Spartan Government

• The Spartans had an unusual political system because it combined two different political systems. Unlike in Athens, Sparta was ruled by a monarchy.
• Sparta had two hereditary kings from separate families in order to avoid dictatorship.
• The monarchs were particularly powerful when one of them led the army as supreme commander.
• This constitution was designed to achieve Eunomia (balance or harmony)
• The Spartans saw democracy as being too radical. However, they understood that the monarchy was problematic due to the risk of tyrants. By combining the systems they hoped to create a balance.
• The Ephors could depose the kings if they became too powerful, and by having two they avoided giving all the power to one man.
• This system was designed to promote efficiency too, since in times of war a democratic approach would mean that decision making would be too time consuming.
• There were issues with this system, however, as the two kings often competed for power. There are numerous instances of them deposing one another.
• The Spartan's assembly voted by shouting and so was very easy to manipulate.
• Overall, Sparta had a reputation as being a conservative state, slow to make decisions and open to corruption.