Sparta was a famous ancient Greek city-state that succeeded in leaving its name in history through its military achievements and a highly militaristic society. In an era when good soldiers and superior tactics were the keys to success, Sparta surpassed all its neighbors— ruling them for centuries. Over time, however, many of its defining features will prove to be the fuse of its downfall. Strict military oligarchy, Spartan's extremely strict society, and failure to adapt to the changing patterns of war in ancient Greece eventually led to a slow but decisive downfall.
Ancient Greece consisted of a multitude of powerful and often competing city-states that, to maintain power, often had to rely on high-quality armies and superior tactics – exactly what Sparta had! It ruled the fertile valley of the Eurotas River in the middle of the Peloponnese, perfecting its army to a mesmerizing high standard. There is no doubt that it will become the most powerful military force in ancient Greece. For centuries, its armies were undefeated in battle, and the iconic Spartan "heavy infantry" warriors were a symbol of war excellence. Many historians agree that the fall of Sparta actually began centuries before it occurred, due to its unique and very strict society. In almost all respects, Sparta was a totalitarian state, and the government controlled and ignored many aspects of Spartan civic life. In the long run, a clearly defined social hierarchy that placed a high priority on innate rights would fundamentally undermine Sparta. At the bottom were the "Hilo", a group of state-owned serfs who had no rights. The "Periokis" were the caste of free non-Spartan citizens, who were usually craftsmen and merchants with no real power. At the highest level, they were ruled by the "Spartans", pure-blooded Spartan citizens who ruled every aspect of life, from politics to law. This social hierarchy limited the Spartans, always limiting their number of citizens and reducing their prospects for expansion.
The life of spartan citizens was war-oriented and there was little else. All male citizens must undergo the strict and demanding Argogue education system and train them to become warriors from an early age. Spartan warriors were exposed to extreme hardship and toil from childhood, and grew up to be a formidable opponent. Many historical records tell us that even advancing lines of heavily armored infantry were enough to keep the enemy running away. Over time, Sparta had some of Greece's best armies, and its ability to move quickly on any terrain, perform complex tactical maneuvers, and take advantage of a sudden and shocking final charge was enhanced. By 650 BC, Sparta's dominance was fully established. In the Second Messinian War, which lasted from 660 BC to 650 BC, the Spartans faced a hostile Messinian state that decisively defeated it and cemented its terrible reputation. A few generations later, during the second Persian invasion of Greece, this reputation was significantly tested at the legendary Battle of Thermos Pass. Here, an army of 300 Spartans and hundreds of allies confronted a much stronger Persian army. Faced with inevitable death, the Spartans refused to give in; instead, they fought to the last moment. This feat made the Spartan soldiers indeed legendary. In the centuries that followed, Sparta was embroiled in long-running conflicts with its neighbors.
During the Peloponnesian War, Athens, Thebes, Sparta, and Persia all fought for power over Greece. Sparta was the leader of the Peloponnesian League, facing its ancestral rival Athens, which was the leader of the Delos League. This protracted war, which lasted from 431 BC to 404 BC, fundamentally reshaped the ancient Greek world. The conflict was divided into three distinct phases, beginning with repeated Spartan invasions of the Attic Peninsula. Athens, a powerful naval hegemon, responded with its vast fleet: it attacked the coast of the Peloponnese. The conflict lasted for several years, intermittently, but changed significantly in 415 BC. The athenians suffered a disastrous defeat after a failed naval military expedition to Syracuse, Sicily, which turned the tide and severely weakened Athens, beginning the final phase of the Peloponnesian War. Sparta tried to exploit Athens' weakness and relied on the support of the Persian Achaemenid Empire to deliver a final blow to the enemy. In 405 BC, spartan admiral Lassander defeated the Athenian navy at the famous Battle of Égos Potami. After this victory, Sparta's power expanded, conquering many smaller Greek regimes and extending eastward into Persia. But as history often tells us, this dominance doesn't last long.
Just a few years after the peloponnesian victory, the Spartans faced a new enemy: the alliance of Athens, Thebes, Argos, and Corinth, city-states that sought to contain Sparta's power. The Persians supported the Alliance, and they now feared that the Spartans would invade their territory further. The ensuing conflict, known as the Corinthian War, lasted from 395 BC to 387 BC. After years of fruitless fighting, a peace treaty was finally reached, ending the war. However, this was detrimental to the Spartans, whose hegemony was still threatened in Greece. Soon after, a catastrophic defeat would eventually lead to the imminent fall of Sparta. In the fierce conflict that followed the Corinthian War, the Spartan army faced the city-state of Thebes, which was the army of the Viotia Confederation. At the Battle of Lyuctra in 371 BC, the Theban general Ibaminonda took advantage of the enemy's weakness and adopted new tactics. The Spartans were clearly unable to adapt to the changing methods of warfare and suffered a severe defeat, the first time an all-powerful Spartan army was defeated in a land battle. Sparta remained independent for the next two centuries, albeit gradually losing importance and power. The Battle of Lyuctra eventually exposed all its flaws and began a long period of decline.
Many Greek historians did not see these flaws, and they first pointed out the contradictory features of Sparta. On the one hand, it is in many ways considered the perfect embodiment of those ideal Greek values: it prides itself on bravery, military prowess, honest and wise speech, and commendable civic duty. But it is also an unstable and chaotic society, often fragile and self-deluded, full of pride and unwavering stubbornness. Because of its strict social hierarchy and emphasis on innate rights, Sparta always limited the number of its citizens. Its core power exists because its society is highly introverted and conservative, and it is itself like several antagonistic castes. This was a social structure that had been doomed from the outset: Sparta and its contemporaries had always known that in their own city-states, the ruling Spartan citizens were in the minority. The oppressed servants Hilo always had a majority in Sparta and could only be controlled by the army. However, Sparta eventually succumbed to the shackles of society. Once an iconic samurai state, it simply could not produce enough samurai to remain in power. In many ways, it was this culture of rigor, stubbornness and conservatism that weighed on Sparta and its citizens. They are victims of their own ideology. In the years that followed, Sparta slowly entered legend and ancient history. Still, their stubbornness and pride remained in the people, most notably their refusal to join the Panhellenic Union of Philip of Macedon. They do this because they don't believe in non-Spartan leadership.
After the Roman conquest of Greece before 146 BC, the Spartans eventually lost their political independence. As it loses all influence in the region, its long-term decline continues to rise steadily. By the Middle Ages, the city was largely abandoned, with only a meager population living in the ruins of ancient Sparta. The downfall of this once glorious Greek city-state can teach us many important lessons, both in life and in history. Sparta's fate made it clear that a totally militaristic authoritarian society could not survive on its mighty army alone, and that a state whose economy depended on oppressed servants was doomed to disappear prematurely.