Who freed the helots?

commander Epaminondas
In 371, the Theban commander Epaminondas defeated the Spartans at Leuctra, and later, he invaded the Peloponnese, where he liberated the helots of Messenia. The helots of Laconia appear to have been emancipated later by the reformer kings Cleomenes III (235-222) and Nabis (207-192).

Who conquered the helots?

The Spartans were fighting to gain back control, but they were outnumbered seven Helots to one Spartan. The details about this war were concealed, and very little information is known about what happened in the war. In the end, the Spartans won and banished the remaining rebel Helots to Sicily.

What happened to the helots?

The Messenian helots were lost to Sparta when Epaminondas liberated Messenia circa 370, but the helot system continued in Laconia until the 2nd century bce. It was definitely in the 8th century that Sparta took the step which was to make it unique among Greek…

What happened to the helots of Sparta?

Helots were ritually mistreated, humiliated and even slaughtered: every autumn the Spartans would declare war on the helots so they could be killed by a member of the Crypteia without fear of religious repercussion. Uprisings and attempts to improve the lot of the helots did occur, such as the Conspiracy of Cinadon.

Did helots serve in the military?

The Spartans also kept up a fleet, in which the helots were employed as marines and oarsmen; in cases of great emergency they were transformed into heavy-armed soldiers and served in the army, after which they received their freedom.

Why did the Spartans need helots?

The Spartans were a particularly land-hungry warrior society. In 715 B.C.E., the Spartans solved their need for more land by conquering the agriculturally rich region of Messene. The helots’ work helped to make Sparta a wealthy city, and in time they became trusted members of Spartan families.

How did the Spartans control the helots?

It tells a lot of how efficient Sparta was at controlling helots, by murdering them, terrorizing them, brainwashing them and beating them into submission. When the Spartans dominance eroded and Greece fell to Rome, helots still did not get their freedom. Instead of being slaves in Sparta, they became slaves in Rome.

When did Sparta enslave the helots?

The helots did most of the farming for Spartans. The concerns of the Spartans turned out to be true. In 464 B.C., the helots started to rebel, and the Spartans could not suppress them until the next five years. To our knowledge, this was the only known slave rebellion in the Greek states.

What did the helots nearly accomplish in 460 BC?

The earthquake gave Spartan helots an opportunity to revolt against their aristocratic rulers, and the Athenians were called to their aid. Their immediate dismissal upon arrival is said to have been a key event that lead up to the First Peloponnesian War….464 BC Sparta earthquake.

Did the Spartans really discard babies?

The ancient historian Plutarch claimed these “ill-born” Spartan babies were tossed into a chasm at the foot of Mount Taygetus, but most historians now dismiss this as a myth. If a Spartan baby was judged to be unfit for its future duty as a soldier, it was most likely abandoned on a nearby hillside.

How did the helots help the Spartans survive?

They ploughed fields, grew olives, made wine, took care of homes, constructed buildings, worked as artisans or tradesmen, carried the Spartans weapons into the battle, cleaned their armour, cooked their food, and everything in between.

When did Helots become slaves?

Spartans: Masters of the Helots According to the carved records dating back to 416 B.C, Athenian slaves came from different places that were scattered around the Mediterranean. When the Spartans conquered a territory, the citizens were forced to become slaves.