Ribs- Sparta was dominated by male citizens and the most powerful of those that came from a select group of families. These were the landed aristocracy, and following reforms credited to Lycurgus in the 6th century BCE (or even earlier), citizens could not indulge in agricultural activities - this was the lot of the helots. Helots could not own property and so could not rise to become full citizens. Women in Sparta had a better life than in other Greek city-states. In Sparta they could own property which they often gained through dowries and inheritances. Women became amongst the richest members of society, as their men were killed in the many wars, and eventually controlled 2/5th of Spartan land. Spartan women could also move around with reasonable
