Question

grew intolerable to the other city-states. when athens sent troops to help sparta put down a helot rebellion, the spartans refused the gesture and sent the athenian force back home in dishonor, thus provoking the war which had long been brewing. later, when athens sent their fleet to help defend its ally corcyra (corfu) against a corinthian invasion during the battle of sybota in 433 bce, their action was interpreted by sparta as aggression instead of assistance, as corinth was an ally of sparta. what could explain spartas rebuke of athens offer of troops during the helot uprising? choose all answers that apply: a spartan leaders felt that the revolt was theirs to put down, and that the offer of help was a condescending insult. b spartan leaders felt they already had too many troops and additional soldiers would disrupt their formations. c spartans felt their troops were better trained and they had no need for inferior athenian troops. d since athens was mainly a naval power, spartan leaders were offended they sent ground troops instead of ships and naval soldiers.

Explanation:

• Option A: Spartan society was very proud and autonomous. They likely saw the Helot revolt as their internal matter and Athens' offer of help as undermining their authority, a condescending act.
• Option B: There's no historical indication that Sparta refused due to having too many troops or formation disruption; this is not a valid reason.
• Option C: Spartans were known for their superior military training, and they might have considered Athenian troops inferior and unnecessary for their own capable forces.
• Option D: The Helot revolt was a land - based issue, and Athens sending ground troops (not naval) was not the reason for refusal as Sparta's focus was on land warfare and autonomy, not the type of force Athens sent.

Answer:

A. Spartan leaders felt that the revolt was theirs to put down, and that the offer of help was a condescending insult.
C. Spartans felt their troops were better trained and they had no need for inferior Athenian troops.