The Rivalry of Athens and Sparta

The Rivalry of Athens and Sparta

From The Stoic Question: Philosophy and Psychology by Donald J. Robertson

June 25, 2026 · 1h 24m

About this episode

The episode features a discussion with historian Dr. Adrian Goldsworthy about the rivalry between Athens and Sparta and its implications for ancient Greece.

In this episode, I talk to award-winning historian, and novelist, Dr. Adrian Goldsworthy. He is the author of numerous books on ancient history, especially the Romans, and we’ll be discussing his latest one, which came out in May, Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry that Shaped Ancient Greece . Highlights * Do you think readers will perceive any parallels between ancient Athenian politics and recent history? * What are our sources like for this period? How biased are they? What’s missing? * How Athenian were the Spartans and how Spartan were the Athenians? * How did Athens and Sparta become rival powers? What set the stage for the Peloponnesian War? * What can we learn about the strengths and weaknesses of democracy from the Athenians? * What was the status of slaves and women in Athens and Sparta? * What can we learn about how alliances work, or don’t work? * What role did ancient “technological” advantage play in the outcome of the war? * What would have happened if the Athenians had stuck to the military policies of Pericles? * Was Sparta a bit of a myth? How distorted is the popular image of the Spartans today? * If the Athenians had conquered Sicily and defeated Sparta, would…

People in this episode

Host: Donald J. Robertson

Guest: Dr. Adrian Goldsworthy

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Books & works: Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry that Shaped Ancient Greece

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