Post on 14-Dec-2015
The Spartan HegemonyThe Spartan Hegemony
404-371 B.C.404-371 B.C.
The Great VictoryThe Great Victory Some months after the Some months after the
Battle at Aegospotami Battle at Aegospotami Athens surrenders. Athens surrenders.
The Terms: The Terms: Demolish the Long WallsDemolish the Long Walls Surrender all ships except 12Surrender all ships except 12 Accept the lead of SpartaAccept the lead of Sparta An oligarchic government by An oligarchic government by
30 men is put in place by 30 men is put in place by LysanderLysander
Democracy is abolishedDemocracy is abolished The Athenian Empire is The Athenian Empire is
inherited by Spartainherited by Sparta
The ProtagonistsThe Protagonists
LysanderLysander Probably from a family of Inferiors, of noble Probably from a family of Inferiors, of noble
descent but impoverisheddescent but impoverished Lover of prince Agesilaos (frequently Agesilaus)Lover of prince Agesilaos (frequently Agesilaus) Ambitious and Un-Spartan in some waysAmbitious and Un-Spartan in some ways He understood that the only way to defeat Athens He understood that the only way to defeat Athens
was to create a navy. was to create a navy. He created a bond with the Persian prince Cyrus, He created a bond with the Persian prince Cyrus,
son of king Darius II, who funded the Spartan fleetson of king Darius II, who funded the Spartan fleet He was power-hungry, but not enough to stage He was power-hungry, but not enough to stage
open revolt against the Spartan constitutionopen revolt against the Spartan constitution
Agesilaos II (401-360)Agesilaos II (401-360) A towering figure in Spartan historyA towering figure in Spartan history He became king (Eurypontid dynasty) when Sparta was the ruler He became king (Eurypontid dynasty) when Sparta was the ruler
of the Greek world, and shortly afterwards went to conquer Persiaof the Greek world, and shortly afterwards went to conquer Persia He died in Egypt, aged 84, hiring out his services as a mercenary He died in Egypt, aged 84, hiring out his services as a mercenary
to replenish the treasury of a broken and impoverished Spartato replenish the treasury of a broken and impoverished Sparta Half-brother of king Agis II, unexpectedly became king, with Half-brother of king Agis II, unexpectedly became king, with
Lysander’s support, after the lawful heir Leotychidas was Lysander’s support, after the lawful heir Leotychidas was declared illegitimatedeclared illegitimate
He had undergone He had undergone the agogethe agoge despite his lame leg (birth defect), despite his lame leg (birth defect), where through relentless effort distinguished himselfwhere through relentless effort distinguished himself
Very popular among the men in the army, very influencialVery popular among the men in the army, very influencial Also very rigid, relentless in his hatred of Thebes, and very Also very rigid, relentless in his hatred of Thebes, and very
conservative, he influenced many wrong decisions and is largely conservative, he influenced many wrong decisions and is largely responsible for the decline of Spartan power. responsible for the decline of Spartan power.
Pharnabazus / Pharnabazus / TissaphernesTissaphernes
Rival Persian Satraps of Asia MinorRival Persian Satraps of Asia Minor Pharnabazus brings about the end of Spartan Pharnabazus brings about the end of Spartan
Supremacy by funding the Athenian regeneration Supremacy by funding the Athenian regeneration effort in the 390’s. effort in the 390’s.
Tissaphernes was devoted to Artaxerxes II, and a Tissaphernes was devoted to Artaxerxes II, and a sworn enemy of Spartasworn enemy of Sparta
He fell victim of queen Parysatis for his role in the He fell victim of queen Parysatis for his role in the death of her favorite son Cyrus. death of her favorite son Cyrus.
Both seriously impeded Spartan plans in Asia Both seriously impeded Spartan plans in Asia Minor and her imperial ambitions through sharp Minor and her imperial ambitions through sharp diplomacy and bribery.diplomacy and bribery.
Darius II and Cyrus the Darius II and Cyrus the YoungerYounger
Darius, maybe at the suggestion of his queen, Parysatis, Darius, maybe at the suggestion of his queen, Parysatis, changed Persian policy towards Greek affairs. changed Persian policy towards Greek affairs.
The new policy was to fund the weaker side and keep The new policy was to fund the weaker side and keep them fighting in a manner that served Persian intereststhem fighting in a manner that served Persian interests
His heir Artaxerxes II successfully continued this policy. His heir Artaxerxes II successfully continued this policy. His charismatic younger son Cyrus, funded Lysander to His charismatic younger son Cyrus, funded Lysander to
defeat Athens , and then revolted against his brother defeat Athens , and then revolted against his brother king Artaxerxes with help from Sparta and other Greek king Artaxerxes with help from Sparta and other Greek mercenaries (400 BC)mercenaries (400 BC)
In the battle of Cunaxa Cyrus won but was killed. In the battle of Cunaxa Cyrus won but was killed. The march of the mercenaries through Persia back to The march of the mercenaries through Persia back to
Greece confirmed that it is possible to defeat PersiaGreece confirmed that it is possible to defeat Persia
The Perils of AthensThe Perils of Athens
The sounds of the flutes playing while The sounds of the flutes playing while Lysander’s workers were demolishing the walls Lysander’s workers were demolishing the walls of Athens haunted the Athenians for many of Athens haunted the Athenians for many years. years.
His puppet government exhibited such cruelty His puppet government exhibited such cruelty that ‘the Thirty’ came to be identified with that ‘the Thirty’ came to be identified with pure evil in Athenian memorypure evil in Athenian memory
A resistance was staged by Thrasybulus from A resistance was staged by Thrasybulus from the fortress of Phyle, which eventually led to the fortress of Phyle, which eventually led to
civil war, and the rebels prevailed.civil war, and the rebels prevailed.
Athenian RestorationAthenian Restoration Eventually the Agiad king Eventually the Agiad king
Pausanias, who disliked Pausanias, who disliked Lysander and his tactics, Lysander and his tactics, worked out a settlement. worked out a settlement.
The Spartans did not The Spartans did not intervene to support the intervene to support the ThirtyThirty
The democracy was The democracy was restored in 403, and restored in 403, and public life was public life was reorganizedreorganized
The old enemy was back, The old enemy was back, albeit diminished. albeit diminished.
Spartan GovernmentSpartan Government Sparta inherited the Athenian Empire, but very quickly proved to Sparta inherited the Athenian Empire, but very quickly proved to
be highly unsuitable for imperial leadershipbe highly unsuitable for imperial leadership Instead of the promised freedom, Sparta established oligarchic Instead of the promised freedom, Sparta established oligarchic
regimes (boards of 10: decarchies).regimes (boards of 10: decarchies). Instead of the autonomy under Athenian rule, now the cities were Instead of the autonomy under Athenian rule, now the cities were
tightly controlled by Spartan garrisons (harmosts)tightly controlled by Spartan garrisons (harmosts) Instead of the rule of law under the Athenian empire, now they had Instead of the rule of law under the Athenian empire, now they had
the temperamental rule of ill-suited Spartan officials, excessively the temperamental rule of ill-suited Spartan officials, excessively prone to briberyprone to bribery
Instead of fair commerce and free trade, 1000 talents from Instead of fair commerce and free trade, 1000 talents from excessive taxation were sent to Sparta only in the first yearexcessive taxation were sent to Sparta only in the first year
Soon the days of Athenian rule were seen with nostalgia, and Soon the days of Athenian rule were seen with nostalgia, and much resentment arose against Spartamuch resentment arose against Sparta
Former allies like Thebes and Corinth created an alliance with Former allies like Thebes and Corinth created an alliance with AthensAthens
The Campaign Against The Campaign Against PersiaPersia
After the return of the 10,000 a campaign After the return of the 10,000 a campaign was staged against Persiawas staged against Persia
Agesilaos did well in Asia Minor, but Persian Agesilaos did well in Asia Minor, but Persian diplomacy seized the initiative before he diplomacy seized the initiative before he could inflict serious damage to the empire. could inflict serious damage to the empire.
They funded Athens and her allies to start They funded Athens and her allies to start war on Sparta. war on Sparta.
The Corinthian war (395-387) was an The Corinthian war (395-387) was an indecisive conflict which damaged the Greek indecisive conflict which damaged the Greek world as a whole. world as a whole.
The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire
Ancient CorinthAncient Corinth
Corinthian WarCorinthian War The alliance of Athens, Corinth, Thebes, Argos and others remains strong The alliance of Athens, Corinth, Thebes, Argos and others remains strong
despite a number of setbacks by Spartan armies.despite a number of setbacks by Spartan armies. Initially funded by Persian moneyInitially funded by Persian money A Persian fleet under the Athenian Conon destroys the Spartan navy off A Persian fleet under the Athenian Conon destroys the Spartan navy off
Cnidos (394 BC)Cnidos (394 BC) Then proceeds to effectively end the Spartan Empire in the AegeanThen proceeds to effectively end the Spartan Empire in the Aegean Athens tries to regain some of her possessionsAthens tries to regain some of her possessions At land the Spartan army retains an advantage but does not succeed to At land the Spartan army retains an advantage but does not succeed to
dominate dominate The Athenian Iphicrates using light troops succeeds in inflicting The Athenian Iphicrates using light troops succeeds in inflicting
casualties on Spartan troops, and reveals the flaws of the Spartan casualties on Spartan troops, and reveals the flaws of the Spartan phalanx.phalanx.
This inconclusive warfare ends with the King’s peace in 387/6This inconclusive warfare ends with the King’s peace in 387/6 Spartan power has diminished, and in the coming years Sparta is going Spartan power has diminished, and in the coming years Sparta is going
to serve as the police force of the Great King of Persia in Greece. to serve as the police force of the Great King of Persia in Greece.