The Oligarchy ( Sparta ) The entire population of Sparta was divided into three large groups : the Spartiates , who were full – fledged citizens , the perioeci , who were free but had no political rights , and the helots , who were , to all extents and purposes , the slaves of the Spartiates . The Spartan communes owned all the land , and each member had his own holding . The possession of land in Sparta was a prerequisite for citizenship . The land was tilled by the helots , who received but a small share of the harvest . In order to keep the helots in constant fear and submission , the Spartiates would regularly organise bloody massacres . The helots , as the land they tilled , were considered to be the community property of the Spartiates , who could neither sell them nor assign them to someone else . The helots often mutinied ; thus , the major uprising of 464 B.C. nearly led to the downfall of the Spartiates . The perioeci , who enjoyed personal freedom , were crafts men and traders . Unlike the Spartiates , they had the right to own property ; they also could join the Spartan army . However , they did not enjoy political rights and were obliged to pay a tribute to the Spartiates . Although the Spartiates comprised but a small part of the population , there was an influential and wealthy group among them . The two kings who headed the Spartan community belonged to this group . The kings were simply members of the council of elders ( gerousia ) , the highest governing body of the oligarchal rule . At the end of the 7th century B.C. Sparta headed the Pelo ponnesian League , which included the city – states of Pelopon nes . Sparta , a backward slave state , became the stronghold of reaction in Greece , the Spartiates attempted to establish and support the rule of the slave – owning aristocracy in all the polises .
Capitalism Society 