Editing 371 BC

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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{Year nav|-371}}
{{BC year in topic|371}}
[[File:Battle of Leuctra, 371 BC - Decisive action.svg|thumb|Battle of Leuctra]]
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Year '''371 BC''' was a year of the [[Roman calendar|pre-Julian Roman calendar]]. At the time, it was known as the '''Fifth year without Tribunate or Consulship''' (or, less frequently, '''year 383 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 371 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the [[Anno Domini]] [[calendar era]] became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

== Events ==
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=== By place ===

==== Greece ====
* A fresh peace congress is summoned at [[Sparta]]. At the peace conference, the Spartan King [[Agesilaus II]] (with the support of [[Athens]]) refuses to allow the [[Thebes, Greece|Thebans]] to sign the treaty on behalf of all [[Boeotia]]. The Theban [[wikt:statesman|statesman]] [[Epaminondas]], who is [[boeotarch]] (one of the five magistrates of the Boeotian federation), maintains Thebes' position, even when it leads to the exclusion of Thebes from the peace treaty.
* Thebes' actions at the peace congress lead to a war between Sparta and Thebes. The Spartans have an army stationed on Thebes' western frontier, waiting to follow up their diplomatic success by a crushing military attack. However, at the [[Battle of Leuctra]], the Theban generals, [[Epaminondas]] and [[Pelopidas]], win a decisive victory over the Spartans under the other Spartan king, [[Cleombrotus I]] (who is killed in the battle). Epaminondas wins the battle with a tactical innovation which involves striking the enemy first at their strongest, instead of their weakest, point, with such crushing force that the attack is irresistible. As a result of this battle, the Boeotian federation is saved.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Leuctra |volume= 16 |last= Caspari |first= M.O.B. |author-link= |page= 504 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Athens]] does not welcome the Theban victory, fearing the rising aggressiveness of [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]]. After the Theban victory, the old alliance between the [[Achaemenid Empire|Persians]] and the Thebans is restored.
* With the unexpected defeat of Sparta by the Thebans, the [[Arcadia (ancient region)|Arcadia]]ns decide to re-assert their independence. They rebuild [[Mantinea]], form an [[Arcadian League]] and build a new federal city, [[Megalopolis, Greece|Megalopolis]].
* [[Agesipolis II]] succeeds his father [[Cleombrotus I]] as king of [[Sparta]].

=== By topic ===

==== Astronomy ====
* It is suggested that the original [[comet]] associated with the [[Kreutz Sungrazers]] family of comets passes [[perihelion]] at this time. It is thought to have been observed by [[Aristotle]] and [[Ephorus]] during this year.
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== Births ==
* [[Chanakya]], Indian philosopher and advisor (approximate date)
* [[Theophrastus]], Greek philosopher

== Deaths ==
* [[Cleombrotus I]], king of [[Sparta]] (killed in the [[Battle of Leuctra]])

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:371 BC| ]]