The Rise and Fall of Sparta - From Superpower to Tourist Attraction DOCUMENTARY

Learn about the Rise and Fall of Sparta as it went from ancient Greek superpower to Roman tourist attraction! The first 100 people to go to www.blinkist.com/invicta are going to get unlimited access for 1 week to try it out. You’ll also get 25% off if you want the full membership.
In this history documentary we recap the history of Sparta. This began long ago in the Bronze age which saw a rather glacial period of development that slowed even further in the Greek dark ages. However during the Archaic period a series of four villages eventually banded together to form a loose urban center that would later be called Sparta. They used their collective might to first dominate the local area, conquering the valley of Laconia before taking over neighboring Messenia over the course of the 8th and 7th centuries BC. During the 6th century BC it went on to undergo a series of reforms that saw the emergence of the Laws of Lycurgus and a more stark division between the citizen and non-citizen groups. This set the stage for Sparta to use its might to form the Peloponnesian League which collectively had the most powerful land army in all of Greece.
Thus in the 5th century BC, Sparta was able to take a commanding role in the Greco-Persian wars and truly shine in the battles of Thermopylae and Plataea. It would then go on to win the Peloponnesian War against Athens and become the master of Greece. This would be the pinnacle of its rise to power. However this would be fatally undermined by a cratering citizen population which soon led to a dramatic fall from grace. It would take several hundred years but eventually Sparta would be able to pick itself back up, this time as a tourist attraction dedicated to its glorious past. We cover the ways in which this occurred and its a fascinating look into an otherwise forgotten part of the history of Sparta.
Bibliography and Suggested Reading:
“Spartans: A New History”, by Nigel M. Kennell
“Hellenistic and Roman Sparta: A Tale of Two Cities” by Paul Cartledge and Anthony Spawforth
“The Credibility of Early Spartan History” by Chester G. Starr
“Sayings of Spartans” by Plutarch
"The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-heroes of Ancient Greece" by Paul Anthony Cartledge
S. Hodkinson, Property and Wealth in Classical Sparta (2000)
J. Ducat, Spartan Education: Youth and Society in the Classical Period (2006)
S.M. Rusch, Sparta at War: Strategy, Tactics and Campaigns, 550-362 BC (2011)
E. Rawson, The Spartan Tradition in European Thought (1969)
S. Hodkinson & I.M. Morris (eds.), Sparta in Modern Thought (2012)
Credits:
Research: Chris Das Neves
Script: Chris Das Neves
Narration: Invicta
Artwork: Beverly Johnson
#History
#Sparta
#Documentary

[@InvictaHistory]

We actually made a video tour of ancient Sparta in Assassin's Creed Odyssey with an actual historian as our guide: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKC9nIytmLBpqtU

[@Intranetusa]

Great video. However, Sparta was never a superpower. Even at the height of its power, it was more like a regional power - and even then, it still shared dominance of the region with Athens.

[@zutrue]

Yes I saw your ancient Sparta Assassin's Creed Odyssey video. The depiction of the Spartan peer drilling with sword in hand against a post was utter "whacked". Very little is actually known about Sparta...with certainty, but even so the glaring inaccuracy of that sword drilling depiction is glaring. And by the way even at the apex of Spartan power it never had anything even remotely as grand as other Greek cities. In the words of Thucydides, the look and layout of Sparta would never allow an observer to believe that was ever as powerful as it in fact was.

[@beepboop204]

@@Intranetusa I hope someone was fired for that error

[@AnonYmous-ob7py]

Actual actual actual actual actual

[@LordOfOblivlonI]

If I may ask for a video topic; what are logistics of night battles? Both for attacking and defending armies and how experienced need generals be to use the cover of night to their advantage? Thank you for your time and videos!

[@kevting4512]

Sparta then: "THIS. IS. SPARTA!" Sparta now: "Buy our replica spear and shield at the gift shops! Only 50 Denarii."

[@mushroo2453]

>incoming barbarians getting ready to invade Sparta >Sparta selling spears and shields for citizens >Citizens getting to defend Sparta

[@the_rover1]

"just today, our apollo day super sale: a brand new golden apollo statue in spartan hoplite gear for your attic. get it now for the charge of earth and water!"

[@Banzaiiii2223456]

And don't forget to stop at Capitoline Brotherhood of Millers, the only place that serves true Roman bread for true Romans

[@kevting4512]

@Aung Un'Rama tbf it fits cause Sparta would be a part of the empire, thus would be using Roman coins.

[@kurtschmidt5005]

Disney needs to make a Spartan ride!!!!

[@monadsingleton9324]

*And, two thousand years later, Roman civilization itself is a giant tourist trap.*

[@rahulvarma001]

Makes you wonder how today's super powers will be, after maybe 500 years

[@monadsingleton9324]

@@rahulvarma001 America is already a giant tourist trap, but it's still a superpower.

[@toni2296]

@@rahulvarma001 They are already tourist attractions.

[@phin3303]

@@rahulvarma001 dead

[@justinmartin4662]

Yeah, some places. But it’s not otherwise extinct like Rome is, or Sparta was when Romans resurrected it. Some day the US might be gone and people will travel to special places to dress up in jeans, some name brand shirt, Jordans and a cowboy hat. They’ll ride horses and harleys while shooting machine guns with gangster rap blasting then have barbecues while listening to country music.

[@starbreeze7249]

I always wonder how Sparta felt when Alexander was conquering the world, sending back gifts to "All the Greeks... except Sparta."

[@dimitrisg45]

Well I guess shit but not as shit as Thebes who got burnt to the ground for being traitors once more.

[@comradekenobi6908]

@@dimitrisg45 Macedonians: Bring the good old salpinx, boys, we'll sing another song Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along Sing it as we used to sing it, 30000 strong While we were marching through Boeotia Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the jubilee Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free So we sang the chorus from Thebes to the sea While we were marching through Boeotia

[@dimitrisg45]

@@comradekenobi6908 beautiful song . And I say Thebes deserved it 😂to burn to the ground

[@davidharris3728]

My guess is, very bitter. One of the greatest insults a former hegemon can be dealt, I imagine, is to be ignored.

[@eleftheriosmas]

from* all the Greeks. "Alexandros and the Greeks minus the Spartans" is the literal translation to the text.

[@user-ll9hb3sd8h]

Fun fact: Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komnenos restored the Spartan war-like tradition by creating a squadron called the "Lacedaemonians" composed of 10.000 elite warriors and if we believe Anna Komnena's Alexiad they were trained near Mystras (almost Sparta) following their traditional "agōgē" plus Byzantine generals at this time were encouraged to memorize the tactis of erlier Spartan kings most notable Agesilaus and Leonidas.

[@kosmasfostinis8017]

Μην λες Βυζάντιο να λες Ανατολική ρωμαϊκή αυτοκρατορία (ERE)... Βυζάντιο μας ονόμασαν οι Γερμανοί γιατί αυτοί είχαν "Αγία ρωμαϊκή αυτοκρατορία" ....

[@user-ll9hb3sd8h]

@@kosmasfostinis8017 Ήταν Έλληνες, είμαστε Έλληνες, ο κόσμος ήδη γνωρίζει πλήρως ότι ήταν οι ανατολικοί Ρωμαίοι. Πρέπει να αγκαλιάζουμε τον Ελληνισμό μας πιο συχνά.

[@duhtoolazy6776]

Can I get source?

[@user-ll9hb3sd8h]

@@duhtoolazy6776 The "Alexiad" of Anna Komnena, she tries to represent her father as a new Odysseus as the very title of her book shows.

[@Jamarkus_Delvonte]

Fun fact: black lives matter

[@miketacos9034]

Modern Greece: “We need more tourism!” Spartans: “I have an idea. Gimme that whip.”

[@garywhite7886]

Always were sick bastards , how many children had to die for their stupid shit ?

[@alangutierrez9359]

@@garywhite7886 they needed warriors not kids (this is a joke btw)

[@garywhite7886]

@@alangutierrez9359 I hope so lol ,where will your warriors come from ? basic mathematics .

[@notproductiveproductions3504]

Now if only we can get giant moving gold statues in Rhodes

[@soundslikeskrillex9799]

@Hernando Malinche I mean that’s true for a lot of civilizations though, “chivalry” for example was never a consistent code until after the age of knights was over and it started to get heavily romanticized.

[@awesomehpt8938]

Tourists? This is Sparta!!!!

[@sebione3576]

Come, enjoy our museum. It's at the bottom of this giant hole...

[@jinksomiabodyart3189]

Beginner history buffs "This, is Sparta?! 😄

[@dubuyajay9964]

Sir, this is a Wendy's.

[@willy102073]

And eventually, This is Sparti 😶

[@Mikko088]

I wonder how many people visit the modern town just so that they can yell that there. 😀

[@kiteracer]

My roots are from Sparta, I have family that still lives in Sparta, I’ve stayed in Sparta many times, and I can unequivocally tell you that there is nothing cool going on in modern day Sparta.

[@longyu9336]

Is there an army camp of the Hellenic Army at the very least?

[@tavernburner3066]

sparta 3.0 is the lowest-rated Sparta

[@kora4185]

I thought people were quite grumpy there but I was so excited anyway and the amount of freaking olive trees on the way there was like anything I ever seen, SO gorgeous!!!

[@savannahforsyth2942]

Hating your own people that much uh? Pathetic.

[@aaronbasham6554]

Perfect, now everyone knows that Sparta was the ancient equivalent of Disney Land

[@InquisitorThomas]

Yes, as we all know Disney employees a secret police force to randomly brutalize their slaves so they’re too afraid to rebel.

[@aaronbasham6554]

@@InquisitorThomas what do you think the walk around mascots are for?

[@jnliewmichael4235]

Wait, doesn't that make Sparta the Florida of the Greek world?

[@InquisitorThomas]

@@jnliewmichael4235 Florida man kicks Iranian Ambassador down a giant hole while shouting “THIS IS FLORIDA!”

[@jesseberg3271]

@@InquisitorThomas water table is too high for deep wells in Florida. Don't worry, the gators will take care of him.

[@LudosErgoSum]

I wanted to do the group tour to Thermopylae, but they were sold out. They had space for only 300.

[@VinchenzoC]

Oooooooooooooooooh!

[@NKuijlaars]

Please say this is a true story. If they actually had trips going to Thermopylae that were limited to 300 that would be so cool

[@rgllkendall]

They allowed 700 actors to join them though

[@mszalans4817]

I thought that you are talking about Efialtes ;)

[@aurail_a4534]

I heard the seleucids were quite eager to re-enact there Though choosing romans for Persians was quite anachronistic. Well at least they lost the battle in a similar manner to sparta

[@junkyardjoe1419]

So Sparta essentially was the middle-aged man who spent the rest of his life trying to relive his high school football glory days?

[@Mauther]

Alexios Bundy

[@-haclong2366]

Alos Bundyos.

[@ChenAnPin]

More like the middle aged dude bro who likes to flex and talk about that one or two awesome things his granddaddy during the war (pick whichever war) and how he honors that legacy with his gucci AR and molon labe shirt.

[@lsmmoore1]

I would think so. In that way, Sparta's not so different from some regions of the US that try to relive the former glory of the antebellum era, when they had plantations and slaves and, in their mind, everything was "genteel" (though there was nothing genteel about the way African American slaves were treated - medieval-style punishment props and literally pouring salt into whip wounds, among other things).

[@gaiusoctavius5935]

@A Velsen That's not racist though that is the truth whether or not you like it. Is the South as a whole racist? No. Do they want to go back to the good ol days? Yes. Not hard to figure out.

[@cruzaider5339]

"It do be like that sometimes" -Every civilization to ever exist

[@nunyabiznes33]

"That will never be me..."

[@cruzaider5339]

@@nunyabiznes33 "I won't disappear and get humiliated I'm sure of it " -China in the 1800's

[@arktzen]

@@cruzaider5339 - USA in 2021

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@cruzaider5339 China: "Westerners who? They all look barbarian to me."

[@cruzaider5339]

@@nunyabiznes33 "All westerners are to be expelled" Top ten famous last words

[@wargriffin5]

@12:50 Hey Roman parents! Do your children disrespect you? Talk back to you? Refuse to stand when you enter the room, or bring honor to the family name? Give them a one-way ticket this summer to the "Spartan Agoge for Troubled Kids!" (Disclaimer: The "Spartan Agoge for Troubled Kids" is not liable if your son returns slightly more gay than when he left. Prospective clients are advised: "Caveat Emptor.")

[@pitsinokaki]

😆😆😆

[@fallenbirch9784]

Why does stealing the cheese actually sound fun

[@beepboop204]

I like stealing, and I like cheese, so it is natural that it is fun for me to steal cheese.

[@the_rover1]

did they use _cheesy_ exploits to gain access to the temple? 🤭🙃

[@cageybee7221]

because, "take an objective on that hill and get a reward before anyone else" is an actual measured approach to training that isn't just trying to beat you into a super soldier.

[@barbiquearea]

The Spartans should have adopted a mouse as their mascot. Then they would truly be the Disneyland of the ancient world.

[@zeroibis]

In Sparta Land 3.0 they should bring back the steal the cheese attraction. However, the how many whips does it take to get to the center of a spartan is a crowd favorite.

[@KonekoEalain]

I also had no idea that Sparta became a big mock up of itself, very interesting. The antagonistic relationship of Sparta to the rest of Greece may have been why Phillip didn't bother to conquer them, better to have the threat of them force the rest of Greece into his hegemony.

[@coreyostrander1763]

My understanding was they where such a small power at the time that he just didn't think it was worth it. He did defeat them but they just didn't accept it. Sense their city was never attacked they where able to get away with it. They also did a revolt that got put down. Not sure if that was under phillip or Alexander tho

[@gianniskos300]

@@coreyostrander1763 So essentially, it's like expecting the USA to forcibly (militarily) conquer Serbia to integrate them onto NATO, to move against Russia, for modern day context, long story short, it wouldn't go well for them. People tend to confuse early Macedonian hegemony of Greece, which was always carried out in an enlightened and respective spirit towards their fellow Greek city states, with the Hellenistic Macedonian rule of Greece, that was carried out in an authoritarian and forceful fashion, mostly because the Greek city states had tremendously declined by that time and they had became really weary of Macedonian hegemony, which in turn lead to revolts to assert their independence in order to make their city states "great again", which the Macedonians saw as a betrayal to their common cause (against the Persians) and really tight bonds by that time, moving to quell such revolts under the pretext of preserving the status quo, but essentially spiraling into an increasingly authoritarian way of rule to preserve their grip over the Greek city states

[@GothPaoki]

He wrote a letter to them calling them to surrender detailing what he would do to them if he conquered their city and the godamn Madmen answered him IF... Realistically why would he want to juke it with these madmen?

[@thomasrinschler6783]

@@coreyostrander1763 Under Alexander. He was way to the east at the time, so his regent in Macedon, Antipater, put down the revolt. When Alexander heard of it, he called it "a battle of mice".

[@tylerdurden3722]

Technically, Phillip didn't really conquer Southern Greece. To use the word "conquer" is actually a big disservice to the true genius of Phillip. Phillip convinced everyone to join a an alliance (The Corinthian League). Which required some serious 5D chess skills. One of the methods Phillip used,was by forcefully taking and then redistributing Sparta's territory. Sparta had territorial disputes with everyone around them. These guys were extremely happy to receive those "gifts" for on Phillip. But, the only way they could possibly hope to defend those territories, was yo join j the League. Basically, everyone in Southern Greece was buttered up and made happy by Phillip at Sparta's expense (and also at the expense of Thebes). No one liked Sparta or Thebes😅. Even Athens was buttered up. For a short period, Phillip was so popular in Athens, that they built a huge statuein honor of him. That small windows of good favor was just enough for the Athenians to join the League competely willingly. (Athens held a vote and Phillip won by a landslide). Once inside the League, it was extremely difficult to leave, not because of force or threat. But because the rules of the League were very carefully crafted by Phillip. Phillip basically imprisoned Greece in a prison, thathad no walls and no guards. There was virtually no Macedonian military presence in Southern Greece...no forts or garrisons. Phillip, nor his army, never set foot on Athenian territory (this was very intentional...he needed their navy). Most people don't realize just how much of genius Phillip really was.

[@angela_merkeI]

"TONIGHT YOU DINE IN HELL...as most famous restaurant for traditional Spartan dishes! Come and try our black broth! And if you celebrate your birthday here, you'll get a Leonidas figurine extra!

[@neutronalchemist3241]

"every guest will receive the 'earth and water' gift pack".

[@jonbaxter2254]

Sparta: We have no walls! Pyrrhus: Looking in interest...

[@barbiquearea]

And he still got his ass handed to him.

[@jonbaxter2254]

@@barbiquearea He forgot his helmet that day...

[@thegermaniccoenus2525]

16:40 I didn't realize Sellasia was that close to Sparta. To those who are wondering, that was the sight of the battle where the Macedonian-Achaean armies of Antigonus III Doson defeated the Spartan army (armed in a Macedonian-style phalanx) of Cleomenes III. That was also the first time where Sparta was militarily occupied by a non-Spartan general (i.e Antigonus III)

[@connorgolden4]

Crazy how quickly one can go from being on top to an irrelevant backwater at the bottom.

[@canadious6933]

Kinda like England today. Half joke lol

[@northerncassowary8567]

@@canadious6933 they still have they Channel Islands, so not a total loss

[@barbiquearea]

Kinda like what happened to the Western Roman Empire and then to the Byzantines a millennium later.

[@kosmasfostinis8017]

Welcome to Greece 😅😅😅😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@kosmasfostinis8017]

@A Velsen ok dutchi what ever you say 🤣🤣🤣 careful in neighborhood 😉

[@greeses5482]

Curious and greedy tourists: *appear* Spartans: *I can milk you*

[@beepboop204]

milking in the happy way?

[@garywhite7886]

Milking by murdering children ? Where a you from ?

[@beepboop204]

@@garywhite7886 milking in the happy way?

[@garywhite7886]

@@beepboop204 Whats your problem ?

[@beepboop204]

@@garywhite7886 sobriety is my biggest problem (ง'̀-'́)ง

[@CG-yq2xy]

In between the final abandonment of the city and it's reestablishment in the 1800's, the inhabitants fled to the more fortified and mountainous peninsula of Mani. There they more or less maintained their own lifestyle isolated from the outside world. Last we hear of them is around the ~800's, where a bishop is sending them a letter to abandon their pagan ways and convert to Christianity.

[@piotrgrzelak2613]

Maniots lived off piracy and frequently rebelled against ottoman turks, and were notable for their part in the Greek war of independence iirc

[@vasilissirakos4090]

@@piotrgrzelak2613 Mani was the only part of Greece that was never conquered by the Ottomans.It had his own 'mpei' like a local warlord who at the Greek revolution of 1821 supplied most of the guns,ammunition and manpower

[@ReviveHF]

Should make a video about this

[@sikyr3329]

@@vasilissirakos4090 i think Sfakia remained unconquered as well, I might be wrong though

[@julianmarsh1378]

The city was destroyed in the third century A.D. if I remember correctly...by barbarians. The presence of barbarians produced something of a shield that protected the Greeks of old from the Byzantines and with that, from the advent of ugly Christianity. When the Byzantines took over Greece, they soon put an end to this remnant of Greek paganism.

[@legateelizabeth]

It's amazing how we see even ancient cities relying on a tourist economy ultimately doom themselves but we keep doing it.

[@beepboop204]

Elizabeth, ur pretentious!

[@Alkis05]

They were doomed way before they started relying on a tourist economy. Actually, what ended sparta was war, like many other communities.

[@FirstNameLastName-tg3rc]

A functional tourist economy can work, but it can also fail at the same time (Butler Model).

[@ThZuao]

That's because they hadn't found out about Gambling yet.

[@Alkis05]

@@ThZuao They knew about gambling, but it was forbidden. Not that they didn't do it, but it would never be an official and legally accepted institution, which limited it as business.

[@miketacos9034]

Earth and water. Oh you’ll find plenty of that in SPARTALAND! Everyone’s favorite Water Park!

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Tourist: "Where for Sparta?" Spartan: "THIS IS SPARTAAAA!" Tourist: "Ok, thanks."

[@IDK-bq8kp]

And the tourist is falled in the dead 😂

[@CursedDepartmentEastOffice]

The problem was Sparta didn't research or build the buildings required to train Horse Archers and Hellenic Cataphracts.

[@Intranetusa]

They also built buildings and implemented policies that had a negative buff on population growth, trade, and the economy.

[@beepboop204]

I understood this reference

[@DarkPsychoMessiah]

They relied on the phalanx while everyone else had ways to beat it

[@beepboop204]

@@DarkPsychoMessiah They told him, "Don't you ever come around here" "Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear" The fire's in their eyes and their words are really clear So beat it, just beat it

[@dimitrisg45]

@@DarkPsychoMessiah nah during the start of Peloponnesian war they replied on phalanx only ,but after seeing the catastrophic results of the peltasts they quickly adobted it by hiring thracian mercenaries . The downfall of Sparta was due to population decrease and the unwillingness of adopting ideas and thank God for that.... Prefer Macedon or Athens over Sparta to form the hellenic league 😂

[@ernstschmidt4725]

6:05 other cities: so... did you to beat down athens? sparta: yes other cities: what did it cost? sparta: everything

[@domanicsinger3355]

If they didn't rely so much on the phalanx and actually implemented more fighting tactics or even built fortifications for sparta they could have been a superpower for way longer than they were but they never had enough soldiers to fight rome but granted roman legions were what? 4 to 6 thousand troops nobody in Greece not even united could have held them off

[@charlesmiv3842]

@@domanicsinger3355 Greece valued quality of quantity. Hordes of lowly Romans vs the highest of Greek warrior aristocrats

[@domanicsinger3355]

@Zhong Xi Na i wish they did but due to poor command and defenses they fell after giving athens the roman special beat down

[@matousplacek6699]

"from a superpower to a tourist atraction" - that's pretty much any european country

[@michaeldiekmann6494]

Russia is in europe too. Part of it.

[@lucaslabarca]

@@michaeldiekmann6494 ain’t exactly the beast it used to be, now is it?

[@piotrgrzelak2613]

@@lucaslabarca idk, why is half of the world so bent out of shape for some silly peninsula then, for the last 5 years

[@Torus2112]

@@michaeldiekmann6494 Lenin's tomb has a gift shop.

[@lucaslabarca]

@@piotrgrzelak2613 cause is a war flashpoint, still Russia is nowhere near the level of power it once had

[@KTChamberlain]

Well, Homer did describe Sparta as a land of beautiful women. That alone would make me wanna go visit Sparta.

[@PackHunter117]

People have different preferences and views on beauty though. I thought the Greeks liked women with unibrows for example

[@Csanad121]

@@PackHunter117 the greek ideal of beauty can be seen in their idealised statues of the Gods and Godesses. Afaik none have unibrows

[@PackHunter117]

@@Csanad121 They also created the dreadlocks that you don’t see on their statues either.

[@BoxStudioExecutive]

@@PackHunter117 unibrows was a Roman thing

[@temptemp4174]

You would only visit for the gay sex and oil wrestling

[@MMALAB]

Nice Video. My father is from Sparta, he used to take me as a kid to the archeological sites of our city and teach me its history. From the old Sparta emerged Eleutherolacones "Free Laconians", a league, southern of Sparta, at Mani Peninsula, protected by the mountain range of Taygetus and the sea, in the territories previously owned by Spartans, in the form of a league, having old Sparta as an example", which was quite impressive and transformed to the glorious "Mani" and it's fierce citizens, which served as mercenaries in all European armies -as well as pirates, which never fell to any foreign power including Ottomans until the creation of the Modern Greek State 1830s. A small but important and underatted offshoot of glorious Sparta.

[@matiasrisatti670]

Idk man, a cheese stealing competition seems like more fun than an actual whipping

[@samiamtheman7379]

Yeah, but it doesn't make for as good a story as much as the idea that they were so badass that they took whippings.

[@jackalhead7433]

Spartan: "Hay Romans you're a violent bunch do you wanna see some serious sh**t violence? The old Spartan way??" Romans: *Nod frantically*

[@DanMcLeodNeptuneUK]

Thank you so much for this video! There's so much information about early Sparta and it's pinnacle, but little to no coverage of it's slow decline! Sparta's reputation lingered for much longer than it's actual political relevance.

[@satnav9699]

What if Caesar wasn't assassinated part 3 when ?

[@DT-lj1wr]

👀👀👀

[@sagagis]

This comment needs more recognation

[@Restitutor-Orbis]

I laughed at that 300 billboard dude haha. These new animations are awesome.

[@myopinionbetter4287]

Step 1 for having wider regional dominance for more than a handful of generations. Have more than a couple thousand citizens.

[@DarkPsychoMessiah]

Step 2, don’t send your tiny population to a decades long war of attrition against the rest of Greece

[@kakerake6018]

@@DarkPsychoMessiah step 3 incorporate more ppl into your empire through infrastructure and diplomacy

[@kylewilliams8114]

Step 4: Profit

[@Nolaris3]

Step 5, have some weird Italians idolize you and make you look way more significant than you actually are

[@mouadchaiabi]

Of all the foes that could have put Sparta to rest, it was the f***ing Visigoths who did it. Life can be cruel.

[@flightsimulatorlad6664]

sparta is the guy who peaked in high school

[@bobby_bretwalda]

So Roman Sparta was the Legion from Fallout NV?

[@dashiellgillingham4579]

Yes. The writers of New Vegas were drawing on a recurring trend in human history, wherein you see anti-democratic political forces try to create these highly fictionalized past societies where people were supposedly inherently 'stronger,' forces which get more horrifying the further back in history they imagine their utopia was. Sparta was an example of this just decades after it's fall.

[@valentinkrajzelman4649]

@@dashiellgillingham4579 ngl thats pretty cool

[@laisphinto6372]

Yeah the Legion in NV feels way more Like He combined Roman aestitcs with a Roman Spartan Tourist Guide because lets BE honest a real Fallout Caesar would have better Organisation and province Management than what the Legion in NV does.

[@Caseshells123]

There was no way to become a Spartan elite unless born into a family. They could not replace their loses. If they followed Rome army and allowed the best to join the ranks they be unstoppable

[@alessandrogini5283]

@Joey Wheeler agreed.. And roman empire made what alexander the great wanted

[@Alkis05]

That was not an intrinsic problem on itself, as long as you have an large enough population. In my view, their problem was political: the elite didn't have strong enough institutions to dominate the other classes. They were always in constant fear of rebellion. That fear influenced a lot of their policies, both internal and external. Besides, there were basically no self made men in antiquity in general. All elite was born into a family. That is what means to be a patrician or a noble. Competition between elites was already hard, plebeians couldn't really compete.

[@charlesmiv3842]

That's what adds to the mystique and exclusivity of the Spartans though. They didn't let just anyone in.

[@longyu9336]

Later in the Republic the Romans allowed any peasant or pleb to join, as they were very confident that their training could turn the lowliest farmer into a decent soldier.

[@peterdewell1143]

Words cannot describe how much I live and appreciate your channel. As a teacher of ancient history in high school, you are the conduit between the academic world and the high school/life long learner world. May you please just bite the bullet and do a series on the Greco Persian wars, battle and peace 500-440BC : )

[@Larsanator]

Explaining history in this fashion makes the timeline easier to comprehend, I find; well done and thanks!

[@derrikl12]

Almost 1 million subs! Way to go Invicta!

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

I am sorely disappointed, I walked into the city in full phalanx formation and no one stopped me

[@WardenOfTheGreatSaltLake]

I hate when that happens

[@Smokinlucretia]

Fascinating! Thank you, Invicta!

[@paauggie]

absoloutely brilliant - thankyou for posting

[@peenplays4219]

995k subs yesterday and 996k today! Keep putting out vids and we’ll get to a mil!

[@gamerman782]

"From superpower to tourist attraction". Isn't that nearly all of Europe?

[@lama99654]

The people of Europe (generally) live much better lives now then they did during the age of colonial empires, so it’s for the best.

[@zarzarbinks1705]

Modern Europe fights for resources with words and coin, rather than guns and steel. . . but things can change.

[@eljanrimsa5843]

Only 1 or 2 countries can be superpower at any given time. Building industry and commerce has always been the more reliable route to prosperity. Prosperity allows culture to flourish, and culture attracts tourists, that's not a bad thing.

[@lama99654]

@Hernando Malinche I would like to know what made lives more meaningful in the past

[@steelbear2063]

@@lama99654 Nothing, poor and suffering people always look for every little positive thing they can find to not go crazy. I saw a video of North Korean refugees who fled to South Korea and they had the audacity to say that people in the North are happier than the southerners who chase money. Like freaking what? If you were so happy, why did you escape?

[@edgarbernalsevilla6636]

Great video, Invicta. This really helps shed light on the creation of the modern myth of Sparta, which, as many historical myths in the present day, it all starts with Roman authors.

[@Warmaker01]

It may seem funny that Sparta became a theme park, but you do what you have to do to get by. Even the Romans when a general returned from a great victory or campaign, and received a Triumph: "A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting."

[@KhoiThai]

YES, another on Lakedaimon!

[@ZxZ239]

I LOVE this episode, can you do one for Venice? It was once a proud power that went toe to toe with the ottoman empire, but today it feels like Disneyland museum.

[@anthonypalo8191]

this is a great video. this is the only vid so detailed about Sparta post it's fall. Learned so so much!

[@SquirrelGrrl]

Super informative! Love this art style too!

[@Ryan-wx8of]

Sounds like Sparta serves as a warning against extractive economies.

[@miguelzavaleta1911]

Interesting take. Though the steppe hordes would pull if off with more success 1000 years later. Those too eventually collapsed, though.

[@ISawABear]

Man Thucydides just KNEW exactly what to say to convey a point even to modern audiences

[@brittneydesormeau9936]

Thank you so much for the help

[@JunguianPhantom]

Amazing documentary. I learned a lot of this "tourism" in Sparta

[@jansenart0]

Modern Sparti should rebrand as Sparta, and invite Dudebros from all over Earth to come live and lift. 60% of all whey protein on Earth should be consumed there. It should be a monument to muscle, and it could be accomplished through modern marketing.

[@windowsxp9120]

This, actually might work

[@jansenart0]

@@windowsxp9120 Knowing a few actual dudebros, I cannot imagine one ever saying "no" to this, especially if the accommodations are Olympic-village level.

[@nosupes929]

Cannot happen, were will we find the recourses to do such a thing

[@jansenart0]

@@nosupes929 I just said, marketing. You know how cheap it'll be to make training based on rocks and calisthenics? Open-air natural lifting. The idea prints its own money.

[@nosupes929]

@Zhong Xi Na !? -4000 social credit points for zhong xina

[@BroadwayRonMexico]

Sparta's decline happened because they were a nation of athletes and soldiers with no room for eggheads and strategists. They couldn't adapt to changing warfare, and started having mostly losing battles, with even their victories being mostly Pyrrhic since they couldnt replenish their ranks like other city states could due to their strict selectiveness (Athens on the other hand, lost a third of their population at one point due to a typhus outbreak and still remained a hegemon for some time). Strong naval power also became more important in Greek warfare and that was something Sparta could never really do well, so they relied on Corinth who were shaky allies at the best of times (they simply shared a common rival in Athens, and even then, Corinth threatened to side with Athens on a few occasions if Sparta didnt help them). During their brief period of hegemony they had over all of the Greek city-states, Sparta also managed to alienate the few allies they had. By the time of Macedon's ascendancy, they were an irrelevant backwater who nobody even really cared enough about to conquer They were the equivalent of the popular chad who was star quarterback on the high school football team, but ended up getting fat, is stuck in a crappy dead-end job, and his only friends are the regulars at the bar who like to listen when he reminisces

[@richardcharay7788]

Enjoyed, thanks!

[@MineSlimeTV]

Well I suddenly found out this place and channel, and I adore it so much!

[@jasepoag8930]

Why would you want to watch someone get whipped when you could watch what sounds like a potentially awesome game of cheese thievery?

[@jasepoag8930]

@Some thing seems like a display of tactics, physical strength, and agility would be more impressive. Plus I'm sure they're beating the hell out of each other with those sticks, so you'd think that would be enough for the blood thirsty. Watching torture just sounds boring once you get past it being horrific.

[@northerncassowary8567]

This statement just proves that we are better than our ancestors

[@ThZuao]

I'd say it's because tourists would go "pfft, anyone can do that" with the cheese thing. Torturing the shit out of your own people. Now that's original. Achieves fuckall phisically or militarily for soldiers. But it was low effort enough for them to try it, so they did and the people that built the Coliseum liked it, so that's that. They found the trick that gets people to come. Imagine how many idiotic gimmicks they tried before settling for that one.

[@kylewilliams8114]

@@ThZuao we'll see who can eat the most cheese without vomiting! We'll call it, Cheese Whipping! or maybe Reeds of Cheese... or maybe, uh, string cheese? To hell with it let's beat the shit out of someone.

[@ls200076]

@@kylewilliams8114 You, with that Germanic barbarian name. Come here, you want to make some boy?

[@vangelisskia214]

"GREEKS, Persians, Chinese and Japanese could be cited as examples of ETHNIC CONTINUITY since despite massive cultural changes over the centuries key identifying components such as name, customs, language and territorial association were broadly maintained and reproduced for MILLENNIA" Anthony D Smith, Anthropologist, Emeritus professor of Nationalism and Ethnicity

[@asklouie]

This is true, and the Greeks and Japanese might be the only people who understand this, because their Ethnos is tied to their homogeny. If you read the history of Agia Lavra, and the revolution of 1821, you will understand that. Unfortunately, Western Europeans and Americans don't study those events.

[@adharshmanikoth3381]

India too

[@royalrajput8127]

India was pioneer in this and still is

[@vangelisskia214]

@@royalrajput8127 India has a huge history but according to expert scholars on nationalism studies such as Smith, there is a lack of core components in order to speak of ethnic continuity for the case of the Indians. Common language is a core component for example. Indians never spoke a single language, but hundreds of different and totally diverse languages. This is not my personal opinion. This is what expert scholarship supports.

[@simpleman6352]

@@vangelisskia214 but they are following the same religion?

[@HerrKendys_Kulturkanal]

Wow I have never heard of this! Thank you

[@omarm803]

this channel is awesome as always

[@billychops1280]

I’m Spartan on my moms side and Macedonian on my dads so I’m Greek 100% so one thing I gotta wonder about is why are the Spartans depicted as being as dark or even darker than the Egyptians of Ptolemaic Egypt? In ancient texts there were 3 ways of describing the skin colour of people, and the ones that represented any shade of dark or tan had never been used to describe Spartans or Greeks all together in that matter in fact they were usually called fair skinned or in more specific cases “Ξανθός” (in modern day Greek meaning “blonde”) which back then didn’t have the same meaning as modern day Greek it meant white or pale compared to the Egyptians Persians and other surrounding nations and peoples. Another group of people who had the same skin colour would be those on the Italian peninsula and rarely comparisons would sometimes be made with the Celts as well although they were not nearly as common since the Celt were mostly way Paler that both Greeks and Italians/Romans.

[@FlippableFlappy]

Because Americans like to change history.

[@omegacardboard5834]

What depictions are you referring to?

[@billychops1280]

@@omegacardboard5834 like the ones in the video, and in other video like the extra history KZbin channel

[@moblinmajorgeneral]

Looking at it now, Romans visiting Sparta would probably have a similar reaction to people who visit places like historical Williamsburg. They could see well over 400 years in the past travelling to Sparta.

[@interestinglife934]

Didnt know a bunch of this stuff. Thanks

[@bloodandempire]

Awesome video 🥰

[@alaskaoalaska]

I was just reading Plutarch's biographies of Agis IV and Cleomenes III and they're some of the most underappreciated characters of antiquity, especially Cleomenes.

[@pitsinokaki]

This, so much. My dream is that one day someone would make a film about him, but of course it won't happen. 😛

[@cognitivedisability9864]

oh im this early, 108 viewers... god damn edit: GOD DAMN FAM YOU ARE NEARLY AT 1 MILL, LOVE IT! been with you since 300k I think

[@Alkis05]

Some one give this guy a freaking medal.

[@180Floridalife]

Welcome to Las Sparta… sounds like fun🤩. Great channel, excellent history thanks

[@Arborist5851]

Awsome video yet again

[@MarvinT0606]

Sparta was one of the last survivors of the Greek Dark Ages. Everything falls into place when you consider their existence was a response to the anarchy of that period. Athens represented not just a rival but an existential threat: Athens was the future, an all-encompassing polis that could prosper where Sparta cannot; and this is why Sparta had to fight. It won the war but became the one thing it was never meant to be: an empire.

[@concept5631]

Given that Athens is the capital of Greece and Sparti is just some city, its clear who won the rivalry.

[@fatjellyfish9478]

What's your source for sparta being the last survivors cause by default all of Greece were survivors of the Greek dark ages post bronze age collapse.

[@Lordboring1478]

Truly amazing, that "I" could find this after 36 seconds

[@beepboop204]

wuh?

[@tonygarcia-fd4sg]

AWESOME VID

[@RemusKingOfRome]

Excellent Video.

[@gian0giorg]

Actually, Sparta was never fully abandoned until 11-12th century. lt was the Latin occupation and the foundation of the nearby citadel of Mistras who contributed to the abandonment of the city. At the 1800s, after Greek independence, the newly found city of Sparta was populated by citizens of Mistras

[@robertwilliams-day320]

So basically Sparta became a theme park.

[@markisaac3550]

Thank for info

[@prestonyannotti7661]

Best documentary's on YT

[@MistahFox]

The "Cheese Stealing" tradition sounds a lot like how the Spartans from Halo trained. Maybe they took some of their methods from the real ancient Sparta and not the exaggerated mockery of itself it became.

[@lord_cataphract216]

Also cause a French archeiogist destroyed a large part of ancient monuments

[@thechosenone1533]

Wtf really? That is so sad.

[@Musicsage]

@@thechosenone1533 yes, look up Michel Fourmont

[@magnemerstrand2289]

You are by far my favorite youtuber!

[@brokenbridge6316]

Nicely informative video.

[@bilbomirkwood2157]

“Make Sparta great again”.

[@gbarberis7402]

Its so sad that Sparta lost her prestige,even in modern times Athens is the capital and Sparta is just a regional capital.

[@natetwehues2428]

Given how Sparta raised people, I'm more than happy to see it relegated to the back hall of history.

[@infinity8543]

@@natetwehues2428 Agreed.

[@Demicleas]

@@natetwehues2428 so you prefer the city that was filled with phedophiles and sexism over the militaristic but not phedphilic and sexist city instead? I'd much prefer Sparta be the captial over a city with such a evil legecy oh yeah also they commited gencioide the Athenians I mean they loved gencioide and war crimes and inslaving other Greeks.

[@andreidanilov9925]

@@Demicleas bro you’re arguing over things that havent been relevant for like 2000 years, chill

[@jtlol5]

@@Demicleas Your profile picture/name does not at all match the things you say.

[@chrisdjernaes9658]

Really Great Stuff 👍💪

[@peterroberts7684]

The Sparta of old ,was long diminished,well before the Roman domination of the Hellenic world,the rise of the power of Macedonia ,and it’s future God King Alexander the Great saw to that..The Spartans took Persian gold to be mercenaries for the Shah of Persia,and fought against Alexander,and in a defeat of the Spartans,Alexander sent back three hundred suits of armour back to Sparta ,as a way of saying how they had dishonoured their ancestors like that of King Leonidas ,by the Spartans siding with the old enemy of Greece..Enjoying the Channel,A👍👍👍up

[@aslanlovett4059]

Constantine the Last's brother Demetrius was in control of a city near the ruins of Sparta(Mystra) before the final fall of the Roman empire in the east.

[@thomasconstant9354]

Great vid that gives a lot to think, like capitals of former great European nation slowly turning into touristic attraction for Chinese (the Roman of this century). Also, talking about Roman imperial propaganda, depicting the Spartan with African looking icons is a great example of our own modern Imperial propaganda.

[@stealthboy5767]

I appreciate your informative commentary, And subtle ways or comedy (welcome to fabulous Sparta, what is your profession? LMAO. ) You don't force it down my throat like other KZbinrs, it's a crime I haven't subbed to you yet. Which has been fixed rn.

[@SirBalageG]

yay new video

[@nunyabiznes33]

Did they also set up brothels and casinos like Venice when it collapsed?

[@Reoh0z]

Tourist Trap Sparta? Aristodemus would pluck out his one good eye.

[@paulthegaull]

amazing dude

[@finsfan90]

Sooo close to a million subs!! You deserve it!!

[@Gabsboy123]

When you've built a reputation as a warrior society that held off the mighty Persians--and then a thousand years later your region will just be labelled for silkworms

[@user-ip8bw7gt2x]

Except that reputation wasn't all that real either...

[@jonbaxter2254]

Kinda sad, but every dog has his day...

[@sirlawbringer9123]

Calling it this video will bump them to 1 mil congrats!!!!

[@tommyodonovan3883]

That was really good.