From Glory to Ruin: The Rise & Downfall of the Megalithic Spartan Empire
An Empire whose rigorous training, excellent war tactics, and incomparable bravery made them the most powerful. But did these things also lead them to their decline?
Content:
1. The emergence of Sparta 2. Spartan Training 3. City-States of Ancient Greece 4. Battle of Marathon 5. Battle of Thermopylae 6. Peloponnesian War(First Stage) 7. Peloponnesian War(Second stage) 8. Start of the Downfall 9. The Boeotian and Naxos War 10. Complete Downfall 12. Conclusion 13. Support Message
An Empire that made itself the most powerful of its region but lost its value due to some bad decisions. How did that happen? Let’s dive deeper.
Greece before Spartans: How did Spartans Emerge?
Ancient Greece was a collection of city-states. Major civilizations such as the Mycenaeans and the Minoans had previously ruled different regions, leaving a rich historical legacy for the Spartans to inherit.
The Spartans, known as the Lacedaemonians, originated from the region of Laconia in ancient Greece. They emerged around the 10th century BCE, tracing their ancestry to the Dorian Greeks who migrated to the region. The Spartans forged a distinctive society, placing great emphasis on military training and discipline.
Sparta was founded by King Lacedaemon, son of Zeus, who gave his name to the land. However, it was the legendary lawgiver Lycurgus who shaped Spartan society into a disciplined and militaristic state, establishing the foundations that would propel them to greatness.
The first king of Sparta was Eurysthenes, descended from the mythical figure Heracles. Alongside his co-ruler, Procles, they established the dual kingship that became a prominent feature of Spartan governance.
The Rise of Spartan Dominance Spartan dominance began to take shape during the 6th and 5th centuries BCE. Through military conquests, alliances, and strategic diplomacy, Sparta extended its influence over neighboring city-states, transforming itself into the dominant force in Greece.
The Training of Spartans: How to Become a True Spartan?
The Agoge Spartan warriors were renowned for their rigorous training. From a young age, Spartan boys entered the Agoge, an intensive military education system designed to cultivate physical strength, endurance, discipline, and combat skills. The Agoge played a vital role in shaping the Spartan military elite.
Spartan children, both boys, and girls, received education focused on physical fitness, discipline, and obedience to the state. While boys were trained for military service, girls underwent physical training and received education to become strong mothers of future warriors. As any boy turned seven, he would be required to fully commit to becoming a high-level warrior and go through every tough training.
To become a true Spartan, one had to demonstrate unwavering loyalty to the state, exceptional military skills, and adherence to Spartan customs and values. If a child was born with a disability, they were considered unfit for the rigorous demands of Spartan military service. Such individuals were unlikely to attain full citizenship and were generally excluded from the Spartan warrior class. Only those who passed rigorous tests and proved their commitment to Sparta were considered full citizens.
City-states of Ancient Greece:
Ancient Greece was composed of various city-states, each with its own unique political structure and regional influence. Prominent city-states included Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos, among others.
Interactions and relations between these city-states varied greatly, ranging from alliances and trade agreements to conflicts and rivalries. The shifting alliances and power dynamics among city-states influenced the course of Greek history.
Other city-states, such as Athens, held considerable power in ancient Greece. The Rival Power Athens, often considered the intellectual and cultural center of ancient Greece, possessed a formidable navy, a democratic government, and a strong focus on arts, philosophy, and literature. Their rise in power challenged Spartan hegemony and set the stage for future conflicts.
The Start of Persian Invasions: Battle of Marathon
The Persian Empire’s Invasion In 490 BCE, the Persian Empire, under King Darius I, invaded Greece. Motivated by a desire to expand their empire and exact revenge for Greek support of rebellious Persian territories, the Persians sought to bring Greece under their control.
While the Persians threatened the Greek city-states, it was primarily Athens and its allies who led the resistance. The Spartans did not participate in the initial battle against the Persians due to religious obligations but later played a crucial role in the Persian Wars.
Xerxes I, the son of Darius I, assumed command of the Persian forces. On the Greek side, a coalition of city-states was formed, with the leadership of the Greek defense Athenian general Miltiades.
In 490 BCE, the Persians faced a significant defeat at the Battle of Marathon, where the Athenians, under the generalship of Miltiades, successfully repelled the Persian forces. This victory bolstered Greek morale and proved that the Persian Empire was not invincible.
The Second Persian Invasion: Battle of Thermopylae
Ten years later, in 480 BCE, the Persian Empire, now under Xerxes I, launched a second invasion. He led a massive army and navy, intent on subjugating the Greek city-states.
Motives for the second invasion and Persian Leadership Xerxes I sought revenge for the Persian defeat at the Marathon and aimed to bring all of Greece under Persian control. The Battle of Thermopylae, in which a force of 300 Spartans accompanied by a contingent of Greeks led by King Leonidas I of Sparta held off the Persian army for three days, became a symbol of Greek resistance and bravery.
In the face of the Persian invasion, most Greek city-states united against the common threat. However, not all city-states contributed equally, and the coalition faced challenges in maintaining unity throughout the conflict.
Despite their valor, the Greeks ultimately faced defeat at Thermopylae and the main reason was that the unity among the Greek states was not good and they couldn’t get trust of one another.
Spartans vs Athens: The First Stage of the Peloponnesian War
After the Persian Wars, tensions between Sparta and Athens escalated. Sparta, concerned about Athens’ growing power and influence, sought to maintain its dominance in Greece, leading to strained relations between the two city-states.
The Peloponnesian War, spanning from 431 BCE to 404 BCE, pitted Athens and its allies, known as the Delian League, against Sparta and its allies, forming the Peloponnesian League. Spartan King Archidamus II and Athenian statesman Pericles emerged as their respective leaders.
Sparta relied on its superior land forces and military discipline, while Athens, with its strong navy and walls protecting its city, pursued a defensive strategy, seeking to outlast the Spartan onslaught.
The Peloponnesian War severely strained Spartan resources and led to significant losses on both sides. Despite initial successes, Sparta’s position in Greece began to decline as the war dragged on.
In 421 BCE, a peace treaty known as the Peace of Nicias was signed, temporarily ending hostilities. However, the peace was short-lived as both Sparta and Athens violated the terms, leading to renewed conflict.
The Second Stage of the Peloponnesian War:
The second stage of the Peloponnesian War started in 415 BCE when Athens on the command of Alcibiades launched a disastrous expedition against Syracuse, a Spartan ally. On the other hand, the Spartan army led by Lysander captured Dardanelles which was the source of grains for Athens. This weakened Athens and the Lysander-led army destroyed Athens at the Battle of Aegospotami.
*You can read about the French Revolution here.*
The Ruination of Sparta: Start of the Downfall
As Sparta gained dominance, it exercised control over its allies and subjected them to its strict military and social norms. This heavy-handed approach, coupled with internal unrest, strained relations and fueled discontent among other city-states. Following their victory over Athens, Sparta engaged in various military campaigns, including the Corinthian War (395–387 BCE) against a coalition led by Corinth and supported by Athens and Thebes.
The Corinthian War erupted in 395 BCE due to Spartan intervention in Corinthian affairs. Over the course of the war, alliances shifted, battles were fought, and peace negotiations were attempted, leading to a complex and protracted conflict.
The battle ended inconclusively in 387 BCE with the signing of the Peace of Antalcidas, which restored the pre-war status quo. Sparta’s inability to decisively defeat its enemies and secure lasting peace further weakened its position in Greece.
Sparta’s dominance and heavy-handed rule bred resentment and discontent among its allies and other city-states. The strict Spartan social structure, combined with their expansionist policies, created an environment ripe for opposition and rebellion.
The Boeotian War & The Battle of Naxos:
In 378 BCE, Thebes led a coalition of city-states against Sparta in the Boeotian War. Thebans were excellent at attacking from land and they also had naval support from Athens. The Thebans, eager to challenge Spartan hegemony, engaged in successful military campaigns, weakening Sparta’s influence further. Due to this battle, Spartan supremacy was effectively overthrown and a new era of Theban hegemony was set up.
The Battle of Naxos in 376 BCE saw a coalition of Greek states, led by Athens and Thebes, defeat a Spartan fleet. This naval victory undermined Sparta’s naval power and expanded the coalition’s strength.
The Complete Downfall of Sparta:
The continuous defeats, rebellions, and weakening of its military power contributed to the severe downfall of Sparta. The once-mighty Spartan Empire, known for its discipline and military prowess, was crumbling under the weight of its own decline.
Following their loss of power, the Spartans experienced a period of decline. Sparta remained a notable city-state but lost its dominant position in Greece, ultimately fading into relative obscurity. They became allies with other city-states but couldn’t get to the dominance they once had.
While the ancient Spartans themselves no longer exist as a distinct people, their legacy lives on in the annals of history and through the descendants of the broader Greek civilization. But there is a Greek village called Neochori, and the residents of this village call themselves descendants of Spartans.
Conclusion:
The story of Sparta is one of bravery, commitment to the state, and unwavering discipline. However, its downfall can be attributed to various factors, including overreliance on military might, strained relations with other city-states, internal unrest, and the changing dynamics of ancient Greece. In the end, the rise and eventual ruin of the Megalithic Spartan Empire serve as a testament to the complexities of power, the ebb and flow of civilizations, and the enduring lessons of history.
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