Perioeci

The Perioeci or Perioikoi (, ) were the second-tier citizens of the ''polis'' of Sparta until 200 BC. They lived in several dozen cities within Spartan territories (mostly Laconia and Messenia), which were dependent on Sparta. The ''perioeci'' only had political rights in their own city, while the course of the Spartan state exclusively belonged to Spartan citizens, or Spartiates.

The name ''perioeci'' roughly means "those dwelling around/nearby", deriving from , ''peri'', "around", and , ''oîkos'', "dwelling, house". ''Perioeci'' and Spartans were collectively called the '' Lakedaimonians''.

They had a central role in the Spartan economy, controlling commerce and business, as well as being responsible for crafts and manufacturing, including producing the weapons and armour of the Spartan army, as the higher-ranking Spartan citizens considered all commercial and money-making activities to be unworthy of them. The ''perioeci'' were also the only people allowed to freely travel outside the Spartan state's borders, which the Spartans were not, unless given permission. Like the Spartiates, the perioeci owned helots and fought in the army.

Other major cities in the Peloponnese likewise controlled perioecic cities, such as Elis and Argos.

Origin

The polis or city-state of Sparta was formed during the Greek Dark Ages, controlling the plains around the Eurotas river. Those communities already existing in the area which could not be assimilated into the Spartan state, or subjugated as helots, became the ''perioeci''. Whether they were Dorians like the Spartans, or descended from pre-Dorian populations in the Peloponnese, is unknown.

Status

The ''perioeci'' were free, unlike the helots, but were not full Spartan citizens. They lived in their own cities in the ''perioecis'', which were described by ancient authors as '' poleis''. These cities were under the control of the Spartan state, but were self-governing on domestic issues.

The ''perioeci'' were obliged to follow Spartan foreign policy, and supplied men to fight in the Spartan army. Like the ''hómoioi'' (, full Spartan citizens), the ''perioeci'' fought in the army as hoplites, probably in the same units. The ''perioeci'' had the right to own land, which would have been necessary to support those in the army.

In the Classical period, the Spartans were not permitted to engage in any economically productive activities, and so the ''perioeci'' were responsible for Spartan manufacturing, including producing weapons and armour, as well as conducting the trade that the Spartan state needed. For instance, the large number of masks and figurines dedicated at the site of the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia were probably produced by ''perioecic'' craftsmen.

Like the Spartans, the ''perioeci'' owned helots, which means that the main division in the Spartan society was between Spartan citizens and ''perioeci'' on one side, and helots on the other.Shipley, "The Other Lakedaimonians", p. 203. For instance, in 413, during the Peloponnesian War, Athens made a raid on the territory of the ''perioecic'' city of Epidaurus Limera with the goal of triggering a helot revolt against the ''perioeci''. Some helots could nevertheless be promoted to ''perioecic'' status by becoming neodamodes after military service, but Spartan citizens could not be demoted to ''perioecic'' status; there were specific underclasses for former Spartan citizens, such as ''hypomeiones'', ''tresantes'', etc.

In Aristotle's ''Politics''

The ''perioeci'' are mentioned in Aristotle's ''Politics'' but in a much more general sense than merely as those within the Spartan state. In describing the ideal state, Aristotle believed that the actual citizens and members of the state should be the rulers, the warriors (those who are allowed to bear arms), the statesmen, and the priests but that those who perform trades, such as mechanics, craftsmen, husbandmen, and farmers should be either slaves or ''perioeci'', because such professions are ignoble and do not produce virtue, according to him. In that sense, the ''perioeci'' are meant to be common to all ideal Hellenic states, as a sort of middle class whose ranks the slaves may aspire to join, below the citizens but above slavery. They are free men, but they do not own property and are not allowed to vote, hold office, or influence the state or the laws by any other means. When Aristotle mentions them, he sometimes refers to them as "barbarian" and implies that such non-citizen free men would be non-Hellenic foreigners.

List of ''perioecic'' cities

Graham Shipley has identified at least 33 ''perioecic'' cities, 23 in Laconia and 10 in Messenia, with various levels of certainty. He notes that many other identified settlements in Laconia and Messenia were probably ''perioecic'', but it is impossible to prove their status with the current state of the evidence.

Messenia

* Aethaea: perhaps founded in the 8th century BC, it was one of the only two ''perioecic'' cities with Thouria to join the Helot Revolt of 464.Shipley, "Sparta and its Perioikic neighbours", p. 64. It was lost by Sparta in 338 after Philip II's campaign in the Peloponnese.
* Asine: founded by exiles from the city of Asine in Argolis who had been expelled by Argos after the First Messenian War.Shipley, "Sparta and its Perioikic neighbours", p. 69. It was lost by Sparta in 338 after Philip II's campaign in the Peloponnese.
* Aulon: the city was lost by Sparta after Epaminondas's foundation of Messene in 369.
* Kardamyli: It was lost by Sparta in 338 after Philip II's campaign in the Peloponnese.Shipley, "Messenia", in Hansen & Nielsen (eds.), ''Inventory'', p. 561.
* Korone: The original name was perhaps Aipeia, but the city was refounded by a Theban oecist after Epaminondas' foundation of Messene in 369. Some modern scholars however think that the city did not exist before that date.
* Kyparissos: the city was lost by Sparta after Epaminondas' foundation of Messene in 369, but some scholars suggest it only became a city after 365.
* Mothone: founded by exiles from the city of Nauplia in Argolis who had been expelled by Argos after the First Messenian War. It was lost by Sparta in 338 after Philip II's campaign in the Peloponnese.
* Pharai: The city was lost by Sparta in 338 after Philip II's campaign in the Peloponnese.Shipley, "Messenia", in Hansen & Nielsen (eds.), ''Inventory'', p. 565.
* Thalamai: the city was also listed as belonging to Laconia by ancient authors.
* Thouria, one of the only two ''perioecic'' cities with Aithaia to join the Helot Revolt of 464. It was lost by Sparta in 338 after Philip II's campaign in the Peloponnese.Shipley, "Messenia", in Hansen & Nielsen (eds.), ''Inventory'', p. 566.

See also

* Metics, similar social class of Athens
* Sciritae, distinct group of non-citizens of Sparta occupying a roughly equivalent social stratum

References

Bibliography

Ancient sources

*Aristotle,

Modern sources

*Mathieu Aref, ''Grèce (Mycéniens-Pélasges) ou la solution d'une énigme'' (''Greece (Mycenaeans-Pelasgians) Or A Solution To The Enigma'') - ''Collection Mnemosyne'' (''Mnemosyne Collection'') - Paris 2004
* Paul Cartledge, ''Sparta and Lakonia. A Regional History 1300 to 362 BC, Routledge'', New York City, 2002 (2nd edition)
*Moses Finley, ''Ancient History, Evidence and Models, Chatto & Windus'', (London 1985).
* Mogens Herman Hansen & Thomas Heine Nielsen, ''An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis'', Oxford University Press, 2004.
* Edmond Lévy, ''Sparte : histoire politique et sociale jusqu’à la conquête romaine'' (''Sparta: Political and Social History until the Roman Conquest''), Seuil, coll. "Points Histoire" (''Points of History''), Paris, 2003 {{ISBN, 2-02-032453-9
*D. Graham J. Shipley, "'The Other Lakedaimonians': The Dependent Perioikic ''Poleis'' of Laconia and Messenia", in Mogens Herman Hansen (editor), ''The Polis as an Urban Centre and as a Political Community'', Copenhagen, 1997, pp. 190–281.
* Ibid., "Sparta and its perioikic neighbours: a century of reassessment", ''Hermathena'', 181, 2006, pp 51–82.

Ancient Greece
Social classes of Sparta