In a September 2009 Wiley-Blackwell publication, Spartans A New History, author Nigel M. Kennell explains these terms.
Location of Sparta
Modern Laconia, a province of Greece, doesn't contain all the territory of ancient Laconia. The old area included Messenia, the area between the Arcadian Tegea and the Eurotas Valley, and more. The heart of Laconia was the Eurotas River valley.- The Spartans controlled the area called Laconia or the Laconian land.
- This area of Laconia was also called Lacedaemonia.
- Lacedaemonia also refers to the civic center/city of Sparta.
Residents of Sparta
- "The Lacedaemonians" can refer to the Spartan state.
- "The Lacedaemonians" may refer to the people living around the Spartan citizens, but it may also exclude them.
- These dwellers around are called periokoi.
- The full-fledged Spartan citizens were called Spartiates.
Macedonia Limits the Territory of Sparta
Philip of Macedonia intervened in 346 in the Sacred War (356/5-346) on the side of Thebes and the Amphictyonic Council, and against Phocia, supported by Athens, and Sparta. When Phocia surrendered, Philip became the most powerful force on the Council. From this position he told the Spartans to give up their claims to Messenia. When Sparta refused, Philip invaded Laconia, and then gave portions of the Spartans territory to his supporters. Sparta was left with, basically, the Eurotas Valley and the Malea and Taenarum peninsulas, according to Kennell.
9.28.6 "Consequently, alleging as sufficient any pretext that offered itself, he [sc. Philip] came here [sc. Laconia] with his army and inflicted great damage, cutting the crops and trees and burning the homesteads, and finally partitioning your cities and your territory, he signed part of it to the Argives, part to the Tegeans and Megalopolitans, and part to the Messenians, wishing to confer ill-merited benefits on all of them if by doing so he could only damage you."
Polybius 9.28.6ff
