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DA5. Rome vs. Sparta

Statement

Just like Greece, Italy was composed of several city-states. In Unit 3, you studied the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta and how Sparta came to dominate Athens and the other Greek city-states as well. Similarly, Rome also embarked on a journey to conquer and consolidate the cities in the Italian Peninsula as well as the neighboring kingdom of Carthage.

  • According to you, what were the similarities and differences between Sparta’s purpose in the Peloponnesian War and that of Rome against city-states in Italy and the city of Carthage?

Answer

Sparta was a Greek city-state known for its military-based society and its rivalry with Athens. The Peloponnesian War was fought between Athens and its Delian League allies against Sparta and its Peloponnesian League allies. Sparta’s purpose in the Peloponnesian War was to prevent Athens from becoming too powerful so it would not threaten them. Sparta won the war and the Athenian democracy was overthrown, but it was restored a year later. The war weakened Athens and the Greek city-states, and they were later conquered by the Macedonians under Alexander the Great (Boundless World History, 2022).

Rome, on the other hand, was a city-state that was part of the Latin League; it had grown later to become an enormous empire that lived for centuries. Rome fought on the offensive against other Italian city-states during the establishing phase of the Kingdom, but it also fought on the defensive when Hannibal of Carthage invaded Italy during the Second Punic War (Wellesley College, 2019).

The similarities between Sparta’s purpose in the Peloponnesian War and Rome’s purpose in the Italian Peninsula and Carthage may include that both city-states were of great military expertise and wanted to expand their territories. Both states had a strong rivalry with another state; it was the Athenians for Sparta and the Carthaginians for Rome. Both may had a defensive purpose in their wars, although their rivals were not necessarily a direct threat to them.

The differences may include that Sparta was fighting to prevent Athens from becoming too powerful and to spread its democracy, while Rome was fighting to expand its territories and establish itself as a dominant power in the region. Sparta was fighting to maintain the status quo, while Rome was fighting to change it. Sparta, after winning, did not destroy Athens and let them rebuild their democracy, while Rome destroyed most of the cities it conquered and put a Roman governor in charge. Sparta never expanded beyond the Peloponnese, while Rome expanded to become a global empire and superpower.

To conclude, and despite the differences between Sparta and Rome, there might be some similarities between the Peloponnesian War and Rome’s wars in Italy and Carthage. Both states won their wars and became local superpowers, but Rome’s expansion was much more significant and long-lasting than Sparta’s.

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