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Spartan Hegemony

Refers to the period of Spartan dominance and influence in ancient Greece, which eventually declined after roughly 150 years.

Plutarch's Hypothesis

Plutarch's explanation for the fall of Spartan power, attributing it to Spartan expansionism and overreach in adding empire and sovereignty won by force.

Lycurgus

The legendary lawgiver of Sparta, credited with establishing the Spartan Constitution focused on promoting virtue and harmony within the Spartan community.

Spartan Constitution

The set of laws and principles established by Lycurgus to govern Spartan society, emphasizing discipline, military training, and communal living.

Athenian Empire

Refers to the naval empire established by Athens after the Persian Wars, which competed with Sparta for influence in the Greek world before being overthrown in the Peloponnesian War.

Decline of Empires

The historical pattern where great powers, including civilizations, city-states, or nations, experience a decline in power and influence over time, eventually leading to their downfall.

Spartans' Fall

The decline and collapse of Spartan power, attributed to various factors including military failure and internal issues.

Cockwell's Opinion

George Cockwell, a historian, argued that the Spartans' fall was primarily due to military failure, specifically their defeat by the Thebans at Lutra.

Spartiate Depopulation Thesis

The theory suggesting that Sparta's low population of Spartiate full citizens led to their downfall, a notion challenged by Cockwell in his article.

Adaptation of Spartans

Cockwell argued that despite having a low number of Spartiates, the Spartans were able to adapt and succeed in battles, refuting the idea that their decline was solely due to low population.

Moral Decline Theory

The belief that the Spartans' downfall was a result of moral decline, particularly due to a focus on money and material wealth, a theory rejected by Cockwell in favor of military explanations.

Spartans' Class Structure

The Spartans shifted from a strict hierarchy to include subclasses like Neodamodes, Hupo Moiones, and Inferiors, integrating non-elite Spartiates into society.

Helot Integration

Spartans integrated Helots into society by creating the Neodamodes class, allowing them to fight in the phalanx and reducing the likelihood of Helot rebellions.

Decline in Spartiate Population

The decrease in Spartiate numbers posed a challenge as fewer soldiers were available for battles, impacting Spartan military effectiveness and leading to their decline in power.

Rising Social Tensions

Increasing wealth inequality in Sparta led to social unrest and tensions, potentially contributing to the decline of Spartan influence and their defeat at the Battle of Leuctra.

Social inequality and social tension

Rising social inequality and tension in Spartan society prevented them from recovering after Lutru, contributing to their downfall.

Loss of reputation for invincibility

The loss of the positive reputation of the Spartans among other Greeks led to increasing hostility towards Sparta and a decline in their allies' support.

Imperialistic Spartan behavior

Spartan imperialistic policies and bad reputation among Greek city-states contributed to the erosion of their supremacy.

Declining Spartan manpower

A decrease in Spartan manpower was suggested as a factor in their defeat, although the focus on reputation as fearsome warriors was considered more crucial.

Historical Argument

History is complex and major events usually result from a combination of factors rather than a single cause.

Spartan Depopulation

The decrease in the Spartan population, particularly the number of Spartiates, is considered a significant factor in the decline of Sparta.

Loss of Spartan Military Reputation

The collapse of Sparta's military reputation and mystique played a crucial role in their downfall, impacting their ability to maintain supremacy.

Exam Format

The upcoming exam will be one hour long, focusing on material covered in parts four and five of the course, with an emphasis on identification essays containing three key elements:who or what the term is, the context, and the significance for Spartan history.