Forget what Hollywood told you — Spartan warriors weren’t what you think.Historian Roel Konijnendijk (and longtime r/AskHistorians mod) joins Why Wars Happened to bust myths, expose ancient tactics, and reveal what Greek warfare really looked like — from militias to Persian deals that changed history.⏱ Timestamps00:00 Introduction to the Why Wars Happened Podcast00:50 Meet Roel Konijnendijk: Expert on Classical Greek Warfare01:30 Understanding Greek Warfare: Myths vs. Reality01:57 The Citizen Militia: Greek Warfare Dynamics04:20 The Role of Generals and the Community in Greek Warfare14:46 Comparing Greek and Roman Military Systems18:45 Sources and Evidence in Studying Ancient Warfare27:48 The Mystery of Greek Fire and Ancient Innovations31:28 Debates and Misconceptions in Greek Warfare35:33 Greek Relations and Alliances36:23 The Persian Empire's Influence37:33 Greek States Seeking Persian Aid38:34 Persian Wars and Greek Diplomacy41:44 The King's Peace Treaty42:41 Macedonian Rise and Greek Response44:21 Greek History and Popular Culture01:02:22 Spartan Military Myths01:10:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts#GreekWarfare #Spartans #AncientHistory #MilitaryMyths #WhyWarsHappened