Sparta In Sparta the landed artistocracy retained their power and the constitution of Lycurgus about 650 entrenched their power and gave Sparta a permanent militarist regime under a dual monarchy Sparta dominated the other cities of the Peloponnese and formed alliances with Corinth and Thebes No discussion of Spartan historical development can be made without reference to the conquest of the Messenians and the system of helotry Someone find a way to work this in