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'''Sparta''' was a [[Greece|Greek]] [[city state]] known for its military strength.  

'''Sparta''' was a [[Greece|Greek]] [[city state]] known for its military strength.  

An ancient city-state, its early history is clouded but it goes back to at least 1200 BC. They are known to claim that they are descended from the Greek hero [[Hercules]].{{fact}} Sparta was one of the two major regional powers through much of ancient Greek history, along with its chief rival [[Athens]]. Politically & culturally it was a military state in which its citizens enjoyed few amenities of life, hence the term spartan we use today denotes a lack of things, not poverty as such, simply a lack of things without a practical purpose. Although often in conflict or competition with Athens and some of the other city-states, their military strength was ultimately vital in protecting Greece from long term domination by outside threats and helping forge a single Greek nation. Even though Sparta itself had little use for art, music, philosophy and other non-military aspects of life, their strength helped preserve such things in Athens from destruction by outside powers (particularly the mighty [[Persian Empire]]).<ref>http://www.sikyon.com/sparta/history_eg.html</ref>

An ancient city-state, its early history is clouded but it goes back to at least 1200 BC. Sparta was one of the two major regional powers through much of ancient Greek history, along with its chief rival [[Athens]]. Politically & culturally it was a military state in which its citizens enjoyed few amenities of life, hence the term spartan we use today denotes a lack of things, not poverty as such, simply a lack of things without a practical purpose. Although often in conflict or competition with Athens and some of the other city-states, their military strength was ultimately vital in protecting Greece from long term domination by outside threats and helping forge a single Greek nation. Even though Sparta itself had little use for art, music, philosophy and other non-military aspects of life, their strength helped preserve such things in Athens from destruction by outside powers (particularly the mighty [[Persian Empire]]).<ref>http://www.sikyon.com/sparta/history_eg.html</ref>

A famous battle was fought at [[The Battle of Thermopylae|Thermopylae]] where a small band of Spartans and other Greeks held off the [[Iran|Persian]] army led by [[Xerxes]].<ref>http://www.sikyon.com/sparta/sparta_eg.html</ref>

A famous battle was fought at [[The Battle of Thermopylae|Thermopylae]] where a small band of Spartans and other Greeks held off the [[Iran|Persian]] army led by [[Xerxes]].<ref>http://www.sikyon.com/sparta/sparta_eg.html</ref>