- Title: The Spartans
- Date: 1st December 2002
- Summary: In the final episode of BETTANY HUGHES Spartan trilogy the war between Sparta and Athens reaches a brutal and bloody climax. Sparta finally emerges victorious. Now the most powerful city-state in Greece, Sparta is an imperial power. But under the fascinating, flawed King Agesilaus, the dreams of the Spartan Utopia come crashing down. By setting out to create a perfect society protected by perfect warriors, Sparta makes an enemy of change. A collapsing birth rate, too few warriors, rebellious slaves and outdated attitudes to weaponry and warfare combined to sow the seeds of Sparta’s destruction. Until eventually the once great warrior state was reduced to a stop for Roman tourists who came to view bizarre sado-masochistic rituals.
- Description:Three part history,presented by Bettany Hughes,on the Spartans,the ancient world's strangest civilisation
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:LION TELEVISION LIMITED
- Programme Episode:Episode 3
- Transmission Date:01/12/2002
- Rights:On Request
- Decade: 2000s