The end of Spartan power in Hellas might seem abrupt and unexpected at first, but it was not. The defeat at the battle of Leuctra certainly formed one of the reasons, but the undermining of Spartan society had been a process of centuries. The real reason for Sparta's dishounorable end was the gradual hollowing out of the internal balance, especially during the Peloponessian wars.

Lack of full Spartans.

Many Spartans had died in the course of these wars, and it was very hard to replace them. Not only did the training to become an equal take ages, but many families also could not support more than one son. In the beginning of Sparta each family was given land, that was worked by the helots, and every now and then a redistribution took place. Later on this did not happen any more, and some Spartans had managed to gain considerable wealth and land during the Peloponessian wars. The equals were not so equal any more.

The families who did not have any other income than from their share of land were not in the position to give birth to more than one son. This was because the land was divided in such a way that each part was enough to pay for the contribution of two men: a father, and a son. If they needed more then they had to prove themselves in a battle was their reasoning. Such a family with more than one son could not pay the contributions, and the youngest sons would lose their place among the equals, and their place in the elite phalanx. They became a new social class: the minors.

Not only was becoming a minor the worst thing that could happen to a Spartan, but it also brought shame over the whole family. There were only a few ways to prevent this from happening. Some managed to marry a woman who would inherit the land of her family, while others were adopted by families who had lost their sons in battle. The most extreme solution was when two brothers lived on the same land with one woman.

Changes in attitude.

During the fourth century the Spartans were allowed to donate their land. In fact was this nothing else than a sale of their land, but the 'donators' hoped to postpone their degradation to minor a bit longer this way. This was very much in the benefit of the small group of Spartans who had become rich during the wars, as it gave them a way to invest their illegal money in land. You must understand that selling land, and personal richdom, were contrary to the Spartan ideology which promoted unity and equality, that is why they spoke of donation instead of sale. There is more proof that the attitude of Spartan society had changed during the Peloponessian wars, that Spartans were now in pursue of personal richdon. A heiress was no longer given to Spartans who needed the land, instead the families rather gave her to somebody who already owned some land and money himself.