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ThePerioeci orPerioikoi (Περίοικοι,/peˈri.oj.koj/) were the second-tier citizens of thepolis ofSparta untilc. 200 BC. They lived in several dozen cities within Spartan territories (mostlyLaconia andMessenia), which were dependent on Sparta. Theperioeci only had political rights in their own city, while the course of the Spartan state exclusively belonged to Spartan citizens, orSpartiates.
The nameperioeci roughly means "those dwelling around/nearby", deriving fromπερί,peri, "around", andοἶκος,oîkos, "dwelling, house".Perioeci and Spartans were collectively called theLakedaimonians.
They had a central role in the Spartan economy, controlling commerce and business, as well as being responsible for crafts and manufacturing, including producing the weapons and armour of theSpartan army, as the higher-ranking Spartan citizens considered all commercial and money-making activities to be unworthy of them.[1] Theperioeci were also the only people allowed to freely travel outside the Spartan state's borders, which the Spartans were not, unless given permission. Like the Spartiates, the perioeci ownedhelots and fought in the army.
Other major cities in thePeloponnese likewise controlled perioecic cities, such asElis andArgos.
The polis or city-state ofSparta was formed during theGreek Dark Ages, controlling the plains around theEurotas river. Those communities already existing in the area which could not be assimilated into the Spartan state, or subjugated ashelots, became theperioeci.[2] Whether they wereDorians like the Spartans, or descended from pre-Dorian populations in the Peloponnese, is unknown.[3]
Theperioeci were free, unlike the helots, but were not full Spartan citizens. They lived in their own cities in theperioecis, which were described by ancient authors aspoleis.[4][5][6] These cities were under the control of the Spartan state,[7] but were self-governing on domestic issues.[8]
Theperioeci were obliged to follow Spartan foreign policy, and supplied men to fight in the Spartan army.[8] Like thehómoioi (ὅμοιοι, full Spartan citizens), theperioeci fought in the army ashoplites, probably in the same units.[9] Theperioeci had the right to own land, which would have been necessary to support those in the army.[10]
In the Classical period, the Spartans were not permitted to engage in any economically productive activities, and so theperioeci were responsible for Spartan manufacturing, including producing weapons and armour, as well as conducting the trade that the Spartan state needed.[1] For instance, the large number of masks and figurines dedicated at the site of theSanctuary of Artemis Orthia were probably produced byperioecic craftsmen.[11]
Like the Spartans, theperioeci owned helots, which means that the main division in the Spartan society was between Spartan citizens andperioeci on one side, and helots on the other.[12] For instance, in 413, during thePeloponnesian War, Athens made a raid on the territory of theperioecic city ofEpidaurus Limera with the goal of triggering a helot revolt against theperioeci.[12] Some helots could nevertheless be promoted toperioecic status by becomingneodamodes after military service, but Spartan citizens could not be demoted toperioecic status; there were specific underclasses for former Spartan citizens, such ashypomeiones,tresantes, etc.[12]
Theperioeci are mentioned inAristotle'sPolitics but in a much more general sense than merely as those within the Spartan state. In describing the ideal state, Aristotle believed that the actual citizens and members of the state should be the rulers, the warriors (those who are allowed to bear arms), the statesmen, and the priests but that those who perform trades, such as mechanics, craftsmen, husbandmen, and farmers should be either slaves orperioeci, because such professions are ignoble and do not produce virtue, according to him. In that sense, theperioeci are meant to be common to all ideal Hellenic states, as a sort of middle class whose ranks the slaves may aspire to join, below the citizens but above slavery. They are free men, but they do not own property and are not allowed to vote, hold office, or influence the state or the laws by any other means. When Aristotle mentions them, he sometimes refers to them as "barbarian" and implies that such non-citizen free men would be non-Hellenic foreigners.[13]
Graham Shipley has identified at least 33perioecic cities, 23 in Laconia and 10 in Messenia, with various levels of certainty. He notes that many other identified settlements inLaconia andMessenia were probablyperioecic, but it is impossible to prove their status with the current state of the evidence.[14]
Individual members of the perioeci are referred to directly by primary sources such asThucydides,Xenophon, andDiodorus Siculus[24]
These named individuals include:
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