What Caused The Downfall of Sparta?

A detailed Summary of What Caused The Downfall of Sparta?


Hypothesis: Sparta collapsed because they did not allow the helots to fight in battle

In about 100 BCE, the Dorians invaded Greece from the North. During the Dark Ages, the Dorians made their way south, capturing the inhabitants of the lands they passed through as helots. At the beginning of the Dark Ages, it is thought that there were many Dorian settlements in Laconia, each with their own helot population. At some time during the Dark Ages, Sparta overtook these fellow Dorian settlements and their helot populations, as well as control of the whole of Laconia. The Spartans kept the helots as a huge, strong slave race and, although they did not enslave their fellow Dorians, the other Dorians were made perioci, meaning "those who live round about". The perioci were needed to be the craftsmen, tradesmen and manufacturers for the Spartans, who were trained as full time soldiers.

At the end of the Dark Ages, there was nothing exceptional about Sparta (except her control of the helot population) but from about the middle of the 6th Century BCE, Sparta gradually turned away from the rest of Greece. They no longer welcomed visitors, cut their trade ties, s


  • Star, C. G., The Ancient Greeks, Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, 1971

    It is very hard for modern historians to use ancient sources, though, because the stories can often be biased and could even be used as propaganda, especially when Sparta is involved, because they were well known for influencing literature that their enemies could read.

    Even if the helots were able to win the Battle of Leuctra for the Spartans, there was still much corruption in Sparta, which had ruined the simple Spartan way of life. This was also a major part of the downfall of Sparta, not just the fact that they were beaten at war.

    I found that my hypothesis was incorrect, because in 371BCE, at the time of the fateful Battle of Leuctra, the 'Spartan way of life' had been totally ruined and corrupted by wealth brought into Sparta from all over Greece by people like Lysander. Even if the Battle of Leuctra had been lost, but the 'Spartan way of life' was still intact and the Spartiates were still obedient to the state and all its laws, I think that Sparta would have picked itself up again and continued as it had done. But with all the corruption, Sparta could no longer survive.

  • Forrest, W.G., A History of Sparta 950-192 BC, London, England, 1968, p.138

    I think that the helots did nothing for the Spartans while in battle, as proved during the Battle of Leuctra in 371BCE. The only way Sparta could have benefited from the inclusion of helots in their forces would have been if the helots were trained as soldiers like the Spartans, but this would have meant that there was no-one to farm for the soldiers.

    The Spartans were raised and educated to be perfectly obedient and obey the state without question. Spartan education had no interest with literature, intellectual or academic activities and did Spartans were not taught subjects like mathematics, science or geography. Even as babies, Spartiates were treated harshly - they were made to eat whatever food they were given, left alone, left alone in the dark, and it is probable that no attention was paid to babies when they cried.



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    Approximate Word count = 1844
    Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

    Category: History

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