After winning the Peloponnesian War, Sparta had become the most powerful polis in the Greek world. It will be demonstrated that Sparta pursued its goal of domination through the autonomy clause contained in the Treaty of Antalcidas. Sparta abused the treaty and even broke it, creating the opposition that would ultimately defeat it. Sparta, after winning the Peloponnesian War (Xenophon, Hellenika 2.23), emerged as the pre-eminent Greek power in the early fourth century (Cargill 1981:189). The member states of the Delian League were not liberated as expected (Rhodes 2010: 160), but rather took control and oligarchic constitutions were installed within them (Rhodes 2010: 238). Sparta decided to maintain the power it had acquired by becoming an imperialistic force just as Athens had been (cartledge 1987: 349). To be considered to be acting in the best interests of Greece, Sparta aimed for the goal of "liberating the Asiatic Greeks" from Persian domination. control (Lewis 1977: 141). Perhaps Sparta emulated the leadership of Athens during the Peloponnesian War (Thuc 1.89). At first Tissaphernes promised to make the Asian Greeks autonomous, but after coming to the conclusion that his forces were sufficient; instead he decided to make war on Sparta (Plutarch, Agesilaus 9). After a peace agreement was not reached (Rhodes 2010: 227), Persia sent gold to strengthen Sparta's enemies (Rhodes 2010: 227) and with the threat of war in Greece, Agesilaus was forced to return home (Plutarch , Agesilaus 15). The Greeks were once again fighting among themselves (Bucker 2003: 77) and furthermore, the pressure continued to grow on Sparta as their enemies continued to regain their strength (Plutarch, Agesilaus 23). In 387/6, Sparta secured a treaty in fo ...... half of the document ......), it is estimated that only 900 adult Spartiates remained after the battle (Rhodes 2010: 252). After the defeat, Sparta began to lose support and many allies switched their allegiance to Thebes (Rhodes 2010: 252). To further weaken Sparta, Thebes liberated Messenia (Xenophon, Hellenica 6.5.25), depriving Sparta of the Helots it had enslaved long ago (Thuc 1.101). In the same year as the Battle of Leuctra, Megalopolis was built (Pausanias, 8.27.1-3, 8) and Messene was also founded (Cartledge 1987: 347) which would geographically delimit and alienate Sparta from the outside world (Buckle 2003: 319). Sparta became immensely powerful after defeating Athens at the end of the Peloponnesian War. Sparta became imperialist by nature and chose to strengthen its rule through the Peace of Antalcidas. Works Cited thucplutarchxenophon