s fertile land for farming. The income generated from farming was used increase the aristocracies wealth, making Sparta more powerful. In 600 B.C. one hundred thirty-five years after Sparta conquered Messenia, Sparta developed a constitution which gave power to the elders of the aristocracy. "Sparta's constitution called for town meetings which gave male non-aristocratic citizens thirty-five years of age and older the opportunity to veto legislation proposed by the male elders of the aristocracy." (Encyclopedia Vol. 4) The elders of the aristocracy reported
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