In terms of geographical expansion and hegemony over other city-states, Rome's objectives against city-states in Italy and the city of Carthage were comparable to Sparta's during the Peloponnesian War. According to historian M. H. Hansen, Sparta aimed to assert its dominance over Athens and the other Greek city-states during the Peloponnesian War (Hansen, 2019). Similarly, Rome sought to conquer and consolidate the cities in the Italian Peninsula, as well as the kingdom of Carthage, in order to expand its territories and establish its dominance (Flower, 2017).
The desire for territorial expansion was an aim shared by Rome and Sparta throughout the Peloponnesian War. Both nations aimed to increase their spheres of influence and seize authority over their respective regions. Sparta's aim was to assert its dominance over Athens and the other Greek city-states (Hansen, 2019). Likewise, Rome aimed to conquer and consolidate the cities in the Italian Peninsula and Carthage (Flower, 2017).
Another similarity lies in the consolidation of power. After winning the Peloponnesian War, Sparta sought to establish hegemony over the Greek city-states, effectively becoming the dominant power (Hansen, 2019). Similarly, Rome aimed to centralize control over the city-states in Italy and the territories it acquired, including
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First off, Sparta's motivation for participating in the Peloponnesian War was a desire to protect its own way of life and uphold the pre-existing social order. According to Hansen (2019), fear of Athenian democracy and the threat it represented to Sparta's traditional principles propelled Sparta into conflict with Athens. Rome, on the other hand, had more nuanced and complex motivations. Territorial expansion was undoubtedly a motivating factor, but Rome also sought to spread its cultural and political influence throughout its conquered territories, integrating them into the Roman system (Flower,