All of these statements about helots (communally owned slaves) in Spartan society are accurate. Helots (like almost all slaves in the Greek world) were allowed to own some possessions and allowed to practice their religion. They were also encouraged to have families of their own (to keep up the numbers). But, they were subject to harsh and horrific treatment at the hand of the Spartan rulers. Most notably, helots were forced to always wear distinctive clothes and to practice debauched behavior so as to emphasize their “otherness” from Spartans.

Corinth and Athens both developed flourishing industries around the sale of clay pots during the Archaic Era. These pots were exported widely across the Mediterranean and can be found in large numbers at archaeological sites in Italy, Spain, North Africa, Anatolia, and Egypt. It is not known whether these pots were primarily valued for their appearance or what was perhaps contained inside them (wine, olive oil).

During the Mycenaean Age and the Greek Dark Ages, most of the fighting was carried out by wealthy, elite bands of warriors and noblemen. Beginning in the Archaic Era, however, more and more common people began to form military units. Hoplites and militiamen formed the backbone of most Greek armies by the sixth century BCE. The emergence of these lower class fighting forces is primarily a result of the growing availability and affordability of iron during this time period.

The city-state of Corinth was situated at an extremely important strategic location. It was nestled in the isthmus that connects northern and southern Greece. Many merchants chose to move their goods through Corinth, rather than sail around the dangerous southern shores of Greece. This caused Corinth to grow very wealthy and made Corinth the biggest exporter in Greek society until the spectacular rise of Athens during the Classical Era.

The experience of slaves living in ancient Greece varied dramatically. Some might be beloved and valuable members of households, who cared for the children and assisted the family in all manner of ways. Others might work extreme hours in the fields or, worse still, be forced into the backbreaking labor of gold and silver mining. Mining has long been a dirty and dangerous profession, not one that many people would do willingly, and slaves died by the scores to bring gold and silver to the Greek people.

Draco was a 7th c. BCE law reformer of Athens, not a tyrant. His claim to fame is his law on homicide that replaced eye-for-an-eye revenge. Cypselus and Periander were tyrants of Corinth. Pittacus was the general of Mytilene. Peisistratus was a sixth c. BCE tyrant of Athens.

In the early sixth c. BCE, Solon was elected archon and initiated a series of reformers that were aimed at addressing class conflict and improving the economy. Most importantly, he released all Athenians from debt slavery and restructured the classes according to wealth, rather than status. 

During the Archaic Era, the ancient Greeks established colonies all over the Mediterranean world. These colonies were often established by private individuals, seeking wealth and fortune and access to raw materials (particularly metals). The ancient Greeks were not the only people engaged in this pursuit during this time period. The Phoenician people, of modern-day Lebanon, were prominent traders in the Mediterranean and established many colonies in Spain, North Africa, Sicily, and Sardinia.

The Olympics were held in the city of Olympia, in the Peloponnese, every four years, beginning in 776 BCE. The Olympics were open to all male Greeks, although in practice only those who were wealthy enough to train and travel could participate. Additionally, the Olympics were accompanied by a suspension of war and conflict so that athletes could travel safely to Olympia from all over the Greek world. In this way, the Olympics represent the growing sense of Panhellenism that was emerging in ancient Greek society in the early Archaic Era. There is little evidence, however, to suggest that the Olympics were dominated by the athletes from any one city-state. Indeed, ancient Greek athletes competed for their own individual glory and prestige, not on behalf of some larger political community like athletes do today.

Croton was founded in the late eighth century BCE by settlers from the Peloponnese (a region in southern Greece). Croton was one of the larger and more significant Greek colonies in southern Italy.