Why did Sparta Collapse?
video description
They had expanded enough to conquer the neighboring kingdoms of Laconia and Messenia, which then became part of Spartan territory. Under Spartan rule, the Laconians and Messenians became known as -Helots- for Sparta- Most of them were forced to live and work in Sparta under a brutal form of serfdom. At one point, there were seven Helots for every Spartan. -
If you wanted to be in the regular Spartan Army, you had to be a male born to Spartan parents. They simply didn-t allow outsiders, not even other Greeks, to enlist in their army. -
They wanted to keep everyone else out of Sparta, as they believed that the foreign influences would be too corruptive to their culture. -
Sparta-s army was for Spartan men and Spartan men only. -
While Sparta did win Peloponnesian War, in fact it was a pyrrhic victory because, overall they were so badly weakened by it. Because of this -no non-Spartan in our army- rule, they simply weren-t able to replenish their soldiers fast enough. They continued to be weakened through other wars and various Helot revolts. -
Sparta barely had any of the things that the other Greek city-states had developed- no big libraries, no science, no philosophy, no theaters, no art, no centers of learning beyond the basic Spartan education. They always poured everything they had into their military. -
The bottom line is that Sparta was just too rigid in their lifestyle for too long. The times were changing, and Sparta didn-t successfully adapt to that change. It led to their own decline and eventual demise, getting conquered by Rome and becoming nothing more than a tourist destination for wealthy Romans.\r\n
Date: 2023-12-16
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Comments and reviews: 29
-Christian_Bagger
Once Sparta was really on the forefront in the mainstream media. And I did like it, but your thirst also get sated at some point and you move on. Then a decade later you revisit and dig a little bit deeper than the surface level and you then realize that Sparta were a very obscure culture and very unique. Totally against the grain and what was considered normal at the time and were its complete own thing. I love founding cultures like that. I once read about a culture also doing ancient times and I think it was on the Iberian peninsula where they didn-t have a leader figure at all, but when shit hits the fan and it was necessary someone will rise up to the occasion and take the whelm temporarily. It-s cool to discover the obscene-s one.
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Once Sparta was really on the forefront in the mainstream media. And I did like it, but your thirst also get sated at some point and you move on. Then a decade later you revisit and dig a little bit deeper than the surface level and you then realize that Sparta were a very obscure culture and very unique. Totally against the grain and what was considered normal at the time and were its complete own thing. I love founding cultures like that. I once read about a culture also doing ancient times and I think it was on the Iberian peninsula where they didn-t have a leader figure at all, but when shit hits the fan and it was necessary someone will rise up to the occasion and take the whelm temporarily. It-s cool to discover the obscene-s one.
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-danielefabbro822
A system exclusive always collapse. Just for the nature of itself.
-Only Spartans can vote- and so they ignored who sustained economically their power.
Sounds familiar? What about -Only the true Arian Germans are allow to rule this land-? Or again -Make America Great Again-.
Fortunately, today we have people that actually remember the errors of the past and can vote to change things in better. Even if the alternative isn't so fabulous as expected. After all, changing must be made slowly, to give time to people to adapt and accept it.
If we never do it in this way, today we would have complained about these young people using fire, instead of heating themselves like in past, sticking together in the deep of a cave.
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A system exclusive always collapse. Just for the nature of itself.
-Only Spartans can vote- and so they ignored who sustained economically their power.
Sounds familiar? What about -Only the true Arian Germans are allow to rule this land-? Or again -Make America Great Again-.
Fortunately, today we have people that actually remember the errors of the past and can vote to change things in better. Even if the alternative isn't so fabulous as expected. After all, changing must be made slowly, to give time to people to adapt and accept it.
If we never do it in this way, today we would have complained about these young people using fire, instead of heating themselves like in past, sticking together in the deep of a cave.
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-nikgeo8690
Athens fell as well. and much earlier than Sparta did. it is funny though how biased and prejudiced against sparta were all ancient sources since they reflected the perspective of Sparta's enemy, Athens. Sparta was not worse or less liberal than Athens. in fact Sparta gave way more rights to its women, than Athens where women were literally not allowed to even step outside their house on their own. Athens was the dominant super power of the 5th century BC which abused 90% of its inhabitants, had massive numbers of slaves who had no rights and brutally exploited all of its -allies-. that is what the -democratic- athens was all about. luckily these smug arrogant athenians were smashed by Spartans in the peloponnesian war
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Athens fell as well. and much earlier than Sparta did. it is funny though how biased and prejudiced against sparta were all ancient sources since they reflected the perspective of Sparta's enemy, Athens. Sparta was not worse or less liberal than Athens. in fact Sparta gave way more rights to its women, than Athens where women were literally not allowed to even step outside their house on their own. Athens was the dominant super power of the 5th century BC which abused 90% of its inhabitants, had massive numbers of slaves who had no rights and brutally exploited all of its -allies-. that is what the -democratic- athens was all about. luckily these smug arrogant athenians were smashed by Spartans in the peloponnesian war
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-tylerdurden3722
The conclusion of the Peloponnesian war was definitely not inconclusive.
The Spartans destroyed the Athenian navy decisively (only 12 ships were left.
Athens' food was cut off by that final decisive naval defeat.
Athens, and their allies, then surrendered decisively.
The Spartans then tore down the walls of Athens, decisively.
At the same time, the Spartans took control of the Athenian government, decisively.
Then that government was dismantled decisively, and replaced with 30 Tyrants.
Athens' was incorporated into the Peloponnesian League.
Athens' Empire (the Delian League) was controlled by Sparta and milked by Sparta.
How can you call such a victory inconclusive?
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The conclusion of the Peloponnesian war was definitely not inconclusive.
The Spartans destroyed the Athenian navy decisively (only 12 ships were left.
Athens' food was cut off by that final decisive naval defeat.
Athens, and their allies, then surrendered decisively.
The Spartans then tore down the walls of Athens, decisively.
At the same time, the Spartans took control of the Athenian government, decisively.
Then that government was dismantled decisively, and replaced with 30 Tyrants.
Athens' was incorporated into the Peloponnesian League.
Athens' Empire (the Delian League) was controlled by Sparta and milked by Sparta.
How can you call such a victory inconclusive?
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-iArsalan
11 minute video on the internal decline of Sparta and you managed to entirely ignore the slave system that was the backbone of Spartan society that corrupted and eroded it from within. The 300 had 1500 slaves in front of them also at the time of their collapse Sparta had 15 slaves to every 1 Spartan; the Spartans lived in constant fear of slave revolts and would declare annual -war- on their slaves to cull the growing population as the Spartan ranks diminished. This video isn't good history, it is propaganda.
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11 minute video on the internal decline of Sparta and you managed to entirely ignore the slave system that was the backbone of Spartan society that corrupted and eroded it from within. The 300 had 1500 slaves in front of them also at the time of their collapse Sparta had 15 slaves to every 1 Spartan; the Spartans lived in constant fear of slave revolts and would declare annual -war- on their slaves to cull the growing population as the Spartan ranks diminished. This video isn't good history, it is propaganda.
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knowledgia
The Spartans fought themselves into extinction. Constantly fighting with anyone that they didn-t agree with losing men and throwing away babies that they deemed unfit their ranks were bound to dwindle. And as the old saying goes you fight an enemy enough times and they will figure out how to beat you. Something Spartans never looked at or considered and by the time they realize they were being defeated as a military powerhouse it was to late.
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The Spartans fought themselves into extinction. Constantly fighting with anyone that they didn-t agree with losing men and throwing away babies that they deemed unfit their ranks were bound to dwindle. And as the old saying goes you fight an enemy enough times and they will figure out how to beat you. Something Spartans never looked at or considered and by the time they realize they were being defeated as a military powerhouse it was to late.
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-brizzlefarmizzle
This doesn't explain why sparta fell.
The political structure led to its downfall. It was a warrior empire. Woman had land ownership rights and power was consolidated as warriors would die and the same women would marry the largest land owners. When you combine this with their strict spartan citizenship. They ran out of people to fight. It was left with woman running slaves on farms, using them to defend Sparta. It was a shit show
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This doesn't explain why sparta fell.
The political structure led to its downfall. It was a warrior empire. Woman had land ownership rights and power was consolidated as warriors would die and the same women would marry the largest land owners. When you combine this with their strict spartan citizenship. They ran out of people to fight. It was left with woman running slaves on farms, using them to defend Sparta. It was a shit show
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-priestharis1565
During the battle of Leuktra Sparta had already a huge problem of hoplite population. So they had to include non -pure- Spartan hoplites in their ranks. In this battle the Spartan formation had more -Perioikoi- (Free citizens in Spartan territory who were allowed to live there but had no political rights) hoplites than Spartan ones. As a result the -Spartan- phalanx was much, much lower in quality than it used to be.
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During the battle of Leuktra Sparta had already a huge problem of hoplite population. So they had to include non -pure- Spartan hoplites in their ranks. In this battle the Spartan formation had more -Perioikoi- (Free citizens in Spartan territory who were allowed to live there but had no political rights) hoplites than Spartan ones. As a result the -Spartan- phalanx was much, much lower in quality than it used to be.
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-tsdobbi
At the battle of Leuctra, The Theban Sacred Band played a crucial role in the defeat of the Spartans. It's kind of funny because of the throw away line in the movie 300 when Leonidas refers to the Athenians as -boy lovers- indicating that makes them soft. The Theban Sacred band was literally an elite force made up of pairs of male lovers (the idea being that romantic partners would fight harder for eachother in battle.
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At the battle of Leuctra, The Theban Sacred Band played a crucial role in the defeat of the Spartans. It's kind of funny because of the throw away line in the movie 300 when Leonidas refers to the Athenians as -boy lovers- indicating that makes them soft. The Theban Sacred band was literally an elite force made up of pairs of male lovers (the idea being that romantic partners would fight harder for eachother in battle.
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-jeffcotton3131
Must have been something to do with negative relations with neighboring countries, from seeking conquest rather than fair trade & strengthening relations. Troy was eventually defeated by the Romans, then joined them like Germania, & the Vikings did after the Merovingian Kingdom Knights Templars were defeated in Western Europe, and Romans & Trojans moved to the North & eventually kreated the U. K.
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Must have been something to do with negative relations with neighboring countries, from seeking conquest rather than fair trade & strengthening relations. Troy was eventually defeated by the Romans, then joined them like Germania, & the Vikings did after the Merovingian Kingdom Knights Templars were defeated in Western Europe, and Romans & Trojans moved to the North & eventually kreated the U. K.
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-tadcotadco6344
I heard Spartans were Jewish settlers which came from Egypt. Part of the Jews, under the leadership of Moses, moved towards the Promised Land, the other part, approximately in the 13 or 12th century BC, came on ships to Sparta. -
Indeed, the Spartans differed sharply from other Greeks in their customs and character. -
There were also Phoenician cities in Greece, for example, Thebes
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I heard Spartans were Jewish settlers which came from Egypt. Part of the Jews, under the leadership of Moses, moved towards the Promised Land, the other part, approximately in the 13 or 12th century BC, came on ships to Sparta. -
Indeed, the Spartans differed sharply from other Greeks in their customs and character. -
There were also Phoenician cities in Greece, for example, Thebes
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knowledgia
U should know by now that the western interpretation of history is a hoax to make Europe great and everyone else small. A 100 years from now it will be completely different, the west will no longer have any money to perpetuate their lies and fantasies. In the future the only ones left believing the Greek (taliban of antiquity) fantasy will be orangutans and monkeys, cheers mate!
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U should know by now that the western interpretation of history is a hoax to make Europe great and everyone else small. A 100 years from now it will be completely different, the west will no longer have any money to perpetuate their lies and fantasies. In the future the only ones left believing the Greek (taliban of antiquity) fantasy will be orangutans and monkeys, cheers mate!
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knowledgia
Boys joined the military for their basic education of read & writing also using weapons. They were raped by the military leaders & to my understanding, with no exception(yuck---) & they HAD TO join the military it was their school they were the pupils living there and away from home to these monsters.
Their philosophy as a society, Spartans were based on the bees I believed.
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Boys joined the military for their basic education of read & writing also using weapons. They were raped by the military leaders & to my understanding, with no exception(yuck---) & they HAD TO join the military it was their school they were the pupils living there and away from home to these monsters.
Their philosophy as a society, Spartans were based on the bees I believed.
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-jessefisher1809
Spartas problem was it couldn't mint new citizens, and also those citizens who found themselves impoverished due to no fault of their own. were stripped of citizenship. The overall population increased, the only thing that decreased was the nobility ( which is what the 'citizens' really were.
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Spartas problem was it couldn't mint new citizens, and also those citizens who found themselves impoverished due to no fault of their own. were stripped of citizenship. The overall population increased, the only thing that decreased was the nobility ( which is what the 'citizens' really were.
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-robertsansone1680
I remember reading that the Spartan birth rate began to fall off. If I remember correctly, they only had a quarter to a third of the soldiers at the end of their dominance that they had at their peak. This is what happens when you only reproduce with a small selection of people.
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I remember reading that the Spartan birth rate began to fall off. If I remember correctly, they only had a quarter to a third of the soldiers at the end of their dominance that they had at their peak. This is what happens when you only reproduce with a small selection of people.
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knowledgia
Even without the military defeats mentioned here there was: -
- constant population decline due to strict selection and zero immigration-
- unchecked concentration of wealth in very few hands-
- a rigid and violent death cult instead of culture and education
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Even without the military defeats mentioned here there was: -
- constant population decline due to strict selection and zero immigration-
- unchecked concentration of wealth in very few hands-
- a rigid and violent death cult instead of culture and education
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knowledgia
Spartan soldiers had very good soldiers t it-s just dumb when you think that you had 300 warriors with a military alliance and you bet 100k soldiers you would succeed with only a couple 1000 soldiers in your empire against the world and like a bunch a Roman soldiers
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Spartan soldiers had very good soldiers t it-s just dumb when you think that you had 300 warriors with a military alliance and you bet 100k soldiers you would succeed with only a couple 1000 soldiers in your empire against the world and like a bunch a Roman soldiers
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-Aabergm
I'm trying to decide if you are pronouncing Thermopylae correctly and know your stuff. Then I remembered the internet exists. How can you get such a historically important place name wrong and expect any level of credibility.
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I'm trying to decide if you are pronouncing Thermopylae correctly and know your stuff. Then I remembered the internet exists. How can you get such a historically important place name wrong and expect any level of credibility.
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-zt3117
If it was this ancient Greece. In the region of today's Albania and Epirus Were the Illyrians? The Illyrians have the same race as the Albanians. What is happening can someone tell me? Someone who knows. -Btw i love Greece.
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If it was this ancient Greece. In the region of today's Albania and Epirus Were the Illyrians? The Illyrians have the same race as the Albanians. What is happening can someone tell me? Someone who knows. -Btw i love Greece.
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-drpk6514
They were savage war-like people who lived based on wars and looting others and enslaving other nations to grow food for them.
They even killed their own children if they didnt look good enough to become a soldier.
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They were savage war-like people who lived based on wars and looting others and enslaving other nations to grow food for them.
They even killed their own children if they didnt look good enough to become a soldier.
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-BruceWayne_87
They fought and destroyed Persian Empire so they can killed one another. What a wasten! And they-re too busy they didnt noticed the upcoming threat from Italy the romans legion.
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They fought and destroyed Persian Empire so they can killed one another. What a wasten! And they-re too busy they didnt noticed the upcoming threat from Italy the romans legion.
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-Hairy_foot117
Honestly when I discovered that they killed kids at birth for defects but sent beautiful women to serve men with leprosy to fulfill there needs made me hate them.
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Honestly when I discovered that they killed kids at birth for defects but sent beautiful women to serve men with leprosy to fulfill there needs made me hate them.
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-pranjalhifi1
300 vs 200000 was a myth. Good only for making movies unless all the Persians had too much Biryanis in lunch and were suffering from stomach upset -
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300 vs 200000 was a myth. Good only for making movies unless all the Persians had too much Biryanis in lunch and were suffering from stomach upset -
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-paulibaer_206
The analysis solely focusses on the military failures and not about the stagnating culture, politics and society that lead to Spartas demise.
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The analysis solely focusses on the military failures and not about the stagnating culture, politics and society that lead to Spartas demise.
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-justinheads5751
I don't think I've ever watched something about ancient greece where the narrator was this bad at pronunciation of greek nomenclature. lol
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I don't think I've ever watched something about ancient greece where the narrator was this bad at pronunciation of greek nomenclature. lol
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-moohHa22
I tried but my goodness you-re too articulate for me, most of it went right over my head. I think I-ll have to seek out -Spartans for Dummies- -
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I tried but my goodness you-re too articulate for me, most of it went right over my head. I think I-ll have to seek out -Spartans for Dummies- -
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-patricknoonan3610
How many future solders did they waste? For example, Was it for every 4 males only 1 passed. or Maybe 2 out of every 4 at best?
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How many future solders did they waste? For example, Was it for every 4 males only 1 passed. or Maybe 2 out of every 4 at best?
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-mattoverbey410
I didn-t think that it is possible to mispronounce so many words. Really? Even -they -repealed- the Persian invasion-?
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I didn-t think that it is possible to mispronounce so many words. Really? Even -they -repealed- the Persian invasion-?
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-davenci4778
You talk as if all you say is fact. From other sites it is still unknown what happened to the kids they deemed unfit.
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You talk as if all you say is fact. From other sites it is still unknown what happened to the kids they deemed unfit.
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