“One of the best books about the ancient world I’ve ever read. . . . lively and informative.” —Toy Solder & Model Figure For a period of some 200 years, Sparta was acknowledged throughout the Greek world as the home of the finest soldiers—Xenophon called them “the only true craftsmen in matters of war.” In this book, Nic Fields explains the reasons for this superiority, how their reputation for invincibility was earned (and deliberately manipulated), and how it was ultimately shattered. The Spartan Way examines how Spartan society, through its rigid laws and brutal educational system, was thoroughly militarized and devoted to producing warriors suited to the intense demands of hoplite warfare—professional killers inculcated with the values of unwavering obedience and a willingness to fight and die for their city. The role of Spartan women, as mothers and wives, in shaping the warrior ethic is considered, as are the role of uniform and rigorous training in enhancing the small-unit cohesion within the phalanx and the psychological intimidation of the enemy. The final chapters chart the course of Sparta’s successes through the period of the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, through the Corinthian and Theban wars of the fourth century BC, which culminated with the shattering military defeats at Leuctra and 2nd Mantinea, and the years of her decline with the Spartans as a source of mercenaries for the wars of other states. Includes maps

New York Times bestselling author Joe De Sena, founder and CEO of Spartan, the global health and wellness platform, leader in obstacle racing, and executive producer of NBC’s television show Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge, challenges you to live The Spartan Way. Determined to yank 100 million people off their couch cushions to start living instead of being passive observers of life, Joe De Sena has one ultimate goal: to help improve everyone’s physical and emotional health by teaching them the tenets of Spartan living from ancient Greece: simple eating, smart training, mastering resilience, and an all-out commitment to achieving a goal. Like Spartan training, living The Spartan Way requires endurance to reach your finish line, the goal that inspires and drives you to succeed no matter what obstacles are thrown in your path. De Sena believes you can gain that endurance in just thirty-six days by following the ten Spartan Core Virtues, timeless principles to help you embrace adversity and overcome any challenge, and making them a permanent part of your own personal core. The Spartan Core Values include: Self-Awareness—Know yourself Commitment—Be dedicated Passion—Discover your purpose Discipline—Practice diligence Prioritization—Put your house in order Grit—Push your limits Courage—Face your fears and your failures Optimism—Look for the positives Integrity—Act honestly Wholeness—Live as a Spartan De Sena turned this philosophy into a lifestyle—and so can you. With The Spartan Way, you’ll discover your true north, unleash the warrior within, and transform your life to 10X your maximum potential.

“[A] monumental history . . . explaining . . . how Sparta’s early strategic role in the Greek world was inseparable from the uniqueness of its origins and values.” (David Hanson, The Hoover Institution, author of The Other Greeks) For centuries, ancient Sparta has been glorified in song, fiction, and popular art. Yet the true nature of a civilization described as a combination of democracy and oligarchy by Aristotle, considered an ideal of liberty in the ages of Machiavelli and Rousseau, and viewed as a forerunner of the modern totalitarian state by many twentieth-century scholars has long remained a mystery. In a bold new approach to historical study, noted historian Paul Rahe attempts to unravel the Spartan riddle by deploying the regime-oriented political science of the ancient Greeks, pioneered by Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato, Xenophon, and Polybius, in order to provide a more coherent picture of government, art, culture, and daily life in Lacedaemon than has previously appeared in print, and to explore the grand strategy the Spartans devised before the arrival of the Persians in the Aegean. “Persuasive.” —Thomas E. Ricks, New York Times Book Review “Rahe thinks and writes big. . . . The Spartan Regime breaks important new ground.” —Jacob Howland, Commentary “An important new history. . . . The story of this ancient clash of civilizations, masterfully told by Paul Rahe . . . provides a timely reminder about strategic challenges and choices confronting the United States.” —John Maurer, Claremont Review of Books “Rahe’s ability to reveal the human side beneath [an] austere exterior is one of many reasons to read this beautifully written, meticulously researched, and deeply engaging book.” —Waller R. Newell, Washington Free Beacon “A serious scholarly endeavor.” —Eric W. Robinson, American Historical Review

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, named 'the outstanding children's non-fiction author of the 20th century' by Books For Keeps ____________________ Darius has been orphaned by the plague in Athens. To escape the sickness he runs off to join his Uncle Alcmaeon, who is a general with the Spartan army. But to the arrogant and ruthless Spartans, he is as worthless as a mouse. Then his uncle falls sick. Can Darius can find a cure? And will he ever feel at home in Sparta? Terry Deary's Greek Tales explore the world of Ancient Greece through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. These stories feature real people and take place in some of the most recognisable Greek settings. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period. ____________________ 'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical.' Books For Keeps

Why Most People Will Never Be Great The world we are living in today is a toxic place. Modern society is soft, unfit and mentally weak...And there is so much dissatisfaction with life. If you're reading this I know you probably want more from life. Save Yourself From Destruction - The Spartan Way The Spartans will be forever known as strong warriors, with a simple philosophy of life. Their heroic legacies live on through films and stories. But modern society has fallen far from them. We are now infected with worriers, wimps and whiners. Of course we no longer live in the days where our heads could be decapitated by an axe wielding enemy. But there are still wars to fight. Not wars against armies but wars against our demons and struggles. There is a lot to learn from The Spartans They were born with nothing in a harsh world thousands of years ago. But that didn’t mean they would become no one. By building a better mind, body and living the Spartan way you'll become a stronger and a better person for this life. Whether you're an executive seeking to climb the ladder or a student pushing towards better grades. You could even be a parent looking to guide their children. This book will help to succeed, make you stronger and teach you much more. Inside you will discover Spartan Mental Toughness - Lessons from The Legendary Warriors The Real History of The 300 Spartans How to Build an Aesthetic & Lean Spartan Body! (no gym required) Warrior Secrets to Staying Motivated, Strong & Persistent Spartan Life Principles To Live By For A Successful & Happy Life And much, much more... Now you could stay in bed all day watching TV and that's just fine. But that's a below average life and it's not going to make you happy....You have to dare to be great! Live your legacy, the Spartan Way. Let's begin now.

The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC), waged between Athens and Sparta and their respective allies, involved some of the most important developments in ancient warfare. A life-and-death struggle between the two most powerful Greek city-states in the wake of their combined successes against the Persian invasion of Xerxes in 480–479 BC, the conflict dragged in communities from all over the Greek world on one side or the other. Ranging from the Black Sea to Sicily, the war saw the first recorded widespread use of light-armed troops, reserves, the deep phalanx, and other ideas important for the development of Western warfare into the 4th century BC, such as strategic thinking. It also revealed lessons (some learned and some not) with respect to the strengths and weaknesses of hoplite warfare and the various states in Greece. Featuring full-color artwork and drawing upon an array of sources, this study of three pivotal clashes between Spartan and Athenian hoplite forces during the Peloponnesian War highlights all of these developments and lessons.

Two thousand years ago, ancient Sparta developed a training system called the Agoge that produced the fiercest warriors the world had ever seen. It was said that one Spartan soldier was the equal to four enemy soldiers, and Sparta's system was the envy of the known world. Can't get around the facts. I'm a lethal government operative, trained from an early age. Guns, planes, hands-didn't matter, I'm proficient with them all. I'm irrationally drawn to Raisa Sokolov, a beautiful, mysterious Russian woman thrust into my life through a bizarre set of circumstances. Thirdly, certain experiences haunted me more than Moby Dick vexed Ahab. Could I function effectively in light of everything I'd seen and done? Should I take the CIA's warnings about Raisa seriously? Fast forward to April 1967. The United States was in crisis, younger generations revolting after years of war in Southeast Asia. A desperate President Johnson signs off on a program designed to find the best and brightest among America's youth, children who could be taught from an early age to embrace devotion to the country. A program that eerily resembled that of Sparta's. Seven-year-old Damon Harker, who possesses extraordinary mental and physical skills, is among those chosen. His parents grudgingly give permission for Damon to enter this new "educational enhancement" program, ignorant of its military bent. Damon is forced to lie to them about what he is really doing, which tears at his psyche. As Damon grows he and his fellow "Spartans" are pushed into hostile environments as their handlers test them to gauge the effectiveness of the training. Damon's military prowess is called upon again and again, his skills and intelligence enabling he and his team of covert operatives to complete seemingly impossible missions. But are his handlers treating him more like a machine than a person, downplaying the psychological toll these operations are taking on a young boy / man? While dealing with past memories, Damon must confront a monstrous evil in his hometown, where he meets the beautiful, mysterious Raisa Sokolov, seven years his senior. He engages soldiers of the shadowy Lashkar Legion, suffering grievous injuries in the process. Raisa is tasked with helping nurse him back to health, but can she be trusted, or is she not exactly what she seems? The CIA harbors many suspicions about her, but is mercurial CIA officer Steve Tolliver a friend or foe?

Examines the use of mythology to justify conquest and colonization across the Spartan Mediterranean in the archaic and Classical periods.

Jean Ducat is the leading French authority on classical Sparta. Here is what is likely to be seen as his magnum opus. Ducat systematically collects, translates and evaluates the sources - famous and obscure alike - for Spartan education. He deploys his familiar combination of good judgement and uncompromising recognition of the limits to our knowledge, while drawing at times on aspects of French structuralism. This book is likely to become the definitive reference on its subject, while also informing and provoking the future work of others. Sparta was admitted by Greeks generally, even by its Athenian enemies, to be the School of Hellas. Ducat's work is thus a major contribution to our understanding of Greek ideas, and indeed to the history of education.

This work presents a new critical edition of The Spartan Constitution, a treatise in state philosophy attributed to the historian Xenophon (c. 430 - c. 355 B. C.). The Greek text, reconstructed on the basis of extant manuscript sources, is prefaced by an introduction and supplemented by a critical commentary and an English translation. The introduction discusses the problem of the text's authenticity and dating and provides a comprehensive account of its sources, reception, language, style and structure as well as an analysis of the manuscript sources and the textual tradition. The commentary addresses linguistic as well as historical problems.