In the 4th Century BC/BCE, Sparta's victory over Athens in the thirty-year-long Peloponnesian War may be attributed to several factors. One of the most important was the ability of Sparta to persist through numerous adversities, while its diplomatic skills was also one of the key factors. Just as important was the unwillingness of Athens to compromise on complete victory: given several chances to end the war with partial victory in hand, it chose instead to pursue (pridefully, as it were) an even greater prize.
Sparta .
Sparta and its allies.
Alcibiades.
The single most consistent advantage for the South during the US Civil War was that they only needed a successful defensive war to win independence.
The generals on either side who changed during the course of the 27-yer war - scores of them.
Sparta trained all men in the arts of war from childhood. It had a population of athletic males ready to fight instead of the smaller percentage of military men that other city states had.
Sparta .
Menelaus.
The King of Sparta was Helen's husband, Menelaus.
Athens was not in control of Sparta before, during or after the war. The only facet of its military that was stronger than Sparta's was the Athenian navy.
Sparta and its allies.
Menelaus was the leader of the Spartans during the Trojan war
Menelaus king of Sparta
We call it the Peloponnesian War today because it was between the Athenian Empire and the Peloponnesian League, of which Sparta was a member and leader. At the time, they referred to it the war between Sparta and its allies and Athens and its allies.
swords and spears
Most of the Peloponnesian city-states.
Alcibiades.