Background
Origins of the Achean League
- The Achean league was originally formed in the 5th century BC as a confederation in northern Peloponnese
- It was reestablished in the 3rd century BC, by Aratus of Sicycon
- Its capital was in Megalopolis
Revival of Sparta
- Sparta had been doing bad after since it was defeated by Macedonians in 331 BC. (in the battle of Megalopolis)
- Spartan king Cleomenes III re-instituted traditional Spartan customs and Sparta underwent a revival
Acheans vs. Sparta
- Soon, Acheans and Spartans fought over the Peloponnese
Fall of Megalopolis
- 226 BC
- Spartans under Cleomenes against Acheans under Aratus
- Spartans won and destroyed Achean headquarters in Megalopolis
Battle of Sellasia
- 222 BC
- Acheans allied themselves with Antigonus III (king of Macedon)
- Spartans were vastly outnumbered and destroyed
Philopoemen vs. Nabis
- 209–192 BC
- Achean league assumed their dominant position in the Peloponnese under Philopoemen
- Nabis, a tyrant and the last Spartan king, arose in Sparta
- Acheans persuaded Romans (proconsul Flaminius in particular) that Spartan power needs to be checked
- Of course, Sparta stood no chance against the allied forces of Romans and Acheans and was utterly defeated in the end
Achean Wars
- Philopoemen tried to keep good relations with Rome
- But after his death, an anti-Rome sentiment arose
- But after his death, an anti-Rome sentiment arose
Battle of Leucapetra
- 146 BC
- Also known as the battle of Corinth
- Roman army under Lucius Mummius against forces of the Achean league under Diacus
- The Greeks were obviously outnumbered
- Greeks lost
- Corinth is completely destroyed and its inhabitans sent to slavery
- Many works of art were transfered from Greece to Rome, exposing it further to Greek culture
