The mighty city of Sparta was founded in 900 BC With it came one of the most powerful armies known today. They were known as one of the largest military forces to ever exist. The Spartan army was one of the best around at the time. The training they underwent was some of the harshest ever known. The weapons they used were made specifically for certain circumstances. The armor they wore was very well made and the best that could be made. Sparta had a unique culture. Even after their decline and fall, they left a legacy that will stand tall for generations to come. Sparta was different from any other Greek city-state in many different ways, most notably its educational system. One of these factors was political. “Sparta refused to change its constitution to include all men born citizens. Because of this, those who were despised became very resentful. The number of wealthy people in Sparta began to decline, and because of this, even the smallest defeat like that of Leuctra was enough to send Sparta into decline” (University of Florida, 2010). “The reform of the constitution was something that had to happen but never happened. Another factor that played a role in the fall of Sparta was ideological. Their undying loyalty proved harmful, flexibility and change are historical necessities, while Sparta's refusal to renew stunted its growth and ultimately proved fatal. Discipline and obedience proved fatal at a time when revolutionary thinking and radical change were an inevitable necessity in a world that was constantly changing and reshaping the present and future. The brief Spartan Empire (c. 400) exposed the Spartans to the outside world and forever changed the then incorruptible Spartan psyche” (University of Florida, 2010). The final factor that played a role in Sparta's decline was the economy. The collapse of the traditional Spartan economic system in the late 5th century accelerated the decline. Corruption and greed, qualities almost unknown in traditional Spartan institutions, entered the Spartan way of life. People feared and respected them at the same time. The training they went through was incredibly tough and something that took a lot of strength and courage to complete. The equipment used by the Spartan army was top notch for the time period in which they lived. Each piece of equipment carried by the Spartan warrior had a specific function and it took a lot of training to fully understand how to use them. The Spartan culture was also interesting. They were a polytheistic religion and believed that their faith was more important and took precedence over battle. And finally, their decline had to do with a number of different facts such as politics, ideology and economics. The Spartan army was one of the greatest military forces to ever exist and will be remembered by many