"The year is 650 BCE, and among the dusty wilderness of a southern Greek island a mighty city-state is taking shape, one that will terrorise and conquer the lands around it for centuries to come. Sparta. In this book you will chart the rise, reign and fall of the warrior state of Sparta, exploring its foundation and governance, the training required to become an elite Spartan soldier and the prominent role of women in daily life. You will relive Sparta's most famous battles, meet its fearsome leaders and discover the legacy that this ancient military powerhouse left behind. "