The social and political system in Sparta was set by Lycurgus, king of Sparta in 820 BC. Lycurgus decided to reform the Spartan society and establish new military-oriented laws that promoted Spartan virtues: military fitness, austerity and mostly equality (among citizens only). He gave all citizens the right to vote, but also established the institution that would control those votes. That institution was consisted of 28 old, wise man called Gerousia. To achieve equality, Lycurgus made land and currency reforms and formed the common mess hall and children educational system.