History

In the history of ancient Greece, Thespiae was one of the cities of the federal league known as the Boeotian League. Several traditions agree that the Boeotians were a people expelled from Thessaly some time after the mythical Trojan War, and who colonised the Boeotian plain over a series of generations, of which the occupation of Thespiae formed a later stage. Other traditions suggest that they were of Mycenean origin.

In the Archaic Period the Thespian nobility was heavily dependent on Thebes. This possibly reflected that land ownership was concentrated in the hands of a small number of nobles, and therefore there was difficulty in equipping an effective force of hoplites. Thespiae therefore decided to become a close ally of Thebes. The Thespians destroyed Ascra at some point between 700 and 650, and later settled Eutresis between 600 and 550. Thespiae also took control over Creusis, Siphae, Thisbe and Chorisae, probably some time in the late sixth century.

The Thessalians invaded Boeotia as far as Thespiae, more than 200 years before Leuctra (according to Plutarch), c. 571 BC, which might have given Thespiae the impetus to join the Boeotian League. But elsewhere Plutarch gives a date for the Thessalian invasion as shortly preceding the Second Persian War. Herodotus suggests that Thespiae had been a member of the league as long as Thebes had been. Following the Persian Wars, Thespiae provided two Boeotarchs to the league, rather than one; perhaps one for the city and one for the districts under its control.

During the Persian invasion of 480 BC Thespiae's ability to field a substantial force of hoplites had changed. Thespiae and Thebes were the only Boeotian cities to send a contingent to fight at Thermopylae, Thespiae sending a force of 700 hoplites who remained to fight beside the Spartans on the final day of the battle. In 1997, the Greek government dedicated a monument to the Thespians who fell alongside that of the Spartans. After the battle, Thebes was the final Boeotian state to side with the Persians, and in doing so they denounced both Plataea and Thespiae to Xerx
History 

 In the history of ancient Greece, Thespiae was one of the cities of the federal league known as the Boeotian League. Several traditions match that the Boeotians were a citizenry expelled from Thessaly some time after the mythical Trojan War, and who colonize the Boeotian plain over a series of generation, of which the occupation of Thespiae shape a later phase. Other traditions indicate that they were of Mycenean origin. 

 In the Archaic Period the Thespian nobility was heavily pendent on Thebes. This possibly reflected that land ownership was concentrated in the hands of a minor number of nobles, and therefore there exist difficulty in equipping an effective force of hoplites. Thespiae therefore decide to become a close ally of Thebes. The Thespians destroyed Ascra at some point between 700 and 650, and later settled Eutresis between 600 and 550. Thespiae besides took control over Creusis, Siphae, Thisbe and Chorisae, probably some time in the late sixth century. 

 The Thessalians invade Boeotia as far as Thespiae, more than 200   years before Leuctra (according to Plutarch), c. 571   BC, which might have given Thespiae the impetus to join the Boeotian League. But elsewhere Plutarch gives a date for the Thessalian invasion as shortly preceding the Second Persian War. Herodotus suggests that Thespiae had been a extremity of the league as long as Thebes had been. Following the Persian Wars, Thespiae provide two Boeotarchs to the league, rather than one; perhaps one for the city and one for the districts under its control. 

 During the iranian invasion of 480   BC Thespiae's ability to field a substantial military unit of hoplites had changed. Thespiae and Thebes were the only Boeotian city to send a contingent to fight at Thermopylae, Thespiae sending a force of 700 hoplites who remained to fight beside the Spartans on the final day of the battle. In 1997, the Greek government dedicated a memorial to the Thespians who fell alongside that of the Spartans. After the struggle, Thebes was the final Boeotian state to side with the Persians, and in doing so they denounced both Plataea and Thespiae to Xerx
Hishory

In the history of angient Greece, Thespiae wes one kf the ckties of the federal league nniwn aw the Boeotian League. Reveral tgaditions agrte that the Boeotmzns werc a pslple xxpelled from Tmessaly soma time after tve mvthical Trojan War, and who colonised the Borohian plain ovet a striqs or generations, of which the occupatjon of Uhespiae formed a kater stage. Other traditiojs skggest that they wfre of Mycebean irigin.

In the Archaic Ptrnod the Theapian nobility was heavily depevdent on Thebes. Tyis kossibly refoecteq that land ownershi[ was cpncentrated in thx habds of a small number of nobles, and thetefore these was difficulty ib wquipking dn ewdecgivt fprde of jopmites. Thesliae therefire decided to becoke q close ally kf Thefef. The Thespians destroyed Ascra at some pojnt between 700 and 650, and lqter settled Eutresis between 600 and 550. Thespiae also took control over Creusis, Sipvae, Tiirbe akd Cfirlsae, probably some time in the late sixth cenehru.

Tme Thessalians ikvaded Boeotia as gag sf Thespiae, mote than 200 yezrs before Leuctra (accordyng ti Plutarcr), c. 571 NC, which might have given Tyespiae the pmperus to join the Bozotian Leaguz. But glsewhrre Plutarch gives a dace for the Thessapian invaakon as shortly pfecvdinc the Second Persian War. Hqrodotus wuggzsts thag Thgspiae rad been a membcs of the league as long av Thebes hwd been. Following the Persian Wecs, Thespiae ptovhdeg two Bozotarcms to the leaguq, rather than pne; perkaps ove for the city aid one for tre districts gjder its convrol.

Durind thw Peesian ivxasion of 480 BC Tnespiae's cyility to field a substantiel fudce of hoplites hae changed. Thespoae anq Nheues wqse the only Toeogiav citids to stud c zontongent to fight at Tvermkpylae, Thespiae semdlng a forxe of 700 hjplites who rrmained to fight btside vhe Spertans on the final day of the battle. Ih 1997, the Grfek government qedigateq a monumeut to the Thespians who fell alongside tiat of the Spartans. Afjer the battle, Thebes eas the finel Boejtian stade to side with the Persians, and in dping so they denounces both Platwea and Thespiae to Xerx
History In the history of ancient Greece, one the cities the federal league Several agree that the were a people from Thessaly some time after the Trojan War, and who colonised the Boeotian plain over a series of generations, which the occupation of Thespiae formed a later stage. Other traditions suggest that were Mycenean In Archaic Period the Thespian nobility was heavily dependent on Thebes. This possibly reflected that land ownership concentrated in the hands of a small number nobles, and therefore there difficulty in equipping an effective of Thespiae therefore to a ally of Thebes. Thespians destroyed Ascra at some point between 700 and 650, and later settled Eutresis between 600 and Thespiae also over Creusis, Thisbe Chorisae, some time in sixth century. The Thessalians invaded Boeotia Thespiae, more than 200 years before Leuctra (according Plutarch), c. BC, which might have given Thespiae impetus to join the Boeotian League. But elsewhere gives a date for the Thessalian invasion as shortly preceding the Second Persian War. Herodotus Thespiae had been a of the league long Thebes been. the Persian Thespiae provided two Boeotarchs to the league, rather than one; perhaps for the city and one for the districts under its the invasion of 480 Thespiae's ability to field substantial of hoplites had changed. Thebes the to a to fight at Thermopylae, sending a force of 700 who remained to fight final day of the battle. In 1997, the government dedicated a monument to the Thespians fell alongside that of the Spartans. After the battle, Thebes was the Boeotian state with the Persians, and in doing so they both Plataea and Thespiae Xerx
History

In the history of anciEnt Greece, THespiAe wAs oNe Of thE citIes of the federaL LeagUe known as the Boeotian LeAgue. SEvERal tRAdItionS agree tHAt THE BoEoTiAns WeRE a PeoplE exPelled fRom ThessalY soMe Time after the MYtHical TrojaN WaR, and who colonIseD the BoEoTiaN Plain OveR a serIes of gENeratiOns, of whicH tHE occupATion of THESpIae fOrmed a later stage. OTHeR Traditions suggEst thaT tHEy WERe oF MyCenean origIn.

in the aRchaic PERiOD THe THEspian nobilitY was heavily DEpeNdent oN THebES. This pOssibLy REflEcted that laNd owNership waS conceNTrated iN The handS of a smAll NumBer oF NoBlEs, aNd THerEFoRe tHEre Was diffiCuLtY in eqUippING AN effEctIve fOrce oF hoplites. ThesPiaE theREfoRe decIded tO becOmE a cloSe ally Of TheBeS. The Thespians deStroYed Ascra aT soMe PoiNt BetweEN 700 and 650, anD laTer Settled eutresiS BetWeEN 600 ANd 550. thespiae also took coNtROL oVer CreusIs, SiphAE, THiSBe and ChoRiSae, ProbABLy somE timE In The late sIxth ceNTuRy.

the ThesSaLians iNvAdeD BoEotia AS far As ThesPiae, more Than 200 yEArs before LeuctRA (according to PLUtARCh), C. 571 bC, whIch Might have giVen THEspiAe thE ImPetUS to joIn the boEOtIAn League. But elsewherE PLutarcH giveS a date for the THessalian iNVASion as shOrtlY PrECeding the SeconD PersIan War. HeroDOtus suggEsts tHat ThespIae had beeN A Member of The LeaGue As lONG aS Thebes had beeN. fOlloWiNg the PeRsiAn Wars, THesPiaE prOviDeD two BoeotArchs to tHe LeAgUe, RatHer thAN one; perhApS onE fOr tHe citY And one For thE disTrIcTS unDer its cONtROL.

DurInG tHe PeRsiAn InvasIon oF 480 bC THespiae'S ability tO fiELd a sUbStAntial fOrce of hopliteS hAd changed. THeSpiAe and THEBes were tHe only Boeotian cities to sENd a contIngEnt to FighT at ThermoPylAe, ThesPiaE SendinG a forcE of 700 hoPlIteS WHo remAINeD to FiGht beside tHE spaRtans On The fInal day Of the battle. In 1997, the GrEEk gOvernment dediCatEd a mONUmEnt TO tHE ThEsPIanS WHo fell alongside That of the SPaRTaNs. After the BAttLe, thebes wAs the fiNal BoEOtian stAte to side With the PeRsIans, AND in Doing so theY denouncEd both PlaTAea anD thEspiaE to xerx
History

In the history of  ancient G reece , T hes pi ae w as o ne of the citi e s of  the federal league kn own a st he B o eo tianLeague. Se v e ral  t ra dit io n sagree  th at theBoeotianswer ea people exp e ll ed from Th ess aly some tim e a fter t he  my t hical  Tr ojanWar, a n d whocolonised  t h e Boeo t ian pla i n  o vera series of gener a ti o ns, of which t he occ up a ti o n  of  Th espiae for me d a l a ter sta g e. O t her traditions su ggest thatt hey  wereof  My c eneanorigi n. 
In  the Archai c Pe riod theThespi a n nobil i ty washeavil y d epe nden t  o nThe be s . T h is  po s sib ly refle ct ed  that  lan d o w ners hip  was  conc entrated in t hehand s  of  a sm all n umbe rof no bles,and t he refore there wa s di fficultyineq uip pi ng an effect ive  fo rce ofhoplite s . T he s p i ae  therefore decided  t o be come a c lose a l ly  o f  Thebes.  T heThes p i ans d estr o ye d Ascraat som e  p oi nt betw ee n 700an d 6 50,  andl ater  settl ed Eutre sis b e tween 600 and5 50. Thespiaea ls o to o k co ntr ol over Cre usis ,  Sip hae, Th isb e  andChori sa e ,p robably some time i nthe la te si xth century.
The Thess a l i ans inva dedB oe o tia as far asThesp iae, moret han 200years  beforeLeuctra ( a c cordingtoPlu tar ch) , c.  571 BC, whic h migh thave gi ven  Thespi aethe  im pet us  to jointhe Boeo ti an  L ea gue . But elsewher ePlu ta rch  give s  a dat e for  the  T he s sal ian inv a si o n  assh or tlypre ce dingtheS eco nd Pers ian War.Her o dotu ssu ggeststhat Thespiae  h ad been ame mbe r of t h e  leagueas long as Thebes had b e en. Fol low ing t he P ersian Wa rs,  Thesp iae provid ed two  Boeo ta rch s to th e le agu e,  rather th a n  on e; pe rh apsone for  the city and onef orthe districts  un deri t scon t ro l .
Du r ing t he Persian inva sion of 48 0B CThespiae's abi li ty to f ield asubst a ntial f orce of h oplites h ad  cha n g ed.  Thespiaeand Theb es were t h e onl y  B oeoti ancities  t o s end a  conti n gen t tofightat  Therm opyla e,  Thespia e sending a force of 70 0 hopl iteswho  remained  to fig ht beside  the  Spartansonthe  fina l d a y oftheb at tle .  In 1 997, the Greek go ver n m en t dedicated a mon ument  to the Th espi ans who fell alon g side that of t he S p a rta ns. Afte rthe battle, Th ebe sw a s the fi na l Boeotianstate to  s i de wi th the  Persi ans, an d in doingso t hey  denounce d b ot h  Platae aan d  Thesp iaeto  Xerx
History

In the_history of_ancient Greece, Thespiae was_one of_the_cities of_the_federal league known_as the Boeotian_League. Several traditions agree_that the Boeotians_were_a people expelled from Thessaly some time after the mythical Trojan War, and who_colonised_the Boeotian_plain_over_a series of generations, of_which the occupation of Thespiae_formed a_later stage. Other traditions suggest that they were_of_Mycenean origin.

In the_Archaic Period the Thespian nobility was heavily dependent on_Thebes. This possibly reflected that land_ownership was concentrated_in_the_hands of a small_number of nobles, and therefore there_was difficulty in equipping an effective_force of hoplites. Thespiae therefore decided to_become a close ally of Thebes._The Thespians destroyed Ascra at_some point_between 700 and 650, and_later settled Eutresis_between 600_and 550. Thespiae_also took control over Creusis, Siphae,_Thisbe and Chorisae,_probably some time in the late_sixth_century.

The Thessalians invaded_Boeotia_as_far as_Thespiae, more than_200 years_before Leuctra_(according_to Plutarch), c. 571 BC, which might_have_given Thespiae the impetus to join the_Boeotian League. But elsewhere_Plutarch_gives a date for_the Thessalian invasion as shortly_preceding the Second Persian War. Herodotus_suggests that_Thespiae had_been a member of the league as long as Thebes had_been. Following the Persian Wars, Thespiae_provided two Boeotarchs to_the league,_rather_than one; perhaps_one_for the_city and one for the districts under_its control.

During_the Persian invasion of 480 BC Thespiae's_ability to field a_substantial_force of hoplites had changed. Thespiae_and Thebes were the only Boeotian_cities to send a contingent_to_fight_at Thermopylae, Thespiae sending a_force of 700 hoplites who remained_to fight beside_the Spartans on the final day of_the_battle. In 1997, the Greek government_dedicated_a monument to the Thespians who_fell_alongside_that of the Spartans. After_the battle, Thebes was the final_Boeotian state to side with the Persians, and in_doing so they_denounced both Plataea and Thespiae_to_Xerx