jan 1, 371 BC - Leuctra

Description:

battle at Leuctra where Theban Epaminodas destroyed the Spartan army, freed the helots in Messenia and dissolved the Peloponnesian League. Sparta was reduced to a second-class power and underwent interstate war and revolutions in the Peloponnese where there were demands of the poor for land reforms, cancellation of debts and less oligarchic governments, which spread to central Greece. Left a lot of impoverished people (no more mercenary work) > outpour to Persian army