Essay Database

The defeat of Persia in 479 BC could arguably be much attributed to Spartan leadership. However, it is vital to note that such leadership was not solely responsible for Greek triumph, nor was it immune to problems and limitations. Sparta's leadership could easily be said to have had a large impact on the war against Persia. According to Hammond, "The nucleus of power around which [the Greek congress] was built was the Spartan alliance...". Sparta could …

…placed them under threat of Greece's superior weaponry and battle technique. In addition to the mistakes made by the Persians, there were contributing factors that lay not in Spartan leadership but in Greek unity and its structure. It is possible to conclude that Spartan leadership was indeed a large factor in the defeat of Xerxes by the Greeks in 479 BC; however, limitations and other factors must also be considered when looking at the whole picture.