Institute Such Strict Military Controls? Sparta's Militarism

¶ … institute such strict military controls? Sparta's militarism and commitment to maintaining a standing army was no accident. "Sparta seems to have developed gradually as a practical response to unusual circumstances," ("History of Sparta," n.d.). "The evolution of the Spartan army began during the heroic Mycenaean age (1600 BCE to 1100 BCE), a time in Greek history when tactics were simple and warriors sought individual glory (and fought out of formation)," ("The Spartan Military," 2010). Moreover, the Dorians staged frequent invasions into the area. Sparta needed to protect its borders.

By the 8th century B.C.E., Spartan leaders realized the value of a standing army and implemented one in the interests of what can be called national security. Later, Spartan militarism would threaten Athenian dominance. Sparta found itself in the situation of needing to institute strict military controls as a matter of self-preservation. One reason why Sparta instituted strict military controls was that they could; it was a matter of convenience and circumstance. The Peloponnesian state already had at its disposal a fairly large and healthy labor force.

But by invading neighboring regions, the Spartans were able to expand its population and create an army built partly on slave labor. The acquisition of slaves led to a self-perpetuating cycle of militarism. The slaves, or helots, eventually organized rebellions strong enough to prompt the transformation of Sparta into a police state and military superpower. Sparta developed a powerful militaristic society but created with it "the permanent danger that the helots will rise in revolt against their military masters. On several occasions they do so.

The constant threat prevents this rigid society from relaxing or developing," ("History of Sparta," n.d.). Thus, Sparta needed to institute strict military controls as a matter of domestic security and foreign policy. Encounters with Messenians seriously sparked Sparta's burgeoning militarism. The Messenians, a Mycenaean-speaking Greek people, encroached upon the Peloponnesian peninsula. Sparta emerged victorious but came close to defeat.

"The numericaly inferior Spartans, realizing that they probably wouldn't be as lucky the next time they fought the Messenians decided on a very rare course of action in the Greek world and set out to obtain complete military and social supremacy over their defeated neighbors," ("The Spartan Military," 2010). Herein began the truly legendary Spartan military. Sparta bolstered its military to the extent that they were able to fend off as well as invade neighboring groups. After a while, militarism became part of the Spartan identity.

"The Greek world took notice and soon the new middle class formed a warrior class based on phalanx heavy infantry tactics," ("The Spartan Military," 2010). Sparta impacted global military history and military strategy. Another reason why Sparta instituted strict military controls was that both Athens and foreign powers threatened its integrity. The Battle of Thermopylae, upon which the film 300 was based, proved that Sparta had indeed perfected its strict military controls. As an integral part of Spartan society, the military was as much a part of Spartan consciousness and character as.