Sparta was a prominent city-state located in Laconia, situated in the southeastern Peloponnese region of ancient Greece. In antiquity, the state was known as Lacedaemon, while the name Sparta specifically referred to its capital. This capital consisted of a group of villages situated in the valley of the Evrotas River.
The city-state rose to prominence during the 7th century BC, becoming the most significant land military power in the Greek world. It maintained this dominant military status until it was eventually defeated at Leuctra in 371 BC.