The four main parts of the Spartan political system that ruled over the population were the Dual Kingship, Ephors, Gerousia and the council of the Apella. The population was divided into three separate classes of people: the Spartiates, the Perioeci and the Helots. Each class had their own roles to perform within Sparta. This essay will firstly describe the role of the four sections of the political system and secondly discuss the roles of the three classes within the Spartan population.

The first part of the Spartan political system was the Dual King-Ship. This refers to two Spartan kings ruling at one time. Each was heir of two royal families: Agiads and Eurypontids. Only one king at a time took the role of supreme commander on war expeditions in order to avoid confusion. Herodotus states that each king-ship had the right to declare war at any moment. Each...