\f1 \fs22 SPARTA - The population of Sparta was made up of Spartiates, perioecians, and helots. The Spartiates or Lacedaem
onians, descendants of the city's conquerors in the fifteenth and fourteenth century BC, were the dominant class, free citizens who played an active part in political and social life. The perioecians and helots were subject to them: the former retained t
heir personal freedom but had no political rights, while the latter were out and out slaves. The constitution on which the Spartan state was based provided for two kings as the fundamental political authorities, with predominantly priestly and military f
unctions, twenty-eight gerontoi, five ephors, and the apella. \par
The gerousia, a council of Lacedaemonian elders appointed for life by the general assembly of the Spartiates, the apella, took decisions concerning peace and war, debated laws, administe
red the state, and even served as judges. The ephors, on the other hand, were elected by the people year by year on the recommendation of the gerousia and wielded executive power. The apella was made up of citizens over the age of thirty and elected the
elders and ephors, but otherwise was limited to voting on the laws proposed by the gerousia.\par
