The Battle of Leuctra, one of the most influential and significant battles in the history of ancient Greece, took place during the summer of 371 BC. This battle influenced not only Greece for many years to come, but also the history of Eastern Europe in the 4th century BC Before Leuctra, the city-state of Sparta was the most dominant and powerful force in the Peloponnese and the rest of Greece. However, following the conflict, the course of history would change forever. Sparta's defeat at the Battle of Leuctra ended its power in Greece because, following the loss, its military, political and social dominance was destroyed forever and was never recovered for the rest of its history, leading to its new second power position. rate power among the Greek city-states. Sparta's military rule was destroyed after the Battle of Leuctra due to the loss of many Spartiatai in the battle, significantly weakening its military strength. One reason this was a major triumph for the Thebans was that the strength of Sparta's Spartiatai, its full-fledged citizen soldiers, was declining at an alarming rate. The city was only able to send seven hundred full citizen soldiers into the conflict; in the aftermath of the battle, less than half returned, bringing the total manpower under one thousand (Strassler, 362). Another important reason is that the breakdown of Sparta's aura of military invincibility caused the oppressed to revolt against Spartan rule and helped end its rule in the region (Strassler, 258). As a result of all this, the city was first invaded in 370 BC when the Thebans and their allies decided to invade Laconia due to Sparta's apparent vulnerability. Sparta's fighting tactics were successfully combined......middle of paper......little led to Sparta being reduced to a mere local power that would never play a major role in Greek affairs. This historical moment is of great importance and must be understood and appreciated to understand the history that followed the battle. Works Cited Campbell, J.B. and Tritle, Lawrence A. THE OXFORD HANDBOOK OF WARFARE IN THE CLASSICAL WORLD. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2013. PrintCawkwell, G.L. “The Decline of Sparta.” The Classic Quarterly 33 (1983): 385-400. jstor.org. Network. May 15, 2014. Devine, A. M. “A Study in Tactical Terminology.” Phoenix 37 (1983): 201-217. jstor.org. Web May 15, 2014.Hornblower, S. “When Was Megalopolis Founded?” The Annual of the British School at Athens 85 (1990): 71-77. jstor.org. Network. May 15, 2014.Strassler, Robert B. THE LANDMARK OF XENOPHON'S HELLENIKA. New York: Anchor Books, 2009. Print