Perioikoi
Encyclopedia
The perioeci, or perioikoi, were the members of an autonomous
group of free but non-citizen inhabitants of Sparta
. Concentrated in the beach and highland areas of Laconia
, the name περίοικοι derives from περί / peri, "around," and / oikos, "dwelling, house." They were the only people allowed to travel to other cities, which the Spartans were not, unless given permission.
was one exception to this theory, and it became difficult over time to believe that Sparta could found hundreds of perioecid villages.
Their territory, the Perioikis (Περίοικις), formed part of their territory within Sparta itself. Their villages were described as poleis by Herodotus
(VII, 234), Xenophon
(Hellenica, VI, 5, 21) and Thucydides
(V, 54, 1). It can be noted that their poleis acted as a sort of buffer around Sparta, shielding it from outside influence and to some extent to present a form wall to the helots; preventing escape and enforcing discipline out of Sparta's area of immediate control and watch. They were permitted to have some contact with outsiders and to trade.
The perioeci had the rights to own lands, and belonged to the civic army the same title as equals: they were hoplite
s in the army and epibastes in the navy. They could not participate in any political decisions and could not marry Spartan men or women.
Self-governance
Self-governance is an abstract concept that refers to several scales of organization.It may refer to personal conduct or family units but more commonly refers to larger scale activities, i.e., professions, industry bodies, religions and political units , up to and including autonomous regions and...
group of free but non-citizen inhabitants of Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
. Concentrated in the beach and highland areas of Laconia
Laconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
, the name περίοικοι derives from περί / peri, "around," and / oikos, "dwelling, house." They were the only people allowed to travel to other cities, which the Spartans were not, unless given permission.
Origin
Achaeans who had been invaded by the Dorians - where the Achaeans of the plains became helots, the perioeci were also Dorians; however when the Dorians settled in Laconia there were five different groups of Dorians who rose to power. The Spartans rose to become the most powerful of these five colonies and defeated the others; the others then became the Perioeci. There was another theory that they were settled from Lacedaemon, thus being analogous to the Roman colonies; however, MesseniaMessenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
was one exception to this theory, and it became difficult over time to believe that Sparta could found hundreds of perioecid villages.
Status
Under the rule of Sparta, the perioeci belonged to the Lacedaemonian State, subject to the suzerainty of Sparta but not Spartan citizens. If their free status was not the object of controversy, the situation was unclear concerning the precise nature of their subject status within Sparta versus the status of allied cities and the strangers. In the same way, their political and social organization was quite poor.Their territory, the Perioikis (Περίοικις), formed part of their territory within Sparta itself. Their villages were described as poleis by Herodotus
Herodotus
Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria and lived in the 5th century BC . He has been called the "Father of History", and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a...
(VII, 234), Xenophon
Xenophon
Xenophon , son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, also known as Xenophon of Athens, was a Greek historian, soldier, mercenary, philosopher and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates...
(Hellenica, VI, 5, 21) and Thucydides
Thucydides
Thucydides was a Greek historian and author from Alimos. His History of the Peloponnesian War recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens to the year 411 BC...
(V, 54, 1). It can be noted that their poleis acted as a sort of buffer around Sparta, shielding it from outside influence and to some extent to present a form wall to the helots; preventing escape and enforcing discipline out of Sparta's area of immediate control and watch. They were permitted to have some contact with outsiders and to trade.
The perioeci had the rights to own lands, and belonged to the civic army the same title as equals: they were hoplite
Hoplite
A hoplite was a citizen-soldier of the Ancient Greek city-states. Hoplites were primarily armed as spearmen and fought in a phalanx formation. The word "hoplite" derives from "hoplon" , the type of the shield used by the soldiers, although, as a word, "hopla" could also denote weapons held or even...
s in the army and epibastes in the navy. They could not participate in any political decisions and could not marry Spartan men or women.