Brief History of Sparta

Sparta is located strategically located at the southern end of the Laconian plain. Guarded on three sides by mountains an in control of the Langhda pass, it’s only invasion point, Sparta was difficult to conquer. Except by the Spartans who defeated the Helots who had previously lived on the Laconian plain and forced them into serfdom to support their warrior way of life and culture.

Once their capitol city of Sparta(the city had previously existed, it was not the famous Spartan warrior culture we know of that Homer talks about in the Iliad) had been established the Spartans quickly began to take over all of the other cities on the Laconian plain as well as several seaports such as Gythium which made it difficult for invaders to blockade the Spartans into submission.

It was during the Peloponnesian war(431-404BC) with Athens that Sparta became not only the greatest infantry fighting peoples of Greece but also became masters of fighting at sea. The Spartan military not only conquered much of Greece but also invaded Anatolia, part of present day Turkey, which was controlled by the Persians. This Spartan hegemony which truly began after the Peloponnesian War was won by Spartan King Lysander did not last for very long. In exchange for financial help against revolting city states Sparta gave back the lands in Asia minor that it had conquered(386BC). Then in 371BC Thebes defeated Sparta in the battle of Leuctra.

The battle of Leuctra signaled the end of Spartan society. This was their first defeat on land with a fully ready army. After the Battle of Leuctra Spartans, who gained citizenship through bloodlines began to be overwhelmed by the numbers of Helots that worked their land. Collapsing in on themselves Spartan society began isolating itself from the rest of the world, including its greek neighbors. Philip of Macedon even when he formed his alliance of Greeks to fight the Persians left out the Spartans. And When his son Alexander the Great Conquered Persia and sent back a present to Athens of Persian armor his message accompanying the armor read “Alexander son of Philip, and the Greeks - except the Spartans - from the barbarians living in Asia”