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<dh-ad/>__NOTOC__[[File: Leonidas I of Sparta.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|King Leonidas I Sparta]]Sparta is one of the most famous states in the Classical era. It is often regarded as the epitome of the military-state that is devoted to war. The history of Sparta has fascinated intellectuals from Plato until today and inspired great leaders such as Frederick the Great and Napoleon. For the majority of the Classical period of Greece, it was the greatest power and had the most formidable army. To many, it seemed that Sparta was invincible and indeed its army had never been defeated in battle. However, in 371 BCE , Sparta was defeated , and this marked the beginning of the end of Spartan power and it gradually became a minor powerover time. This decay occurred because Sparta's population declined, change in values , and a stubborn preservation of conservatism. Overtime, Sparta lost ultimately surrendered its position as a ancient Greece's preeminent Greek military power.
==Decline in During this time, Greek invaders from the number north spoke a variant of Spartan Citizens==Sparta was a society that Greek known as Doric invaded the Peloponnesian. They overthrew the Mycenaean Kingdom and established their own state. The new state was based according to ruled by a Doric-speaking elite who enslaved many historians on a caste systemof the existing population. The Spartan citizens These were the highest caste and they dominated the other groups in society. The other groups in Sparta included the helots and the Pereokihelots, this was a group large population of freemen people who were not citizens and were usually craftsmen and tradersthe serfs of the Spartan elite.<ref>PlutarchCartlidge, Paul, The Spartans (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2002), p. 1136</ref>. To be a Spartan citizen, a male or a female The helots had no legal rights and had to be able to trace provide their ancestry back Spartan overlords with food and labor. The need to control the original Doric conquerorshelots shaped Spartan society. They also could not be of helot extraction<ref>Cartledge According to Spartan mythology, 2001Lycurgus, p. 56</ref>. To be who was almost certainly a Spartan citizenmythical figure, one had to undertake gave them their unique constitution that set out the rigorous education of the agogestate’s political system and its social order. Only those who had completed their education in <ref>Plutarch. Sparta (London, Penguin Books, 1994), p. 43</ref> two kings from two royal families headed the agoge was entitled to be a citizenpolitical system. Now there were some exceptions to this A council advised them of elders, and these include every Spartan citizen could vote in a helot or a foreigner who general assembly. Every Spartan male citizen was adopted by expected to be a ‘Spartiate’ family warrior, and the duty of every Spartan woman was to bear a warrior.<ref>Plutarch, p.6956</ref>. To be Sparta was a citizen totalitarian state in many ways, and the Spartan had to pay his own way in the agoge, that is he had to contribute to government oversaw every aspect of the running lives of the system and to supply his own armorcitizens. Failure to pay Infants who were deemed unfit were killed soon after their way, meant that a Spartan could be expelled birth. Young boys were taken from their families and enrolled in the Spartan student bodyAgoge.<ref> Plutarch, p. The criteria for a Spartan citizen was very high. While the system ensured 67</ref> To ensure that the Spartans were dedicated and well-trained produced enough warriors it also led , they developed the Agoge system. In this system, male children were trained from an early age to problems replacing those who died in battle<ref>Cartledge, 2002, pbe warriors. 118</ref>They were exposed to many hardships and privations to toughen them up. The population of Sparta was never very high. Even at its peak This education produced the finest soldiers in Greece, and the 6th century BCE Spartan hoplite was invincible on battlefields all over Greece. Sparta had traditionally adopted a cautious foreign policy and was happy to dominate the number of Spartan citizens was approximately 9000Peloponnesian League. This is known from In the size aftermath of the Spartan army at the time. By the time defeat of the battle second Persian invasion of Leuctra Greece, they decided not to continue the size of war against the Spartan citizen populationPersians.<ref>Cartlidge, once again based on p. 77</ref> Sparta was always conscious that the size of Spartan citizens were a minority in their own land, and they knew that if their army was only 4,000. The Spartan citizen body had been dwindling over timewere defeated or lost, the helots would rise and destroy Sparta. This was even though changed during the Spartans at various times of crisis had allowed some non-citizens to enrol in Peloponnesian War when Sparta and her allies entered a life and death struggle with the citizen bodyAthenian Empire. The Spartan leadership had long been very nervous about Spartans were able to prevail but only at a high cost. It could expand its influence across the decline Greek world in the citizen numbers, especially as aftermath of the helot population continued to growdefeat of Athens. The exact reasons for this decline are not known. It is believed that over time that the <ref>Cartledge, Paul, Spartan birth rate declinedReflections (London, Duckworth, 2001), p. The exact reasons for this are not known. It may be a result of 112</ref> This new power disrupted Spartan society and over time undermined the rigorous agoge unique system and that had allowed the fact that Spartans to become the family was not as important for men as their comrades finest soldiers in the agoge Greece.<ref>Plutarch, Plutarch'sThucydides 5. Morals (Boston, Cambridge University Press, 1891), p. 1136</ref>A little over thirty years after their victory over Athens, Another reason for the diminution Spartans were defeated by a new rising power in Greece, Thebes. The defeat at Leuctra was the number of citizens was first inflicted on the fact that increasingly many Spartan citizens could army. The Spartans lost control of much of their empire and no longer afford to pay their dues the greatest power in the agoge system as that society became increasingly divided between rich and poorGreece. The growing wealth Indeed they were something of Sparta was concentrated in the hands a backwater and entered a period of profound decline. However, they remained independent until the few and this meant that fewer men could meet Roman Empire's rise, which annexed it in the financial demands of a citizen<ref>Cartledge, 2002, p. 123</ref>. This decline 2nd century BCE. ====Decline in the number of Spartan citizen meant that there were fewer soldiers over time to fight its warsCitizens====[[File: Battle of Thermopylae - pass. The sheer brilliance jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Spartans at the Battle of the Spartan hoplite meant Thermopoyle]]Sparta was a society that for many centuries even though their armies was getting smaller allowed them was based, according to overcome their enemies in battlemany historians, on a caste system. However, by The Spartan citizens were the time of the battle of Leuctra the Spartan army was simply too small highest caste, and it was defeated for they dominated the first time other groups in its historysociety. [[File: Battle of Thermopylae - pass.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Spartans at the Battle of Thermopoyle]]== The collapse other groups in Spartan Values==Sparta was much admired in Greece. The Greeks admired included the harmony helots and order produced by the Spartan Constitution. Indeed many Greeks wanted their polis to adopt a similar form Pereoki; this was a group of government The city-state system also influenced philosophers such as Plato freemen who were not citizens and its influence can be seen in his great work the Republicwere usually craftsmen and traders.<ref>Plutarch, p. The 113</ref> Spartan system was based on citizens, a male or a female, had to be able to trace their ancestry back to the idea that the collective came before the individualoriginal Doric conquerors. The state demanded total obedience from the citizen whose service to the state came beforeThey also could not be of helot extraction.<ref>Cartledge, their family and personal wishes2001, p. The 56</ref> To be a Spartan warrior and indeed other citizens saw themselves as members of citizen, one had to undertake the collective and this is best seen Agoge's rigorous education. Only those who had completed their education in the agoge system. The Spartan Agoge was expected entitled to renounce personal wealth and gain and be a citizen. Now there were some exceptions to use all their personal resources for the good of the state and the citizen-bodythis, including a helot or a foreigner who was adopted by a ‘Spartiate’ family.<ref> PausaniasPlutarch, p. Description of Greece. with an English Translation by W69</ref> To be a citizen, the Spartan had to pay his way in the agoge.H.S. Jones (BostonThat is, Cambridge University Press, 1918), p. 345</ref>. The citizen body was a band of equal all committed he had to contribute to the defines and glory running of Spartathe system supply his armor. However, over time these values were eroded and Sparta came Failure to resemble its turbulent and very individualistic neighborspay their way meant that a Spartan could be expelled from the Spartan student body. This was The criteria for a long-term process and there were many reasons for the decline in the traditional Spartan values, citizen was very high. While the system ensured that underpinned its political system. However, the Peloponnesian War accelerated this trend <ref> ThucydidesSpartans were dedicated and well-trained warriors, it also led to problems replacing those who died in battle. 6<ref>Cartledge, 2002, p. 7118</ref>. The booty from population of Sparta was never very high. Even at its peak in the war led to a growing divide between 6th century BCE, the number of Spartan citizenswas approximately 9000. A wealthy class of citizen emerged rich from booty and payments from Sparta’s allies. This meant that many citizens could no longer be members of is known from the agoge system but that they were under size of the Spartan army at the time. By the control time of a wealthy elite<ref>CartledgeLeuctra's battle, 2002the size of the Spartan citizen population, once again based on the size of their army, was only 4, p000. 176</ref>. It is also believed that The Spartan citizen body had been dwindling over time. Even though the growing inequality Spartans had allowed some non-citizens to enroll in wealth also resulted the citizen body at various times of crisis, the Spartan leadership had long been very nervous about the decline in a falling birth-the citizen numbers, especially as the helot population continued to grow. The exact reasons for this decline are not known. It is believed that over time that the Spartan birth ratedeclined. Then Sparta was increasingly bedeviled by internal dissent The precise reasons for this are not known. It may result from the rigorous agoge system and political in-fighting. This the fact that the family was because many Spartans had experience of leadership outside not as important for men as their comrades in the city-state and they were no longer willingagoge.<ref>Plutarch, to obey the old elitePlutarch's. Spartan generals such as Lysander began to seek personal power and this led to growing instabilityMorals (Boston, Cambridge University Press, in a political entity that seemed so fixed and stable1891), through the centuriesp. Before the fateful battle 113</ref> Another reason for the diminution in the number of Leuctra, Sparta citizens was that increasingly many Spartan citizens could no longer as unified as it once was afford to pay their dues in the agoge system as that society became increasingly divided between rich and this poor. Sparta's growing wealth was a factor concentrated in its decline.==Conservatism==The Spartan system and the entire society was built around one aim and hands of the few, which meant that was to maintain the existing order. They sought to preserve their ascendancy over fewer men could meet the helot population and their leadership financial demands of the Geek worlda citizen. It was a society that distrusted change and believed that it was destabilizing<ref>Cartledge, 2002, p. Sparta’ Constitution was handed down from generation 123</ref> This decline in the Spartan citizen meant fewer soldiers overtime to generation and it was not altered or changedfight its wars. The system or society sheer brilliance of the Spartan hoplite meant that was sanctioned even though their armies were getting smaller for many centuries, they could overcome their enemies in battle. However, by the constitution did not change either. The Spartans were notoriously conservative and they refused to countenance changetime of Leuctra's battle, unlike the rest of Greece who Spartan army was constantly changingjust too small, especially and it was defeated for the Atheniansfirst time in its history. <dh-ad/> ====The conservatism of the Spartans was often a strength but also a weaknesscollapse in Spartan Values====Sparta was much admired in Greece. The state or society did not change Greeks admired the harmony and adapt to new social, political and military realitiesorder produced by the Spartan Constitution. Sparta was unable Indeed many Greeks wanted their polis to changeadopt a similar form of government. The city- this meant that it was inflexible state system also influenced philosophers such as Plato, and many even at its influence can be seen in his great work, the time saw it as a society Republic. The Spartan system was based on the idea that was petrifying <ref>Forrest, Wthe collective came before the individual.G., A History of Sparta, 950–192 B.CThe state demanded total obedience from the citizen whose service to the state came before their family and personal wishes.The Spartan warrior and indeed other citizens saw themselves as members of the collective, New York: Wwhich is best seen in the agoge system. W. Norton & C, 1968), p. 113</ref>. The Spartans did not change their military tactics The Spartans were expected to renounce personal wealth and gain and still used use all their personal resources for the traditional tactics even when other states in Greece, such as Thebes were updating state's good and the phalanx formationcitizen body. Then the Spartans could not change even when the citizen body went into a precipitous decline<ref> Pausanias. Description of Greece. With an English Translation by W.H.S. Jones (Boston, Cambridge University Press, 1918), there was no meaningful effort to reform the agoge systemp. 345</ref> The society seemed incapable of dealing with many citizen body was a band of equal all committed to the problems that it faced in the wake defines and glory of Sparta. However, over time these values were eroded, and Sparta came to resemble its victory in the Peloponnesian War<ref>Forrest, p. 145</ref>turbulent and very individualistic neighbors.[[File: Therm2007.jpg|thumbnail|200px| Recreation of Greek Hoplite]]==Conclusion==Spartan was This was a long-term process, and there were many reasons for the victor of decline in the Peloponnesian War and by 400 BCE it was the greatest power in the Greek world and a major player in the eastern Mediterraneantraditional Spartan values that underpinned its political system. However, by 377 BCE the Spartans had been defeated in battle for the first time and it lost the leadership of GreecePeloponnesian War accelerated this trend.<ref>Thucydides. 6. The decline in 7</ref> The booty from the war led to a growing divide between the Spartan power was due to military, social and cultural factors that allowed other states to challenge its preeminent position in the Greek worldcitizens. A wealthy class of citizens emerged rich from booty and payments from Sparta’s allies. Among the This meant that many citizens could no longer-term trends that undermine Sparta was be members of the decline in agoge system but were under the numbers control of citizens and since they formed the backbone of the armya wealthy elite.<ref>Cartledge, 2002, this greatly weakened Spartan powerp. The premium placed on stability and order meant 176</ref> It is also believed that the Spartans distrusted change and this conservatism meant that Sparta could not change to meet growing inequality in wealth also resulted in a falling birth-rate. Then Sparta was increasingly bedeviled by internal dissent and political in-fighting. This was because many Spartans had leadership experience outside the challenges that city-state and were no longer willing to obey the old elite. Spartan generals such as Lysander began to seek personal power, which led to growing instability in a political entity that seemed so fixed and stable through the centuries. Before the fateful battle of Leuctra, Sparta was no longer as unified as it once was, and this was a factor in its decline. ====Conservatism====[[File: Therm2007.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px| Recreation of Greek Hoplite]] The Spartan system and the entire society was built around one aim, and that was to maintain the existing order. They sought to preserve their ascendancy over the helot population and their leadership of the Geek world. It was a society that distrusted change and believed that it was destabilizing. Sparta’s Constitution was handed down from generation to generation, and it was not altered or changed. The system or society that was sanctioned by the constitution did not change either. The Spartans were notoriously conservative, and they refused to endorse change, unlike the rest of Greece who was continually changing, especially the Athenians. The conservatism of the Spartans was often a strength but also a weakness. The state or society did not change and adapt to new social, political, and military realities. Sparta was unable to change- this meant that it was inflexible, and many even saw it as a petrifying society.<ref>Forrest, W.G., A History of Sparta, 950–192 B.C., New York: W. W. Norton & C, 1968), p. 113</ref> The Spartans did not change their military tactics and still used the traditional tactics even when other states in Greece, such as Thebes, were updating the phalanx formation. Then the Spartans could not change even when the citizen body went into a precipitous decline. There was no meaningful effort to reform the agoge system. The society seemed incapable of dealing with many of the problems that it faced. Then the Peloponnesian War produced tensions in society and the increasing wealth as a result of war-booty, created growing inequality between the citizens.in the wake of its victory in the Peloponnesian War.<ref>Forrest, p. 145</ref> ====Conclusion====Spartan was the victor of the Peloponnesian War, and by 400 BCE, it was the greatest power in the Greek world and a major player in the eastern Mediterranean. However, by 377 BCE, the Spartans had been defeated in the battle for the first time, and it lost Greece's leadership. Spartan power declined due to the military, social and cultural factors that allowed other states to challenge their preeminent position in the Greek world. Among the longer-term trends that undermine Sparta was the decline in the numbers of citizens and since they formed the backbone of the army, this greatly weakened Spartan power. The premium placed on stability and order meant that the Spartans distrusted change, and this conservatism meant that Sparta could not change to meet the challenges it faced. Then the Peloponnesian War produced tensions in society, and the increasing wealth resulting from war-booty created growing inequality between the citizens.====References==References==
Admin moved page What Caused the Decline of Sparta? to What Caused the Decline of Sparta
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[[File: Leonidas I of Sparta.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|King Leonidas I Sparta]]
Sparta is one of the most famous states in the Classical era. It is often regarded as the epitome of the military-state that is devoted to war. Sparta's history has fascinated intellectuals from Plato until today and inspired great leaders such as Frederick the Great and Napoleon. For most of the Classical period of Greece, it was the greatest military power and had a formidable army. To many, it seemed that Sparta was invincible, and indeed its army had never been defeated in battle.
==== History of Sparta====For many decades’ decades Sparta, had been was the greatest power in Greece, this . This power was based on its well-disciplined and much-feared army. The Spartan Hoplite were was considered the best soldiers in the Greek world <ref>Hanson, Victor Davis. A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War. (New York: Random House, 2005), p. 56</ref>. The state was focused on the development of fine and brave warriors. The need to produce outstanding soldiers shaped Spartan history and society. The origin of the Spartan probably lay in the so-called ‘Dark Ages’ in 2 century BCE.</ref> Hanson, p. 57</ref>. During this time, Greek invaders from the north who spoke a variant of Greek known as Doric invaded the Peloponnesian. They overthrew the Mycenaean Kingdom and established their own state. The new state was ruled by a Doric-speaking elite who enslaved many of the existing population. These were the helots, a large population of people who were the serfs of the Spartan elite <ref> Cartlidge, Paul, The Spartans (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2002), p. 6</ref>. The helots had no legal rights and had to provide their Spartan overlords with food and labor. The need to control the helots shaped Spartan society. According to Spartan mythology, Lycurgus, who was almost certainly a mythical figure gave them their unique constitution, that set out not only the state’s political system but also its social order<ref>Plutarch. On Sparta (London, Penguin Books, 1994), p. 43</ref>. The political system was headed by two kings from two royal families. They were advised by a council of elders and every Spartan citizen could vote in a general assembly. Every Spartan male citizen was expected to be a warrior and the duty of every Spartan woman was to bear a warrior<ref>Plutarch, p. 56</ref>. Sparta was in many ways a totalitarian state and the government oversaw every aspect of the lives of the citizens. Infants who were deemed unfit were killed soon after their birth. Young boys were taken from their families and enrolled in the Agoge<ref> Plutarch, p. 67</ref>. To ensure that the Spartans produced enough warriors they developed the Agoge system. In this system, male children were trained from an early age to be warriors. They were exposed to many hardships and privations to toughen them up. This education produced the finest soldiers in Greece and the Spartan hoplite was invincible on battlefields all over Greece. Sparta had traditionally adopted a cautious foreign policy and was happy to dominate the Peloponnesian League. In the aftermath of the defeat of the second Persian invasion of Greece they decided not to continue the war against the Persians<ref>Cartlidge, p. 77</ref>. Sparta was always conscious that the Spartan citizens were a minority in their own land and they knew that if their army was defeated or lost that the helots would rise up and destroy Sparta. This changed during the Peloponnesian War when Sparta and her allies entered a life and death struggle with the Athenian Empire. The Spartans were able to prevail but only at a high cost. It could expand its influence across the Greek world in the aftermath of the defeat of Athens <ref>Cartledge, Paul, Spartan Reflections (London, Duckworth, 2001), p.112</ref>. This new power disrupted Spartan society and over time undermined the unique system that had allowed the Spartans to become the finest soldiers in Greece<ref>Thucydides 5. 6</ref>. A little over thirty years after their victory over Athens the Spartans were defeated by a new rising power in Greece, Thebes. The defeat at Leuctra was the first inflicted on the Spartan army. The Spartans lost control of much of their empire and no longer the greatest power in Greece, indeed they were something of a backwater and entered in a period of profound decline, although they remained independent, until the rise of the Roman Empire, who annexed it in the 2nd century BCE.
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Updated December 5, 2020
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