Changes

<dh-ad/>__NOTOC__[[File: Leonidas I ==== History of Sparta.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|King Leonidas I Sparta]]====For many decades Sparta is one of was the most famous states greatest power in the Classical eraGreece. It is often regarded as the epitome of the militaryThis power was based on its well-disciplined and much-state that is devoted to warfeared army. The history of Sparta has fascinated intellectuals from Plato until today and inspired great leaders such as Frederick Spartan Hoplite was considered the Great and Napoleon. For best soldiers in the majority of the Classical period of GreeceGreek world <ref>Hanson, it was Victor Davis. A War Like No Other: How the greatest power Athenians and had Spartans Fought the most formidable armyPeloponnesian War. To many(New York: Random House, 2005), it seemed that Sparta p. 56</ref> The state was invincible focused on the development of fine and indeed its army had never been defeated in battlebrave warriors. However, in 371 BCE Sparta was defeated The need to produce outstanding soldiers shaped Spartan history and this marked the beginning society. The origin of the end of Spartan power and it gradually became a minor power. This decay occurred because Sparta's population declined, change probably lay in the so-called ‘Dark Ages’ in values and a stubborn preservation of conservatism2 century BCE. Overtime<ref> Hanson, Sparta lost its position as a preeminent Greek military powerp.57</ref>

== History of Sparta==For many decades’ Sparta, had been the greatest power in Greece, this power was based on its well-disciplined and much-feared army. The Spartan Hoplite were 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.

==Decline in the number of According to Spartan Citizens==Sparta mythology, Lycurgus, who was almost certainly a society mythical figure, gave them their unique constitution that was based according to many historians on a caste systemset out the state’s political system and its social order. The Spartan citizens were the highest caste and they dominated the other groups in society<ref>Plutarch. The other groups in Sparta included Sparta (London, Penguin Books, 1994), p. 43</ref> two kings from two royal families headed the helots political system. A council advised them of elders, and the Pereokievery Spartan citizen could vote in a general assembly. Every Spartan male citizen was expected to be a warrior, this and the duty of every Spartan woman was to bear a group of freemen who were not citizens and were usually craftsmen and traderswarrior.<ref>Plutarch, p. 11356</ref>. To be  Sparta was a Spartan citizentotalitarian state in many ways, a male or a female had to be able to trace 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 ancestry back to families and enrolled in the original Doric conquerorsAgoge. They also could not be of helot extraction<<ref>Cartledge, 2001Plutarch, p. 5667</ref>. To be a Spartan citizenensure that the Spartans produced enough warriors, one had to undertake they developed the rigorous education of the agogeAgoge system. Only those who had completed their education in the agoge was entitled  In this system, male children were trained from an early age to be a citizenwarriors. Now there They were some exceptions exposed to this many hardships and these include a helot or a foreigner who was adopted by a ‘Spartiate’ family <ref>Plutarchprivations to toughen them up. This education produced the finest soldiers in Greece, p.69</ref>. To be a citizen and the Spartan hoplite was invincible on battlefields all over Greece. Sparta had traditionally adopted a cautious foreign policy and was happy to pay his own way in the agoge, that is he had to contribute to dominate the Peloponnesian League. In the aftermath of the running defeat of the system and second Persian invasion of Greece, they decided not to supply his own armorcontinue the war against the Persians. Failure to pay their way<ref>Cartlidge, meant that a Spartan could be expelled from the Spartan student body. The criteria for a Spartan citizen p. 77</ref>  Sparta was very high. While the system ensured always conscious that the Spartans Spartan citizens were dedicated and well-trained warriors it also led to problems replacing those who died a minority in battle<ref>Cartledgetheir own land, 2002, pand they knew that if their army were defeated or lost, the helots would rise and destroy Sparta. 118</ref>This changed during the Peloponnesian War when Sparta and her allies entered a life and death struggle with the Athenian Empire. The population of Sparta was never very Spartans were able to prevail but only at a highcost. Even at It could expand its peak influence across the Greek world in the 6th century BCE aftermath of the number defeat of Athens.<ref>Cartledge, Paul, Spartan citizens was approximately 9000Reflections (London, Duckworth, 2001), p. 112</ref>  This is known from new power disrupted Spartan society and over time undermined the size of unique system that had allowed the Spartan army at Spartans to become the timefinest soldiers in Greece. By the time of the battle of Leuctra the size of the Spartan citizen population<ref>Thucydides 5. 6</ref> A little over thirty years after their victory over Athens, once again based on the size of their army was only 4Spartans were defeated by a new rising power in Greece,000Thebes. The Spartan citizen body had been dwindling over time. This defeat at Leuctra was even though the Spartans at various times of crisis had allowed some non-citizens to enrol in first inflicted on the citizen bodySpartan army. The Spartan leadership had long been very nervous about 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 a period of profound decline in . However, they remained independent until the citizen numbersRoman Empire's rise, especially as which annexed it in the helot population continued to grow2nd century BCE. The exact reasons for this decline are not known. It is believed that over time that the  ====Decline in the number of Spartan birth rate declinedCitizens====[[File: Battle of Thermopylae - pass. The exact reasons for this are not known. It may be a result jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Spartans at the Battle of the rigorous agoge system and the fact Thermopoyle]]Sparta was a society that the family was not as important for men as their comrades in the agoge <ref>Plutarchbased, Plutarch'saccording to many historians, on a caste system. Morals (Boston, Cambridge University PressThe Spartan citizens were the highest caste, 1891), pand they dominated the other groups in society. 113</ref>, Another reason for the diminution The other groups in Sparta included the number helots and the Pereoki; this was a group of freemen who were not citizens was the fact that increasingly many Spartan citizens could no longer afford and were usually craftsmen and traders.<ref>Plutarch, p. 113</ref> Spartan citizens, a male or a female, had to be able to pay trace their dues in ancestry back to the agoge system as that society became increasingly divided between rich and poororiginal Doric conquerors. The growing wealth They also could not be of Sparta was concentrated in the hands of the few and this meant that fewer men could meet the financial demands of a citizenhelot extraction.<ref>Cartledge, 20022001, p. 12356</ref>. This decline in the To be a Spartan citizen meant that there were fewer soldiers over time , one had to fight its warsundertake the Agoge's rigorous education. The sheer brilliance of Only those who had completed their education in the Spartan hoplite meant that for many centuries even though their armies Agoge was getting smaller allowed them entitled to overcome their enemies in battlebe a citizen. However Now there were some exceptions to this, including a helot or a foreigner who was adopted by the time of the battle of Leuctra a ‘Spartiate’ family.<ref>Plutarch, p.69</ref> To be a citizen, the Spartan army was simply too small and it was defeated for had to pay his way in the first time in its historyagoge. [[File: Battle of Thermopylae - pass.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Spartans at That is, he had to contribute to the Battle running of Thermopoyle]]==The collapse in the system supply his armor. Failure to pay their way meant that a Spartan could be expelled from the Spartan Values==Sparta was much admired in Greecestudent body. The Greeks admired criteria for a Spartan citizen was very high. While the system ensured that the harmony Spartans were dedicated and order produced by the Spartan Constitution. Indeed many Greeks wanted their polis to adopt a similar form of government The citywell-state system trained warriors, it also influenced philosophers such as Plato and its influence can be seen led to problems replacing those who died in his great work the Republicbattle.<ref>Cartledge, 2002, p. 118</ref>  The Spartan system population of Sparta was based on never very high. Even at its peak in the idea that 6th century BCE, the collective came before the individualnumber of Spartan citizens was approximately 9000. The state demanded total obedience This is known from the citizen whose service to size of the Spartan army at the state came before, their family and personal wishestime. The Spartan warrior and indeed other citizens saw themselves as members By the time of Leuctra's battle, the size of the collective and this is best seen in Spartan citizen population, once again based on the agoge systemsize of their army, was only 4,000. The Spartan was expected citizen body had been dwindling over time.  Even though the Spartans had allowed some non-citizens to renounce personal wealth and gain and to use all their personal resources for enroll in the citizen body at various times of crisis, the good of Spartan leadership had long been very nervous about the state and decline in the citizen-body<ref> Pausaniasnumbers, especially as the helot population continued to grow. Description of GreeceThe exact reasons for this decline are not known. with an English Translation by WIt is believed that over time that the Spartan birth rate declined.HThe precise reasons for this are not known.S. Jones (BostonIt may result from the rigorous agoge system and the fact that the family was not as important for men as their comrades in the agoge.<ref>Plutarch, Cambridge Plutarch's. Morals (Boston, Cambridge University Press, 19181891), p. 345113</ref>. The citizen body  Another reason for the diminution in the number of citizens was a band of equal all committed that increasingly many Spartan citizens could no longer afford to pay their dues in the defines and glory of Spartaagoge system as that society became increasingly divided between rich and poor. However, over time these values were eroded and Sparta came to resemble its turbulent and very individualistic neighbors. This was a long-term process and there were many reasons for 's growing wealth was concentrated in the hands of the decline in the traditional Spartan valuesfew, which meant that underpinned its political systemfewer men could meet the financial demands of a citizen. However, the Peloponnesian War accelerated this trend <ref> ThucydidesCartledge, 2002, p. 6. 7123</ref>This decline in the Spartan citizen meant fewer soldiers overtime to fight its wars. The booty from the war led to a growing divide between sheer brilliance of the Spartan citizens. A wealthy class of citizen emerged rich from booty and payments from Sparta’s allies. This hoplite meant that even though their armies were getting smaller for many citizens centuries, they could no longer be members overcome their enemies in battle. However, by the time of Leuctra's battle, the agoge system but that they were under Spartan army was just too small, and it was defeated for the control of a wealthy elitefirst time in its history.  <refdh-ad/>Cartledge, 2002, p ====The collapse in Spartan Values====Sparta was much admired in Greece. 176</ref>The Greeks admired the harmony and order produced by the Spartan Constitution. It is also believed that the growing inequality in wealth also resulted in Indeed many Greeks wanted their polis to adopt a falling birth-ratesimilar form of government. Then Sparta was increasingly bedeviled by internal dissent and political inThe city-fightingstate system also influenced philosophers such as Plato, and its influence can be seen in his great work, the Republic. This The Spartan system was because many Spartans had experience of leadership outside based on the idea that the city-state and they were no longer willing, to obey collective came before the old eliteindividual. Spartan generals such as Lysander began The state demanded total obedience from the citizen whose service to seek the state came before their family and personal power wishes. The Spartan warrior and this led to growing instabilityindeed other citizens saw themselves as members of the collective, which is best seen in a political entity that seemed so fixed and stable, through the centuriesagoge system. Before The Spartans were expected to renounce personal wealth and gain and use all their personal resources for the fateful battle of Leuctra, Sparta was no longer as unified as it once was state's good and this was a factor in its declinethe citizen body.==Conservatism==The Spartan system and the entire society was built around one aim and that was to maintain the existing order<ref> Pausanias. Description of Greece. They sought to preserve their ascendancy over the helot population and their leadership of the Geek worldWith an English Translation by W.H.S. It was a society that distrusted change and believed that it was destabilizingJones (Boston, Cambridge University Press, 1918), p. Sparta’ Constitution was handed down from generation 345</ref>  The citizen body was a band of equal all committed to generation the defines and it was not altered or changedglory of Sparta. The system or society that was sanctioned by the constitution did not change either. The Spartans However, over time these values were notoriously conservative eroded, and they refused Sparta came to countenance change, unlike the rest of Greece who was constantly changing, especially the Atheniansresemble its turbulent and very individualistic neighbors. The conservatism of the Spartans This was often a strength but also a weakness. The state or society did not change and adapt to new sociallong-term process, political and military realities. Sparta was unable to change- this meant that it was inflexible and many even at there were many reasons for the decline in the time saw it as a society traditional Spartan values that was petrifying underpinned its political system. However, the Peloponnesian War accelerated this trend.<ref>Forrest, WThucydides.G6., A History of Sparta, 950–192 B.C., New York: W. W. Norton & C, 1968), p. 113</ref7</ref>. The Spartans did not change their military tactics and still used booty from the war led to a growing divide between the traditional tactics even when other states in Greece, such as Thebes were updating the phalanx formationSpartan citizens. Then the Spartans could not change even when the citizen body went into a precipitous decline, there was A wealthy class of citizens emerged rich from booty and payments from Sparta’s allies. This meant that many citizens could no meaningful effort to reform the agoge system. The society seemed incapable of dealing with many longer be members of the problems that it faced in agoge system but were under the wake control of its victory in the Peloponnesian Wara wealthy elite.<ref>ForrestCartledge, 2002, p. 145176</ref>.[[File: Therm2007.jpg|thumbnail|200px| Recreation of Greek Hoplite]]==Conclusion==Spartan was the victor of the Peloponnesian War It is also believed that the growing inequality in wealth also resulted in a falling birth-rate. Then Sparta was increasingly bedeviled by internal dissent and by 400 BCE it political in-fighting. This was because many Spartans had leadership experience outside the greatest power in the Greek world city-state and a major player in were no longer willing to obey the eastern Mediterraneanold elite. HoweverSpartan generals such as Lysander began to seek personal power, by 377 BCE the Spartans had been defeated which led to growing instability in battle for a political entity that seemed so fixed and stable through the first time and it lost centuries. Before the leadership fateful battle of Greece. The decline in Spartan power Leuctra, Sparta was no longer as unified as it once was due to military, social and cultural factors that allowed other states to challenge this was a factor in its preeminent position in the Greek worlddecline. Among the longer-term trends that undermine Sparta was the decline in the numbers  ====Conservatism====[[File: Therm2007.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px| Recreation of citizens Greek Hoplite]] The Spartan system and since they formed the backbone of the armyentire society was built around one aim, this greatly weakened Spartan power. The premium placed on stability and order meant that was to maintain the Spartans distrusted change existing order. They sought to preserve their ascendancy over the helot population and this conservatism meant their leadership of the Geek world. It was a society that Sparta could not distrusted change to meet the challenges and believed that it facedwas destabilizing. Sparta’s Constitution was handed down from generation to generation, and it was not altered or changed. Then the Peloponnesian War produced tensions in society and the increasing wealth as a result of war-booty, created growing inequality between the citizens.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 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==