PRE-ORDER NOW! Estimated release date: 28 November 2026. Orders will be dispatched shortly after release. Please note that your complete order will only ship once the pre-order title becomes available. If you selected Click & Collect, we'll notify you when your order is ready for collection.

'There are few bits of history more mythologised, sensitive and political than Sparta, but luckily we have Bayliss' Dan Snow, creator of History Hit

Sparta - its legendary warriors and steadfast resilience are famous throughout the world as a model for toughness, justice and masculinity. The Spartans' reputation as fighters is matched only by their mythic code of honour. Their torch has been carried by footballers and politicians, video games and philosophers alike.

But who really were the Spartans? And what was the driving force behind the rise - and dramatic fall - of Sparta?

Sparta traces the story of Ancient Greece's most iconic city-state, from its humble beginnings as a hamlet in the Peloponnese to its meteoric rise as the foremost military superpower of the Classical world. Andrew Bayliss uncovers the eclectic quirks that set Sparta above its rivals: its famous double monarchy, the harsh methods for raising children as soldiers and the unique role of women in Spartan life.

Sparta was an ancient superpower, and its legacy is still shaping popular culture and politics today. This is the story of its rise and fall.