Book 1: Chapter 12, The Influence of Sparta Summary and Analysis

Sparta influenced Greek thought in a practical way through the defeat of Athens. Its ideals were found in Plato while influencing Rousseau, Nietzsche, and National Socialism. Sparta was the capital of Laconia, or Lacedaemon in the South-eastern Peloponnesus. During their conquer the Spartans turned the population into serfs also called helots. They never cultivated considered as degrading and needed to be free for military service. Helots, who were mostly Greeks were forced to give away part of their harvest and rebelled. In response, Spartans held the war on helots each year to legally kill those whom they considered guilty. Also other free inhabitants had no share in political power.

Spartans were mostly occupied with war. They were raised and trained to participate in war to the extent that sick children were...