated population of Sparta, nearly succeeded in a major uprising against their Spartan overlords. This revolt, known as the Helot Revolt, was fueled by discontent and the desire for freedom, particularly during a time when Sparta was preoccupied with external conflicts, including the ongoing wars with Athens. The revolt posed a significant threat to Spartan stability, but ultimately, the Spartans managed to suppress the uprising, maintaining their control over the helots.
Spartans acquired a large number of slaves, known as helots, primarily through military conquest. When they conquered the neighboring region of Messenia in the 8th century BCE, they subjugated the local population, turning them into helots who worked the land and served the Spartan citizens. Additionally, the Spartans maintained control over the helots through a system of terror and oppression, ensuring they remained subservient and unable to revolt. This reliance on helots was crucial for maintaining the Spartan economy and military readiness, as it allowed Spartan citizens to focus on warfare and governance.
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.
If the helots defeated the Spartans, the Spartans, being defeated, could not do anything to them.
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
In 460 BC, the helots, who were the subjugated population of Sparta, nearly succeeded in a major uprising against their Spartan overlords. This revolt, known as the Helot Revolt, was fueled by discontent and the desire for freedom, particularly during a time when Sparta was preoccupied with external conflicts, including the ongoing wars with Athens. The revolt posed a significant threat to Spartan stability, but ultimately, the Spartans managed to suppress the uprising, maintaining their control over the helots.
Helots
Depends. What the heck are helots?
The Helots were not Spartan citizens ; they were essentially slaves .
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.
The city-states of warrior and helots refers to the current city of Sparta. The helots were originally free Greeks from the areas of Messenia.
The Helots were a subjugated population in Laconia and Messenia, a territory controlled by Sparta
If the helots defeated the Spartans, the Spartans, being defeated, could not do anything to them.
Spartans needed to be able to keep helots at bay
They are not Greek, they are Dorians. They raided from the north and enslaved the helots and settled near the helots.
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.
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