The Spartans today are regarded as the greatest warriors in history. A true Spartan dreams of dying in battle, for a glorious death is the greatest glory a real man can ever know. Every man trains his body to the height of physical perfection, demonstrated by their muscle-toned physique and chiseled, god-like form. All of these trials are meant to forge boys into true men, and it is this attitude towards strength and a hatred of weakness that has immortalized them as warriors without peer. This is put to the test at the famous battle of Thermopylae that pitted king Spartacus and his legendary 300 against Xerxes and his Persian army. This "living god" dared to think himself the equal to his betters, and invaded Greece in an attempt to conquer the entire peninsula.
BUT THIS IS SPARTA!!!, and it would not be cowed by worthless, foreign dogs. After successfully defending the coastal pass of Thermopylae (the hot gates) against the Persians and killing Xerxes, the rest of the his army were so terrified that they all ran home. It earned Spartacus the moniker "God of War", proving that they were the greatest army in all of Greece. This has lit a fire inside him, and he has decided to turn his attention to conquering his neighbors and beyond, so that he could bring the glory of Sparta to the entire world.
There is a problem however. This society relies heavily on its large slave population, called helots. The slaves are responsible for farming and other things that are necessary to keep society running, but beneath the worth of a Spartan. This allows free men the time they need to spend their lives training. Much of the army's time was spent keeping slaves in check. This is partly why sparta has never expanded so far before. A slave rebellion was always imminent, and one occurring while all the Spartans were away fighting could be the end of this great state.
It is the right for those superior in mind and body to suppress their inferiors, for the way of the harsh world is for the strong to survive, and the weak to suffer what they will. Nevertheless, Sparta must expand if it is to achieve its manifest destiny. How Can king Spartacus accomplish this vision while keeping the slaves in check?