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The two most powerful Greek poleis, Sparta and Athens, developed differently than other poleis, and differently than each other. Starting around 725 B.C.E., Sparta gained land and power over the Messenians through warfare. Late in the 6th century B.C.E., Spartan society was re-organized along military lines to ensure that Sparta could continue its hold over Messenia. The Spartan system of education and political organization was remarkable for its stability and its focus on success in warfare. By 500 B.C.E., Sparta led the Peloponnesian League, a mighty military alliance. In Athens, meanwhile, political and economic innovations included the publication of laws; by the 5th century B.C.E., prosperity and democracy had taken root in Athens.
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