When people think of ancient Greece, they think of Athens and Sparta. But both of their rises and the whole Peloponnesian War showdown weren't inevitable, obviously - Athens pre-democracy wasn't nearly as great as Athens with democracy, Sparta was neutralized by Tegea for a long time, etc. So what other Classical Greek cities might be able, with the right PoD, to equal or perhaps exceed the power that Sparta and Athens showed IOTL, besides Athens and Sparta themselves?
I'm going to suggest Argos as the most likely "other" Greek city that could've become a hegemonizing force. IIRC, for a long time, it was the most populous and richest Greek city, they have history going for them, Mycenae being right next door to them, and really if they beat Sparta before the Peloponnesian League gets going, Argos could really quickly create their own Peloponnesian empire. The PoD would obviously have to be before the Persian War... I think an Argive victory after the Battle of Champions in 546 BC could do it, as it would check Spartan growth after their conquest of Tegea, and might be able to wrest Arcadia, and maybe Corinth (though that might be tougher, with Sparta and Corinth's more positive history, for Corinth to abandon Sparta for Argos - this would probably require another war) from Sparta's de facto control. Argos could use the helots to their advantage in their wars with Sparta too - timing a helot revolt and an Argive invasion before Sparta's built up such a powerful alliance could be devastating for Sparta and could quickly make Argos the most powerful state in Greece, with the Peloponnese more or less conquered.
EDIT: Despite Thebes' hegemony IOTL under Epaminondas and whatnot, I am allowing Thebes.
I'm going to suggest Argos as the most likely "other" Greek city that could've become a hegemonizing force. IIRC, for a long time, it was the most populous and richest Greek city, they have history going for them, Mycenae being right next door to them, and really if they beat Sparta before the Peloponnesian League gets going, Argos could really quickly create their own Peloponnesian empire. The PoD would obviously have to be before the Persian War... I think an Argive victory after the Battle of Champions in 546 BC could do it, as it would check Spartan growth after their conquest of Tegea, and might be able to wrest Arcadia, and maybe Corinth (though that might be tougher, with Sparta and Corinth's more positive history, for Corinth to abandon Sparta for Argos - this would probably require another war) from Sparta's de facto control. Argos could use the helots to their advantage in their wars with Sparta too - timing a helot revolt and an Argive invasion before Sparta's built up such a powerful alliance could be devastating for Sparta and could quickly make Argos the most powerful state in Greece, with the Peloponnese more or less conquered.
EDIT: Despite Thebes' hegemony IOTL under Epaminondas and whatnot, I am allowing Thebes.
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