Thus, the Spartans were now free, along with the disgruntled Persians, who had a significant ax to grind with Athens, to seize the opportunity and attack Athens (thereby ending the 50 years truce). After a few years of resistance, Athens fell completely, and was immediately subjected to the oligarchical government under Sparta, known as "the Thirty."

Although it certainly seems ironic that the very democratic system that the Athenians were so proud of would precipitate its eventual downfall, one might argue that it was not the democratic system, itself, that was to blame, but the tremendous hubris of the Athenians -- both as a result of their tremendous victory over the Persians, as well as their own belief in their natural idealistic superiority.

Under the control of the Thirty, Ancient Greek as a bastion of "freedom" and democracy would fall, and the greatness of the Greek empire would steadily fade...
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