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＇ who had been first organised by Conon after rebuilding the walls of Athens。 For this force Iphicrates introduced those improved arms and tactics which form an epoch in the Grecian art of war。 His object was to combine as far as possible the peculiar advantages of the hoplites and light…armed troops。 He substituted a linen corslet for the coat of mail worn by the hoplites； and lessened the shield； while he rendered the light javelin and short sword of the peltasts more effective by lengthening them both one…half These troops soon proved very effective。 After gaining several victories he ventured to make a sally from Corinth； and attacked a Lacedaemonian mora in flank and rear。 So many fell under the darts and arrows of the peltasts that the Lacedaemonian captain called a halt； and ordered the youngest and most active of his hoplites to rush forward and drive off the assailants。 But their heavy arms rendered them quite unequal to such a mode of fighting； nor did the Lacedaemonian cavalry； which now came up； but which acted with very little vigour and courage； produce any better effect。 At length the Lacedaemonians succeeded in reaching an eminence； where they endeavoured to make a stand； but at this moment Callias arrived with some Athenian hoplites from Corinth； whereupon the already disheartened Lacedaemonians broke and fled in confusion； pursued by the peltasts； who committed such havoc； chasing and killing some of them even in the sea； that but very few of the whole body succeeded in effecting their escape。
The maritime war was prosecuted with vigour。 Thrasybulus； and after his death Iphicrates； were successful upon the coast of Asia Minor； and made the Athenians again masters of the Hellespont。 Under these circumstances the Lacedaemonians resolved to spare no efforts to regain the good will of the Persians。 Antalcidas； the Lacedaemonian commander on the Asiatic coast； entered into negotiations with Tiribazus； who had succeeded Tithraustes in the satrapy of Ionia； in order to bring about a general peace under the mediation of Persia。 Conducted by Tiribazus； Antalcidas repaired to the Persian court； and prevailed an the Persian monarch both to adopt the peace； and to declare war against those who should reject it。 Antalcidas and Tiribazus returned to the coasts of Asia Minor； not only armed with these powers； but provided with an ample force to carry them into execution。 In addition to the entire fleet of Persia； Dionysius of Syracuse had placed 20 triremes at the service of the Lacedaemonians； and Antalcidas now sailed with a large fleet to the Hellespont； where Iphicrates and the Athenians were still predominant。 The overwhelming force of Antalcidas； the largest that had been seen in the Hellespont since the battle of AEgospotami； rendered all resistance hopeless。 The supplies of corn from the Euxine no longer found their way to Athens： and the Athenians； depressed at once both by what they felt and by what they anticipated； began to long for peace。 As without the assistance of Athens it seemed hopeless for the other allies to struggle against Sparta； all Greece was inclined to listen to an accommodation。
Under these circumstances deputies from the Grecian states were summoned to meet Tiribazus； who； after exhibiting to them the royal seal of Persia； read to them the following terms of a peace： 〃King Artaxerxes thinks it just that the cities in Asia and the islands of Clazomenae and Cyprus should belong to him。 He also thinks it just to leave all the other Grecian cities； both small and great； independentexcept Lemnos； Imbros； and Scyros； which are to belong to Athens； as of old。 should any parties refuse to accept this peace； I will make war upon them； along with those who are of the same mind； both by land and sea； with ships and with money。〃 All the Grecian states accepted these terms。
This disgraceful peace； called the PEACE OF ANTALCIDAS； was concluded in the year B。C。 387。 By it Greece seemed prostrated at the feet of the barbarians； for its very terms； engraven on stone and set up in the sanctuaries of Greece； recognised the Persian king as the arbiter of her destinies。 Although Athens cannot be entirely exonerated from the blame of this transaction； the chief guilt rests upon Sparta； whose designs were far deeper and more hypocritical than they appeared。 Under the specious pretext of securing the independence of the Grecian cities； her only object was to break up the confederacies under Athens and Thebes； and； with the assistance of Persia； to pave the way for her own absolute dominion in Greece。
No sooner was the peace of Antalcidas concluded than Sparta； directed by Agesilaus； the ever…active enemy of Thebes； exerted all her power to weaken that city。 She began by proclaiming the independence of the various Boeotian cities； and by organizing in each a local oligarchy； adverse to Thebes and favourable to herself。 Lacedaemonian garrisons were placed in Orchomenus and Thespiae； and Plataea was restored in order to annoy and weaken Thebes。 Shortly afterwards the Lacedaemonians obtained possession of Thebes itself by an act of shameful treachery。 They had declared war against Olynthus； a town situated at the head of the Toronaic gulf； in the peninsula of the Macedonian Chalcidice； the head of a powerful confederation which included several of the adjacent Grecian cities。 The Thebans had entered into an alliance with Olynthus； and had forbidden any of their citizens to join the Lacedaemonian army destined to act against it； but they were not strong enough to prevent its marching through their territory。 Phoebidas； who was conducting a Lacedaemonian force against Olynthus； halted on his way through Boeotia not far from Thebes； where he was visited by Leontiades； one of the polemarchs of the city； and two or three other leaders of the Lacedaemonian party in Thebes。 It happened that the festival of the Thesmophoria was on the point of being celebrated； during which the Cadmea； or Theban Acropolis； was given up for the exclusive use of the women。 The opportunity seemed favourable for a surprise； and Leontiades and Phoebidas concerted a plot to seize it。 Whilst the festival was celebrating； Phoebidas pretended to resume his march； but only made a circuit round the city walls； whilst Leontiades； stealing out of the senate； mounted his horse； and； joining the Lacedaemonian troops； conducted them towards the Cadmea。 It was a sultry summer's afternoon； so that the very streets were deserted； and Phoebidas； without encountering any opposition； seized the citadel and all the women in it； to serve as hostages for the quiet submission of the Thebans （B。C。 382）。 This treacherous act during a period of profound peace awakened the liveliest indignation throughout Greece。 Sparta herself could not venture to justify it openly； and Phoebidas was made the scape…goat of her affected displeasure。 As a sort of atonement to the violated feeling of Greece； he was censured； fined； and dismissed。 But that this was a mere farce is evident from the fact； of his subsequent restoration to command； and； however indignant the Lacedaemonians affected to appear at the act of Phoebidas； they took care to reap the fruits of it by retaining their garrison in the Cadmea。
The once haughty Thebes was now enrolled a member of the Lacedaemonian alliance； and furnished her contingentthe grateful offering of the new Theban governmentfor the war which Sparta was prosecuting with redoubled vigour against Olynthus。 This city was taken by the Lacedaemonians in B。C。 379； the Olynthian confederacy was dissolved； the Grecian cities belonging to it were compelled to join the Lacedaemonian alliance； whilst the maritime towns of Macedonia were reduced under the dominion of Amyntas； the king of Macedon。
The power of Sparta on land had now attained its greatest height。 Her unpopularity in Greece was commensurate with the extent of her harshly administered dominion。 She was leagued on all slides with the enemies of Grecian freedomwith the Persians； with Amyntas of Macedon； and with Dionysius of Syracuse。 But she had now reached the turning…point of her fortunes； and her successes； which had been earned without scruple； were soo