Ancient Greek Culture

I think one must distinguish between various classes that are lumped under the term "helots." The original helots of Laconia, by and large, fared better, though they still had no legal rights. When the Spartans conquered Messenia, the new helots proved to be more rebellious and received worse treatment. It was the Thebans who finally took advantage of the helots' dissatisfaction and liberated Messenia.

I think it's also fair to point out that the ancient Greeks had a much higher opinion of Sparta than we moderns do. It was, for good or ill, a socially stable society not given to fits of revolution that afflicted most other Greek city-states, and it bred universally honored warriors, no small thing in a land dominated by a host of grasping city-states that would change alliances at the drop of a drachma. After all, Sparta did conquer Athens.

The penalty the Spartans paid, was of course, a rigidity that stifled creativity and innovation. Which is why we all know about Socrates and Plato and Aristotle and Euripides while we draw a blank on Sparta's contributions to the world.

 

I love the contrasting picture of the men of Athens building narrow, parallel walls to connect the city with the sea, and the men of Sparta who eschewed a wall and said that if attacked, every man was a brick.

Every man a brick. That will preach.