The rulers of the city-state of Sparta in Ancient Greece were supposedly descended from the legendary hero Heracles, who tackled opponents vastly superior in strength and remained undefeated. Heracles' feats were echoed in the victories of Sparta and its Peloponnesian League over the mighty Persian and Athenian empires during the 5th century BC. The first settlements at Sparta can be dated back to c.950 BC. Its territory eventually expanded to include the entire southern portion of the Peloponnese. From 550-371 BC, Sparta was the predominant military power in Greece. During this time, it fought and won ten major pitched land battles. It also won undying fame for the stand of the three hundred at Thermopylae. Even a steady decline in Spartiate numbers, aggravated by a terrible earthquake in 464 BC, failed to end Spartan dominance. Only when the Thebans learned how to defeat the massed Spartan army in pitched battle was Sparta's military power toppled. Scott Rusch's book focuses on the reasons for Sparta's rise and fall from power. It provides vivid descriptions of battles and campaigns and detailed analysis of the Spartan army. Maps and illustrations throughout help to illuminate some of antiquity's most notable campaigns. AUTHOR: Scott Rusch studied Greek and Roman history at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his Ph.D. His dissertation explored Greek military operations during the Peloponnesian War, a valuable preparation for this work. He has written on ancient military history for many publications.
