Spartan History

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The Spartan re-enactors of BlackSword are based on Sparta just before the time of the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. The stand of 300 Spartiates against an army of more than 200,000 soldiers is one of the greatest heroic stands in history.

Much of the early history of the Spartans is under dispute. Most of the information available comes from Plutarch, Thucydidies, Xenophon and Herodotus who were biased towards Sparta. Archeological evidence from Sparta is scarce. The information here is a generalization based on several sources.

One thing that is not disputed is that the Spartans were the elite military of Greece for over 300 years from the invasion of Messina in the 8th century and then the conversion of their society in the mid 7th century, until their defeat by Thebes in 371 BC. Sparta remained unconquered until the Roman Flaminius invaded in 206 BC. Each individual was dedicated to service to the city and all of the male citizens were full time soldiers. Individually they were not better than other men, but they were nearly unbeatable when fighting as a unit. They perfected the phalanx form of fighting that the Philip and Alexander of Macedon and the Romans later used. The army of Sparta also included perioikoi, free men living in the area around Sparta who gave military service to Sparta.

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| Reform of Spartan Society | Persian War Marathon | Thermopylae | War's End | Spartan Decline |


Thanks to Elafi who has prepared this historical view of the Spartans!

 
 

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