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Study on the Athens and Spartans History

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Submitted By codyharper
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Ancient Greece was comprised of small distinctive city-states that occupied the coast of Asia Minor. The two most renowned city-states that rose to prominence in Ancient Greece were the Athens and the Spartans. Although they were able to acquire superiority in Ancient Greece, Athens and Sparta procured opposing values and lifestyles. The Athenians believed in excellence and heroism, and found science, philosophy, and intellectual pursuit to be intriguing. The Spartans were militaristic and concentrated on obedience. Thus, while Athens was in the process of transitioning from an aristocratic form of government to a democracy, Sparta was in the mist of training young boys and girls on endurance and loyalty to the state. Considering that Sparta was imbued with militarism, it fortified much of Ancient Greece's mainland.

Therefore, in 499 BC, Aristagoras, the tyrant of Miletus, scouted for assistance from the fellow citizens of Ancient Greece's mainland. Aristagoras instigated a rebellion against the Persians, because he persuaded the Persians to attack Naxos and the expedition failed. In an effort to protect his life and avoid retaliation from the Persians, he fomented a revolt against the Persians. He first approached the Spartans, since they were the most dominating city-state in Greece. The Spartans refused to aid Aristagoras so he then asked the Athenians. The Athenians agreed and sent twenty ships. The Athenians conquered the Lydian capital, Sardis; desecrating its lands completely. The Athenians returned to Athens, and the Persians dominated the remaining rebellious Greek city-states.

Darius I redeemed control over Persian Empire, and initiated an invasion of the Greek peninsula because of Athens engagement in the destruction of Sardis. The Athenians and Spartans were supposed to meet at Marathon in Attica in order to combat the Persians, but the Spartans

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