The three main sources on Sparta in the fourth century are Plato, Aristotle and Xenophon. Theses three men are very important as they comment on the actual life, society and politics of the Spartan city-state. Plato was especially crucial in developing the 'myth' of Sparta as his work are highly idealised versions of Spartan life.
For our study we will focus on some of the texts from Plato, Aristotle and Xenophon as examples of how non-Spartans viewed the Spartan society.