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Universally admired in 479 BC, the Spartans were masters of the Greek world by 402 BC, only for their state to collapse in the next generation. What went wrong? Was the fall of Sparta inevitable? Philip Matyszak examines the political blunders and failures of leadership which combined with unresolved social issues to bring down the nation – even as its warriors remained invincible on the battlefield. The Spartans believed their constitution and society above the changes sweeping their world, and in resisting change, they were eventually overwhelmed by it. Yet this is also a story of defiance, for the Spartans refused to accept their humiliation and-although never more than a tiny and underpopulated city-state-for many years their city exercised influence far beyond its size and population. This is a chronicle of political failure, but also a lesson in how to go down fighting. Even with the Roman legions set to overwhelm their city, the Spartans never gave up. Sparta: Fall of a Warrior Nation tells a seldom-told tale, yet one rich in heroes and villains, epic battles, and political skulduggery.

Reviews:

“Matyszak closes with some comment on the influence of Sparta’s institutions more recent political thought, notably Nazism. A good read for anyone interested in Greek history or the fate of nations.” –“The NYMAS Review”

“Noted Classicist Matyszak follows his Sparta: Rise of a Warrior Nation with this account of why the seemingly invincible Sparta failed as a great power, ultimately becoming the ancient world’s equivalent of a theme park. […]Sparta: Fall of a Warrior Nation is a good read for anyone interested in Greek history or the fate of nations.” –“StrategyPage”

I’ve got a few books from the author, he has a really entertaining writing style, the book is dabbled with humour as well as historical narrative. I read both this and the follow up book in the space of 4 days so managed to keep my attention. There are certainly more detailed and academic books on Sparta around but as an introduction it’s great.

Philip Matyszak: Ancient history has been my job and my hobby for the last 30 years. I spend a lot of time immersed in the world of antiquity, and whenever I come up a story or an idea that I would like to share with the rest of the world I write about it. At other times, when there’s some information I want, and there’s no readily available book that offers this, I write that book too. Some of my students (I also teach) have never before been introduced to the ancient world. It’s a fascinating place, as different as any alternative universe, but real. I always get excited by exploring there, and there’s always something new to find. At various times, I’ve lived on three different continents, and spent several wonderful years in Italy living right on top of the material I was writing about. I’m now in Canada with a home deep in the mountains of British Columbia, but there’s a part of me that is still in Rome lurking in the shadows of the ancient forum.