ACOUP - This. Isn’t. Sparta. Part V: Spartan Government

This time, we move into an overview of Sparta’s government. What were the governing institutions, how did they relate to and impact each other, how did they compare to other Greek poleis, and, most importantly, why were they so thoroughly unable to address the existential crises slowly destroying the Spartan state?

The text for this recording is from A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry, the blog of history professor, Bret Devereaux, whose work you should absolutely support with your eyes, your clicks, and, if you are able, your bucks.

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0:00 - Spartan Government
2:50 - How to Polis 101
5:53 - Double Kings: Well-Kicker-in-Chief
10:13 - The Ephors: Not Actually Mutants
13:54 - The Gerousia: 30 Angry Old Men
16:57 - The Apella
20:56 - Stability Through Tension
24:01 - In Sparta, the Rich Eat You
29:45 - The Failure of Reform
36:57 - Conclusion
38:28 - Credits

[Pikepaw]

“He began a battle without a sacrifice of any kind…no wonder he lost”

[Dataism]

18:06 Well damn, if I get free time later this year I'll try my hand at drawing a picture or two of them.