Aristotle: Constitution of Sparta

( ca. 335-323 BCE ) Commentary by Scott Cashion, University of Arkansas

Questions for Further Study

1. A common theme that runs through constitutional and legal reforms in early and not-so-early societies is land reform. Select another document that deals with this issue—possibilities include Emiliano Zapata's Plan of Ayala, Mao Zedong's “Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan,” and the Athenian Constitution—and compare the nature of land reforms (enacted or proposed) and the factors that gave rise to them.
2. Aristotle found the constitution of Sparta faulty for a number of reasons. Can you detect a common thread that runs through many or most of those reasons? What was the fundamental inadequacy of the Spartan Constitution, according to Aristotle?
3. Warfare played a considerable role in the evolution of Spartan society. In what ways did warfare both strengthen and undermine the Spartan state?
4. To what extent was the Spartan Constitution a democratic document? How did the constitution represent a step forward in the evolution of democracy?
5. What did Aristotle regard as the failings of pure democracy as a form of government?

Terra-cotta cup with image of hoplite (Yale University Art Gallery)

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