THE SPARTAN HEGEMONY
Key:
Sources for the period
THE SPARTAN HEGEMONY (404BC TO 371BC)
Sparta’s role at the end of the Peloponnesian war:
Sparta had promised Persia the Ionian cities for its help in defeating Athens. This was a traitorous bargain, which subjected Ionian Greeks to Persian rule, and negated the victories of the Persian wars
Sparta suppressed democracies within the Greek city-states and replaced these with oligarchies. This was done with force
Lysander, a Spartan, was the hero of the Peloponnesian war. He planted a Spartan governor, or harmost, in the democratic cities and supported them with a garrison
Spartan rule was soon hated by garrisoned states. Unfortunately for Lysander, he also has his own political opponents in Sparta, who conspired against him. Harmost’s ruled with a local decarchy (local group of 10 oligarchs)
The Athenian navy had ben practically destroyed
Politically, the Board of Thirty in Athens organized an oligarchic government. The board of thirty behaved oppressively, authorizing arrests, executions, confiscations of property and the execution of opponents in Athens
The persecuted and pro-democratic Athenian exiles went to Thebes. There they planned attacks on Attica and eventually seized Piraeus, the harbor of Athens
Lysander then led the assault on the Athenian invaders to support the board of thirty. Conspiracy in Sparta overthrew his command, however, Pausanias replaced Lysander and reached a settlement with the rebels
By this settlement, the exiles were allowed to return to Athens and democracy was restored to Athens in 403BC
The Spartan commitment to hand over the Ionian cities to Persia was of concern to other Greek city-states. There was some hope with the death of Darius II in 404BC. His son, Artaxerxes II succeeded him. The younger son, Cyrus, was ambitious and asked for Spartan assistance to overthrow his brother
Sparta realized the potential in the situation: by helping Cyrus, Sparta might be rewarded. If successful. Persia might have
Sources for the period
THE SPARTAN HEGEMONY (404BC TO 371BC)
Sparta’s role at the end of the Peloponnesian war:
Sparta had promised Persia the Ionian cities for its help in defeating Athens. This was a traitorous bargain, which subjected Ionian Greeks to Persian rule, and negated the victories of the Persian wars
Sparta suppressed democracies within the Greek city-states and replaced these with oligarchies. This was done with force
Lysander, a Spartan, was the hero of the Peloponnesian war. He planted a Spartan governor, or harmost, in the democratic cities and supported them with a garrison
Spartan rule was soon hated by garrisoned states. Unfortunately for Lysander, he also has his own political opponents in Sparta, who conspired against him. Harmost’s ruled with a local decarchy (local group of 10 oligarchs)
The Athenian navy had ben practically destroyed
Politically, the Board of Thirty in Athens organized an oligarchic government. The board of thirty behaved oppressively, authorizing arrests, executions, confiscations of property and the execution of opponents in Athens
The persecuted and pro-democratic Athenian exiles went to Thebes. There they planned attacks on Attica and eventually seized Piraeus, the harbor of Athens
Lysander then led the assault on the Athenian invaders to support the board of thirty. Conspiracy in Sparta overthrew his command, however, Pausanias replaced Lysander and reached a settlement with the rebels
By this settlement, the exiles were allowed to return to Athens and democracy was restored to Athens in 403BC
The Spartan commitment to hand over the Ionian cities to Persia was of concern to other Greek city-states. There was some hope with the death of Darius II in 404BC. His son, Artaxerxes II succeeded him. The younger son, Cyrus, was ambitious and asked for Spartan assistance to overthrow his brother
Sparta realized the potential in the situation: by helping Cyrus, Sparta might be rewarded. If successful. Persia might have