The group that came closest to achieving the Spartan ideal was the Mongol Empire. The Mongol Empire was the largest empire in human history, and it was created

The group that came closest to achieving the Spartan ideal was the Mongol Empire. The Mongol Empire was the largest empire in human history, and it was created by tough, hard-trained horse-riding nomads. It wasn't just about being tough. The Mongols had good operational doctrine. Here's a modern evaluation by a U.S. Army officer.[1] They used intelligence and mobility to dominate the battlefield with smaller forces than their opponents. They had a good system for selecting leaders with a track record of winning. They were surprisingly good at planning, and at coordinating large units. That's how you win wars. The Mongol Empire collapsed due to internal political problems. No external enemy could take them down. [1] https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/Directors-Select-Articles/Genghis-Khan/ https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/Dir...