What made Spartans extremely dangerous?

Spartan society was entirely focused on military prowess, unlike other Greek city-states that balanced art, culture, and warfare. 🤫🙄

The Spartan military training, known as 'agoge', began at age 7 and continued throughout a man's life, creating a society of lifelong soldiers. 🤐🥶

Brutal physical conditioning was a cornerstone of Spartan training, including exposure to harsh elements, minimal clothing, and constant exercise they also enforced obedience and discipline. 😤🔥

Here's a fun fact: 90% of Sparta's population were slaves. No wonder they needed an army on steroids - they were paranoid about revolts 24/7. 😱🔗

Plot twist: Spartan women had it pretty good. They could own property, get educated, and even cheat on their husbands. All so the men could focus on their biceps, I guess. 💁‍♀️📚

The phalanx formation, perfected by Spartans, made them formidable on the battlefield, as seen in battles like Thermopylae. Contrary to popular belief, Spartans didn't always win. Their rigid training sometimes led to a lack of tactical flexibility. 🎲❗

Sparta's focus on creating elite warriors came at the cost of other skills, limiting their ability to sustain long campaigns or occupations. All that muscle was useless when it came to actually running an empire. 🌍🤦‍♂️

The Spartan reputation for military excellence was partly due to their performance in key battles, but also significantly enhanced by later historical accounts and myths. ❌✅

📝 SOURCES: https://pastebin.com/Ufn9qhS5