Resumen de Esparta katà kómas: organização espacial do território (VIII-V a.C.)
Márcia Cristina Lacerda Ribeiro
This article aims to present the postdoctoral research project that is being developed at the University of São Paulo, Brazil - Sparta katà kómas: spatial organization of the territory (VIII-V B.C.). It will consistently describe the pattern of settlement employed and developed by Spartan polis between the 8th and 5th centuries B.C. from the analysis of available archaeological data. Based on the information presented in primary written sources, which describe this settlement pattern as “katà kómas”, structured in five “ôbai”, this study attempts to detail archaeological data in comparison with those from othermajor cities (Athens, Syracuse, Sybaris), in order to better understand Sparta’s choices in relation to spatial planning. The goal is to understand: a) how Sparta expanded its domain, covering an area of about 8500 square kilometers; b) what motivated this expansion and c) what institutional mechanisms were used to maintain power over extensive territory.Allegedly, one of the main pillars that allowed the enormous extension of this region was the institutional adequacy (type of governance and hierarchy of settlements) to the “physical” structure in the “kàta kómas” territory. In addition, it is possible that a sacred landscape and a common worship contributed to give unity to the Lacedaemonians.
