Traces the history of the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta, describes its distinctive military society and the unusual freedom of Spartan women, and discusses the influence which its culture has had on later civilizations.

Accompanies the PBS series The Spartans. Originally published as The Spartans: an epic history / London, 4 Books, 2002.

pt. 1.'Go, tell the Spartans' -- 1. Under the sign of Lycurgus -- 2. Sparta in 500 BC -- 3. Persian Wars, 490-479 BC -- pt. 2. Spartan myth -- 4. '50-year period', 478-432 BC -- 5. Women and religion - 6. Athenian War, 432-404 BC -- pt. 3. A crippled kingship -- 7. Spartan Empire, 404-371 BC -- 8. Fall and decline, 371-331 BC -- 9. Revival and reinvention 331 BC-AD 14 -- 10. Legacy : Leonidas lives. Pt. 1. 'Go, tell the Spartans' -- 1. Under the sign of Lycurgus -- 2. Sparta in 500 BC -- 3. The Persian Wars, 490-479 BC -- Pt. 2. The Spartan myth -- 4. The '50-year period', 478-432 BC -- 5. Women and religion -- 6. The Athenian War, 432-404 BC -- Pt. 3. A crippled kingship -- 7. The Spartan Empire, 404-371 BC -- 8. Fall and decline, 371-331 BC -- 9. Revival and reinvention 331 BC-AD 14 -- 10. The legacy: Leonidas lives.