Sparta is one of the most powerful city-states of ancient Greece. At a certain historical stage, it was Laconia (the region in which Sparta was located) that became the hegemon on the entire Hellenic peninsula. However, then Sparta literally disappeared from the pages of history. Remembering the school course, most people will not even be able to remember any mention of this mysterious disappearance. What happened to the brave Spartans?
After the Greco-Persian wars, the Peloponnesian War broke out in Greece. In it, two powerful military-political alliances collided head-on. The first was formed by Athens and was called the Delos Union. The second was Sparta and was called the Peloponnesian Union. Both great city-states pulled the blanket over the issue of hegemony over all of Greece. Thanks to the war with the Persians, Athens was able to incredibly strengthen. This happened against the background of the weakening of other cities, and also due to the fact that Athens, being the largest port Hellas and the largest Greek shipyard, began to collect money from all the allies to maintain the "common Greek fleet". Of course, very quickly the Athenian oligarchy began to spend money throughout Greece not only on the fleet.
Sparta also became significantly stronger during the wars with the Persians, having gathered thanks to its "victorious authority" coalitions from smaller cities. Athens did not like the strengthening and growth of the wealth of Laconia, and therefore the center of Greek democracy began to weave intrigues against Sparta. Gradually, relations between the former allies heated up, after which a war broke out between Athens and Sparta. The reason for the conflict was that Athens intervened in the dismantling of two smaller cities within the sphere of influence of the Spartans.
For almost 30 years, Greece was bled with blood in a fratricidal war. Yesterday's allies slaughtered each other from 431 to 404, until the war ended with the victory of the Peloponnesian Union and Sparta. Laconia became the sole and absolute hegemon throughout Greece. However, in the long run, winning the war of domination played a cruel joke on the brave Spartans. In the endless conflicts between the poleis and in the constant uprisings of the helot slaves, the Spartans lost their "best people", a few koi citizens, and carried out political power.
The reduction of the ruling stratum, the fall of the Spartan military power and the isolationist policy of Lacedaemon eventually led to the fact that her citizenship simply degenerated. The loss of military dominance coincided with the rise of the oligarchy in the ruling circles of Sparta. Gradually, the newly appeared hegemon began to lose not only military, but also political power. Corruption and separatism in a matter of years destroyed the Peloponnesian alliance, as a result of which the policies resumed their bickering for resources and influence on the peninsula.
As a result, by the second half of the 6th century BC, proud Sparta already presented a rather miserable sight, whose citizens were ready to sell their spears and blades to anyone who paid enough. Then Greece will be captured by Philip II of Macedon, the father of the future creator of the first universal empire - Alexander the Great. A new page will begin in the history of Greece, where Sparta will be given a role not even on the sidelines. After the death of Alexander the Great, the Greeks will once again start cutting themselves with each other. This will lead to a series of conflicts between the Achaean Union, Macedonia and independent city-states.
In 195, Sparta will be finally defeated by the Achaean coalition, and in 147 it will leave the union and take the side of foreign invaders - the Romans. In less than a year, the sons of Mars will completely conquer Hellas. As a sign of respect and memory of the former greatness, the Senate of Rome grants Sparta and Athens the right to self-government. But if Athens, by virtue of its favorable location, remains the largest port of Greece and the center of culture, Sparta will be assigned the fate of a village with a glorious history.
Continuing the topic, read about 10 surprising facts about magic and superstition in Ancient Greece.
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A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/150321/58196/
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