The Constitution of Sparta

The hard fought Messenian wars would not have been won without the legislation of Lykurgos, which most of all targeted the discipline and inuring to hardships of the citizens. Accoring to the combact, which Lykurgos brought from Delphi, the Spartan Senate was consisted from 28 men at least 60 years old, elected for life and the 2 kings. A hundred years later, when the Geriosia became tyrannical, was dismantled and they were replaced by 5 Ephors. He also arranged for periodical assmeblies of the Spartan people that were over 30 years of age and in the area between the river Knakion and the bridge Babyka, They were not permitted to discuss the issues but only accpet or reject them loudly. Lykurgos, in order to aviod strife in the city, he managed to persurade the people to give their land property and then he divided it in equal shares. He also gave equal lots of land to the Perioikoi. In other laws, he forbade the use of money in gold and silver and in their plave issued iron money which was to heavy and had very little value. The Spartans were also not permitted to build housed with other tools, except an axe and a saw. The unwritten laws of Lykurgos most of all targeted eunomia. That was good application of the laws. At the same time they had the seeds of aggressiveness. In a period of a few years after they came in use, Sparta conquered almot all of Laconia. They important city of Amyklai, was captured, but its people were treated nicely.

Athens: The Periklean Age

After the Persian army left Greece, the people of the Greek cities returned home. The Athenians, who were at Troezen, Aegina and Salamis after the battle of Plataea returned and found their city totally ruined and the countryside gone. They soon started rebuilding the city and began raising walls. The Aeginitians immediately informed Sparta, that the fortifications would help the Persians in another expedition, proposed to the Athenians to demolish them. Sparta only feared the rising power of Athens. Themistokles then devised a stratagem and as ambassador, went to sparta as fast as they could. At Sparta, he used all the power of his deplomacy to gain time and when the Athenians who were working at the walls day and night, men and women, informed him that the work was almost finished. He announced it to the Spartans who were compelled to accept it. Though the walls wer raised half the wanted height, they secured the city and Themistokles started his long pursued project to turn Athens the greatest maritimeand commercial power of Greece. His plan was to build twenty triremes every year, but his work was left unfinished.