The history of Sparta is legendary. The author starts his journey in 1888 BC in a small settlement on the Peloponnese to continue via the route Sparta Rotterdam 1888 to the present-day hamlet of Sparta. The gods put you on the horse only to ruthlessly knock you off again. This book traces the early history of Sparta up to the foundation of the city-state of Sparta in roughly 1100 BC and then continues this historical journey through the many highs and lows of the city-state that inspired awe in friend and foe alike. Besides the collected works of Herodotos, Thucydides and Plutarchus, countless other sources provide input. Where gaps existed, they were filled in based on common sense. Sparta mostly unwittingly also inspired total regiems, including in the former Soviet Union. Can Sparta Rotterdam dream big and match the iron discipline and fearlessness of the old Sparta and go for stunts like Leicester in England? At the end of the book, Frank holds up a mirror of Lycurgus to our current society and comes to surprising conclusions
