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Sparta had a large tract of the Peloponnese which was farmed by a large serf population which supported them. They therefore had no need of trade, and kept its citizens at home to control the serfs. When a Spartan expeditionary force was sent out, it took seven serfs as light infantry to each armoured Spartan warrior to ensure that the serfs could no take control at home. The story of Thermopylae talks of 300 Spartans - there were 300 armoured warriors, but also 2,100 Spartan light infantry, who died there as well. At Plataea they were 5,000 armoured warriors and 35,000 light infantry, by far the largest Greek contingent.

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7y ago

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