08-06-2007, 05:53 PM
A case could be made that it was the Persians who defeated Sparta and that Cnidus, not Leuktra was the pivotal battle. Their moeny started the Corinthian war and recalled Agiselaos from his iromp in Persia. Once expansion East was cut off there was little that a Spartan empire could do but eat itself.
I agree that the spartan social structure was not easily exported, but opening the system is probably what Lysander intended to champion before he was squelched (If only to make himself demagoge). Reforms were actually enacted by 3rd century spartan kings that would have opened citizenship to some degree, but it was too little too late.
I agree that the spartan social structure was not easily exported, but opening the system is probably what Lysander intended to champion before he was squelched (If only to make himself demagoge). Reforms were actually enacted by 3rd century spartan kings that would have opened citizenship to some degree, but it was too little too late.
Paul M. Bardunias
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
MODERATOR: [url:2dqwu8yc]http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=4100[/url]
A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
