Editing Spartan hegemony (section)

==History and rise to power==
{{Main|History of Sparta}}
[[File:Sparta Territory.svg|thumb|Map of Sparta]]
The Spartans had conquered the southern Peloponnese and incorporated the territory into the enlarged Sparta state.  Spartan society functioned within three classes: ''homoioi'' or ''[[spartiates]]'', ''[[perioeci]]'', and the ''[[helots]]''.  The ''helots'' were captives of war and were state-owned slaves of Sparta.<ref name="Jones 2008"></ref>   They powered the city-state's agrarian economy and were the work force.  Additionally, the other class of working population in Spartan society were the ''perioeci'' meaning “dwellers around” who were free peoples of conquered territories.  The ''perioeci'' were allowed to maintain their own infrastructures, administrative arrangements and local economy, but had to pay tribute to Sparta and provide soldiers for the military. The ''homoioi'' were the citizens of Sparta.<ref name="Melanie, 2003">Archer, Melanie.  ''The Spartans'' Alexandria, VA: PBS Home Video, 2003</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2023}}    They were the elite class and were the only deserving of the title Spartan.  As a result, the Spartan population was very small in comparison with the working classes.  There was a ratio of 7 or 8 helots to every Spartan citizen.<ref name="Jones 2008"/>   These three populations performed complementary functions that distinguished Sparta with a unique economic and social organization. While the ''helots'' and the ''perioeci'' were the workforce in agriculture and industry, the Spartans could devote themselves to training, maintaining, and operating the military.  The reason for the continual strong military existence was to preserve order in Sparta and hold the large enslaved populations in check.