This original and compelling account of later Spartan history challenges the conventional misperception of Spartan 'decline' after the loss of her status as a great power on the battlefield in 371 BC.

Preface Maps Part I. Hellenistic Sparta, Paul Cartledge; 1. In the shadow of empire: Mantinea to Charonea 2. Resistance to Macedon: the revolt of Agis III 3. The new Hellenism of Areus I 4. Reform - or revolution? Agis IV and Cleomenes III 5. Sparta between Achaea and Rome: the rule of Nabis 6. Sparta from Achaea to Rome (188-146 BC) Part II. Roman Sparta, antony Spawforth 7. Sparta between sympolity and municipality 8. Sparta in the Greek renaissance 9. Pagans and Christians: Sparta in late antiquity 10. The Roman city and its territory 11. Local government I: machinery and functions 12. Local government II: the social and economic base 13. High culture and agonistic festivals 14. The image of tradition 15. Epilogue: Sparta from late antiquity to the Middles Ages Appendices I. The monuments of Roman Sparta II. Catalogues of magistrates III. Hereditary tendencies in the Curial Class IV. Foreign agonistai at Sparta