Sparta

Dateline: 06/22/99

Rise to Power

In 404 B.C., marking the end of the Peloponnesian War, the Athenians surrendered to the Spartans unconditionally. Defeating Athens had not been a foregone conclusion, but Sparta emerged victorious for many reasons, including Pericles' and Alcibiades' tactical errors, the plague, and Spartan military efficiency. The next thirty-three years were known as the Spartan hegemony.

Online Resources

The Peloponnesian War
Both Athens and Sparta fought a war of attrition. After Pericles died of the plague, Nicias took over and arranged a truce until the colorful character Alcibiades persuaded the Athenians to attack the Greek city-states in Sicily. The Athenian strength had always resided in her navy, but much of the Athenians' fleet was destroyed in this foolish campaign. Still, the Athenians were able to fight effective naval battles, until after the Persians had lent their support to Sparta, Athens' entire naval force was destroyed. Athens surrendered to the great (but soon to be disgraced) Spartan general Lysander.

The Spartan Hegemony

Richard Hooker's page explaining the way the Spartans used their period of dominance in Greece to their disadvantage by engaging in an ill-advised alliance with the Persians and then by Agesilaus' unprovoked attack on Thebes. The hegemony ended when Athens joined Thebes against Sparta.

Ancient History Sourcebook: 11th Brittanica: Sparta

The history of the Spartans from prehistory to the middle ages. Explains how ill-suited the Spartans were to rule the Greek world and how they surrendered hegemony to the Thebans.