Economy: Spartiate, Perioikoi and Helots

Spartan citizens were prohibited from pursuing any profession other than that of arms.

The Spartan economy was dependent not on chattel slaves, as were the other Greek city-states, but on the non-Doric population of Laconia.  These were divided into free but non-citizen Perioikoi and semi-free, serf-like Helots.

To understand the Spartan economy, it is necessary to go back to the origins of the city. The Spartan citizens were, in fact, the descendants of 9th century BC Doric invaders to the Peloponnese. Rather than exterminating or enslaving the native population, the Spartans had—for whatever reason—managed to come to a unique arrangement with the conquered inhabitants. These continued to live and work in Laconia, enjoying distinctly different status and privileges from the Spartan citizens, or Spartiates, but far better than that of chattel slaves.  These peoples were divided into two broad categories: the residents of the pre-Doric towns, who enjoyed a free but dependent status as "Perioikoi," and the peasants, who enjoyed a far more restricted status as "helots."

The Perioikoi had their own laws and customs, could pursue any profession or trade they liked, and had their own local officials and dignitaries. They were restricted only with regard to foreign and military policy, being subject to the government of the entire territory or city-state, Lacedaemon, which was run by Spartans. They were also required to provide troops for the Lacedaemonian army and support Sparta in time of war. Because the Spartan citizens were themselves prohibited by their laws from engaging in any profession except that of arms, the Perioikoi were the professionals, merchants, and craftsmen of Lacedaemon. They were not restricted by the Spartan laws and traditions to an austere lifestyle nor were they prohibited from hoarding gold and silver. In short, they had a monopoly on all lucrative businesses and professions.

The "helots," or rural population, had a significantly worse status. These "helots" were tied to the land and were officially the property of the Lacedaemonian government. As a result of at least one and possibly more revolts, they were regarded with increasing suspicion and subjected to increasingly harsher laws. In fact, the Lacedaemonian government regularly declared war on the helots to enable quick retribution against any "unruly" helot without the tedious business of a trial. This unique situation led many contemporary ancient commentators to remark on the "exceptional" harshness of the Spartan system. These commentators are even hypocritical enough to lament the fact that the helots were required to give 50% of their produce to the Spartan residents on their respective estates. I say hypocritical because all the ancient commentators so shocked by the Spartan system were themselves slave owners whose slaves worked their estates and gave up 100% of all their produce to their masters.

The Spartan helots—if compared to slaves in other Greek city-states—were very privileged indeed. Helots were not chattels. They could not be bought and sold by their "masters." They could marry who and when they willed. They even legally had parents and children. (In other Greek states, a slave was not allowed to marry, and offspring of sexual intercourse, regardless of the partner, "belonged" to the owner of the slave; parenthood was not recognized.) They could keep half the produce of their labor—and presumably sell it on the market for a profit. They could accumulate wealth and spend it as they pleased. Many acquired not inconsiderable fortunes, and when given the opportunity to purchase their freedom from the government, many could afford to do so.

So why the revolts? The revolts resulted from the extension of Lacedaemon beyond the Eurotas Valley into neighboring Messenia. Although again dates are nonexistent and accounts differ, it appears that Sparta invaded and conquered Messenia sometime in the 8th century BC. The Messenians—probably reduced to a "Perioikoi" status—revolted some 50 years later. A second war resulted that was bloody and bitter and very long. At the end of the Second Messenian War, the Spartans apparently "helotized" the entire Messenian population in retribution. This means they turned into serfs men who had previously been free, rich, even aristocratic. It means that they "helotized" not pre-Doric peoples, but Greeks. This explains why the term "Messenian" and "helot" are often used interchangeably by the time of the Peloponnesian War. It explains why the Lacedaemonian government declared "war" on the "helots" and it explains why the "helots" continued to try to revolt until they finally did win their freedom, with foreign help, and reestablish an independent, free Messenia in the 4th century BC. It also explains why other helots were loyal supporters of the Lacedaemonian government and could even be trusted to provide logistical support to the army. Presumably the Lacedaemonian helots were grateful for their relatively privileged status, whereas the Messenian helots resented the loss of their freedom and independence.