Some of the questions that led me to this post : How much land is enough for me to be a citizen? What was important in the evaluation of a good piece of land at the time? Would it be used more for agriculture or for animals?
Who inhabits my land? Close family? Workers? Just slaves? How is it organized? Do I have to decide everything?
Thank you!
In the 4th century BC, number of citizens went from 9000 to 1000, and then to 700 in the 3rd century BC. To become a citizen your ancestors had to be the original inhabitants of Sparta, and have enough money to pay for education or ‘agoge’. Properties were divided in 9000 equal portions or ‘kleroi’ due to Lycurgan Reforms. Helots (slaves) worked on it. It was mostly used for agriculture since the land was very fertile. Spartans kept a predetermined portion to themselves, for example, 70 medimnoi of barley for men, 12 for women, and helots kept the surplus and could buy their freedom with 500 drachmas.