Gerousia In Control Of Law example essay topic

295 words
Ancient Sparta had, in the years from the 8th century to mid 4th century, a constitution of what is considered today to be a remarkable fusion of monarchy, oligarchy and democracy. The kings, gerousia, ephors and ecclesia were all vital to the functioning of Spartan society. Sparta was primarily a military state and so required an authority figure to control and lead the army. She placed a great deal of importance on education and religion, and so attention had to be paid to these elements as well. The Spartans were expected to live according to very strict and stringent laws during their lifetime, and these had to be created and voted on by the people. In order to function as a cohesive city-state, Sparta required a variety of people who worked to benefit the state and in turn guarantee the continuance of the unique Spartan governmental system.

Each governmental institution had its own role in the running of Sparta. The kings were in control of the army, the gerousia in control of law, the ephorate presided over the people and the ecclesia elected the ephors and voted on laws. However, all these elements of Spartan society were interconnected. The ephorate and ecclesia allowed the monarchy to subsist, and to prevent the kings and gerousia from having supreme tyrannical power. The gerousia was the balance between the democracy of the ephorate and tyranny of the Kings, and the monarchy survived only because of the gerousia and the ephorate. Indeed, the primary role of the system as a whole was to prevent both democracy and tyranny, to keep Spartans content with their situation, and allow Sparta to remain the object of wonder of the Greek world..