Prominent among the Greek states that never experience tyranny is Sparta, a fact noted even in antiquity.

It is exceptional in this and in other respects: it sent out few colonies, only to Taras (Tarentum) in the eighth century and—in the prehistoric period—to the Aegean islands of Thera and Melos.

Though unfortified, it succeeds, exceptionally among Greek states, in subduing by force a comparably sized neighbor—Messenia, which had lost its independence to Sparta in the eighth century and will not regain it until the 360s The Messenian factor is the primary determinant of the peculiar development of Sparta, because it has forced Spartans to adjust their institutions to deal with a permanently hostile subject population.

In Sparta and other Dorian Greek states, five ephors, or chief magistrates, are elected annually, the senior one giving his name to the year.

The Spartan ephors levy troops and control the city-state's two kings, or basileis, whom they can prosecute before the Gerousia (council of elders), and try for misconduct of a military campaign.

Additionally, the ephors, who arrive at decisions by majority vote, administer taxes, hear civil suits, supervise education, determine foreign policy, and parcel out the spoils of conquest.

The ephors of each year on entering office declare war on the helots so that they might be murdered at any time without violating religious scruples.

It is the responsibility of the Spartan secret police, the Krypteia, to patrol the Laconian countryside and put to death any supposedly dangerous helots.