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Sparta, ancient and modern in Laconia Prefecture Page Five

Girls were also required to do strenuous exercise and wore clothing with low necklines that shocked Greeks from elsewhere, nor were they expected to be faithful to their husbands, their task being to choose lovers with whom to produce strong children. It was the married women, though, who presented the soldiers with their traditional shields and plumed helmets when they achieved their full status.

The Perioikoi (which means something like 'those who dwell around the area') lived in various villages in Kakonia and in neighboring Messenia. Though they were free, they lacked the rights of citizens . They were expected to serve the state as soldiers when 'asked'. The Helots were descendants of former inhabitants of Lakonia and of surviving Messenian slaves. As stated above, it was they who cultivated the estates of the Spartiates and were expected to deliver certain produce.

This militaristic state only developed in its extreme form after the 6th century BC, however, before which the arts flourished (pottery, bronze sculpture, architecture of an essential type, and well as poetry, music and dancing (with festivals that achieved some fame). The increase in austerity is attributed to the inadequate numbers of the ruling caste, the earthquake of 464 BC, and political discontent in Messenia where the Spartans had begun expanding territory during the late 8th century BC, due to its fertility, followed by a 17year Messenian revolt (685-668). Sparta prevailed in the end and began increasing its power in the Peloponnese, subduing Tegea and Thyreatis and the Peloponnesian League was established with Sparta dominating it. Argos which had been the only defiant region, was also subdued in 494BC. Sparta gained prestige with the defeat of the Persians at Thermopylae in 480-479, and with the vicotyr of Plataia under Pausanias.

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