What Disadvantages did Sparta\'s Military Focus Bring to the Society?
One Disadvantage of the Spartans' Focus on the Military
The Spartans had a significant disadvantage due to their intense focus on the military aspect of their society. This disadvantage stemmed from their heavy reliance on an oppressed class known as the helots, which imposed limitations on their engagement in external campaigns and ultimately contributed to the vulnerability and decline of the Spartan system.
Final answer:
Sparta's military-oriented society was heavily reliant on suppressed helots, limiting their engagement in external campaigns and contributing to the Spartan system's vulnerability and eventual decline following military defeats.
Explanation:
One significant disadvantage of the Spartans' focus on the military was the reliance on a large population of oppressed helots to sustain their militaristic society. This dependency created a paradox; Spartans were so concerned with potential helot revolts that they were reluctant to engage in external military campaigns, limiting their ability to expand territorially or influence other regions significantly. This ultimately contributed to the fragility of their system, amplifying the impacts when they faced military defeats, such as at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE where they faced the Thebans. After this loss and following events, including the loss of helot labor and collapse of the Peloponnesian League, the Spartan military system could not be sustained as before, leading to their decline.
What were the consequences of Spartan's reliance on suppressed helots for their military society? The consequences of Spartan's reliance on suppressed helots for their military society were the limitation of engaging in external military campaigns, vulnerability to military defeats, and eventual decline of the Spartan system. The helots' oppression led to a paradox where the Spartans couldn't fully utilize their militaristic focus due to the fear of helot revolts, hampering their expansion and territorial influence. This reliance on helots ultimately weakened the Spartan military system, especially after facing defeats such as at the Battle of Leuctra, leading to their downfall.