Sparta was one of the most powerful polis in ancient Greece, along with Athens and Thebes. Already mentioned in the Iliad, in the 7th century BC, Sparta became the dominant power in its region. In the 5th century BC it played an important role in the Medical Wars but in 371 BC it lost its hegemony as a result of the defeat against the Thebans at the Battle of Leuctra. Sparta was characterized by its social system and constitution, which were completely focused on military training and excellence. Classic Greece