To say that the Persian War – particularly the Battle of Thermopylae – is the single most defining moment in the history of Sparta would not be too far-fetched. Certainly, the decisive battle against the Persians in this mountain pass was not the only achievement of Sparta. However, it was in this particular instant that the warriors of this fierce nation were immortalized in the history of Western civilization. For many, Thermopylae is a symbol of bravery and determination in the face of insurmountable odds. Though the battle left scores of Spartans dead and their king’s corpse desecrated, it was a victory – Thermopylae gave Athens enough time to mount a successful campaign against the Persians in Salamis.
But the Battle of Thermopylae is merely the tip of the iceberg. The Spartans played a crucial role in the defeat of Xerxes and his Persian army in the 2nd Greco-Persian War. More significantly, it was a war that not only asserted Spartan strength, but also redefined Sparta as a nation. How did the 2nd Greco-Persian War transform Sparta? This paper posits that the outcome of the 2nd Greco-Persian War forced Sparta to assert its dominance over other Greek states. The Persian War revealed deep fissures in the Greek alliance, leaving Sparta and the more dominant Athens at odds over Hellenic leadership. To prove this transformation brought about by the Persian War, this study shall present a comparative look at Sparta before and after their victory against the Persians.
The Spartans are best known as silent yet fierce warriors. They are often depicted as the manliest of men in ancient Greece; the fearless warriors who would rather die than surrender despite insurmountable odds. The truth, however, may not be exactly similar to the clockwork perfection that romanticists have come to attach to Sparta. First of all, Sparta had a problematic political structure. Though certain aspects of the nation’s law-building facet seemed quite similar to democracy, in truth, Sparta was an oligarchy in action, if not in name (Powell, 2001, p.102).
Though all men had the right to vote in significant issues, the wealthy had enough means to subvert these votes through economic and political connections. Sparta, though noted as a hallmark of discipline, actually had problems with corruption. Moreover, its internal issues did not end with the political structure. Sparta had one of the largest slave populations in ancient Greece and they were in constant fear of internal strife. The primary concern of Sparta at all times, therefore, was the containment and prevention of riots and rebellion from their slaves, the Helots (Powell, 2001, p.98). This internal situation is a common consideration that shaped Sparta’s foreign policies.
Despite its political shortcomings, however, few can negate the uniqueness of Sparta’s dedication to education and military superiority. Aristotle famously noted that military prowess was the central most significant value in all of Sparta (Powell, 2001, p.100). What is notable, however, is that education – even military training – was not limited to the men of Sparta. They are literate, athletic and proprietors of business; while the Spartan men are away in battles, the women remain and keep the nation intact. In fact, women were expected to be just as stoic and courageous as their male counterparts, whether on the battlefield or in defense of their homeland (Lefkowitz, 2003, p.B08).
Indeed, the most haunting figure in Spartan literature is the fearless mother, whose words “with it or on it” refer to a departing son’s return from the battlefield. The son is expected to either return a hero with his troops (deserting his shield means deserting his comrades) or dead atop his shield. Death was likely for the men of Sparta, and neither they nor their loved ones shirked this duty to the state (Lefkowitz, 2003, p.B08). It may be said that Sparta was a nation of contradictions. Enlightenment and equality, on one hand; slavery and warfare on the other – Sparta was ahead of its time, and yet quite backwards as well.
Most significant of all, Sparta was highly internalized. Its focus was mostly concentrated on keeping the “captive people” – the Helots of Messene – under Spartan control. Though the Spartans believed themselves to be superior in military and intellectual strength over most non-Greek tribes (Powell, 2001, p.98) they did not assert leadership over the Greek alliance. In fact, Sparta remained quite reluctant to join forces with the other nations, primarily due to their own internal problems, i.e. the Helots. Fear of a Helot uprising prevented Sparta from becoming more active in the alliance, leaving the leadership role in the hands of Athens.
The Greco-Persian War, however, changed everything. Since the Spartans refused to venture too far away from their territory, the decisive battles that defeated the Persians were led by the Athenians. True, the Spartans were able to cement their fierce reputation in the historic Battle of Thermopylae. But the crucial Battle of Salamis was won by Athens. This gave Athens an edge over Sparta, making it the leader of the Greek alliance. Soon enough, Athens was expanding, growing its empire with such speed and success that it was sufficient to make even isolative Sparta uncomfortable. As Athens took over Thouria, Samos and Amphipolis, Sparta readied itself for an opportunity to defeat its rival (Powell, 2001, p.127).
As such, the transformation of Sparta can be seen. Though Sparta had a rather violent and warlike reputation, in reality, it was most unwilling to venture farther beyond its borders because of its own internal issues. The 2nd Greco-Persian War, however, changed the political dynamics in Greece. With Athens looming overhead, Sparta, as the historian Thucydides explained, was forced to attack. Sparta’s victory over Athens, however, was a short one. As the state began to overextend its rule over the Greek states, cracks in the political system began and caused Sparta’s eventual downfall. Such is the crucial role of the 2nd Greco-Persian War in the meteoric rise and fall of Sparta.
References:
Kennell, Nigel. The Gymnasium of Virtue: Education and Culture in Ancient Sparta. NC:
University of North Carolina Press, 1995
Lefkowitz, Mary. Being Spartan; Celebrating Discipline, Ancient Culture.” The Washington
Times 24 August 2003: B08
Powell, Anton. Athens and Sparta: Constructing Greek Political and Social History from 478
BC. London: Routledge, 2001
