Promotional Information

This pivotal history of the kings of Sparta not only describes their critical leadership in war, but also documents the waxing and waning of their social, political, and religious powers in the Spartan state.

Table of Contents

Illustrations, Maps, and Tables Preface Introduction Names and Terms Part I. The Dorian Wars 1. By Bus to the "Hollow" 2. "Tell the Spartans …" 3. The Sons of Heracles 4. The First Kings of Sparta Part II. The Messenian Wars 5. Over the Mountains 6. Shoulder to Shoulder 7. "Never Retreat" 8. Deeds of the Wolf 9. The Spartan Way Part III. The Arcadian and Argive Wars 10. The Spartan Alliance 11. The "Strangers" 12. The Accidental King 13. The King Who Saved Greece Part IV. The Persian Wars 14. The "Greeks" 15. Defeat and Victory 16. The Battle of Plataea 17. The Treason of Pausanias Part V. The Athenian Wars 18. The Precarious Entente 19. King Archidamos Gives Sound Advice 20. The Archidamian War 21. War within Peace 22. The Decelean War 23. The Man Who Would Be King Part VI. The Theban Wars 24. The Common King 25. "Free and Autonomous" 26. Sparta's Empire 27. The Battle of Leuctra 28. Sparta at Bay Part VII. The Macedonian Wars 29. The Struggle to Survive 30. In the Shadow of Great Powers 31. The Gentle Reformer 32. The Revolutionary 33. The Betrayal of Greece 34. The Last Kings of Sparta Part VIII. The Roman War 35. The Tyrant Who Was a King 36. Sparta under the Romans Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author

Alfred S. Bradford, PhD, is the John Saxon Chair of Ancient History at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK.

Reviews

Writing entertaining yet scholarly works on ancient history requires expertise, eloquence, and a dash of elegance. With this latest book, renowned scholar of ancient Sparta Bradford (Oklahoma) demonstrates all three. . . . It is a tale not to be missed.
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