As a result of the Peloponnesian War, Sparta developed formidable naval power, enabling it to subdue many key Greek states and even overpower the elite Athenian navy.
In the later classical period, Sparta fought amongst Athens, Thebes, and Persia for supremacy within the region. Despite being fought as part of a alliance, the victory was credited to Sparta, which had been the de facto leader of the entire Greek expedition. Greco-Persian War, as well as Persian ambitions of spreading into Europe. One year later, Sparta led a Greek alliance against the Persians at the Battle of Plataea where their superior weaponry, strategy, and bronze armor proved a huge asset in achieving a resounding victory. The Greek forces suffered very high casualties before finally being encircled and defeated. The Spartans were already considered a land-fighting force to be reckoned with when, in 480 BCE, a small force of Spartans, Thespians, and Thebans made a legendary final stand at the Battle of Thermopylae against the massive Persian army during the Greco-Persian Wars. Political geography of ancient Greece: The map shows the political structure of Greece in the Archaic Age. However, it maintained its political independence until the Roman conquest of Greece in 146 BCE. Sparta’s defeat by Thebes in the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE ended Sparta’s prominent role in Greece.
Between 431 and 404 BCE, Sparta was the principal enemy of Athens during the Peloponnesian War, from which it emerged victorious, though at great cost. Given its military preeminence, Sparta was recognized as the overall leader of the combined Greek forces during the Greco-Persian Wars. Around 650 BCE, it rose to become the dominant military power in ancient Greece. It emerged as a political entity around the 10 th century BCE, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. Sparta was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece situated on the banks of the Eurotas River in Laconia in southeastern Peloponnese.
Unique in ancient Greece for its social system and constitution, Spartan society focused heavily on military training and excellence.Sparta functioned under an oligarchy of two hereditary kings.Sparta’s defeat by Thebes in the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE ended Sparta’s prominent role in Greece, but it maintained its political independence until the Roman conquest of Greece in 146 BCE.Given its military preeminence, Sparta was recognized as the overall leader of the combined Greek forces during the Greco-Persian Wars, and defeated Athens during the Peloponnesian War.Sparta was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the Eurotas River in Laconia in southeastern Peloponnese.