<P> Sparta also remained an important power in the face of Theban strength . However, some of the cities allied with Sparta turned against her, because of Thebes . In 367 BC, both Sparta and Athens sent delegates to Artaxerxes II, the Great King of Persia . These delegates sought to have the Artaxerxes, once again, declare Greek independence and a unilateral common peace, just as he had done in twenty years earlier in 387 BC . As noted above, this had meant the destruction of the Boeotian League in 387 BC . Sparta and Athens now hoped the same thing would happen with a new declaration of a similar "Kings Peace". Thebes sent Pelopidas to argue against them . The Great King was convinced by Pelopidas and the Theban diplomats that Thebes and the Boeotian League would be the best agents of Persian interests in Greece, and, accordingly, did not issue a new "King's Peace ." Thus, to deal with Thebes, Athens and Sparta were thrown back on their own resources . Thebes, meanwhile, expanded its influence beyond the bounds of Boeotia . In 364 BC, Pelopidas defeated the Alexander of Pherae in the Battle of Cynoscephalae, located in south - eastern Thessaly in northern Greece . However, during the battle, Pelopides was killed . </P> <P> The confederational framework of Sparta's relationship with her allies was really an artificial one, since it attempted to bring together cities that had never been able to agree on much at all in the past . Such was the case with the cities of Tegea and Mantinea, which re-allied in the Arcadian confederacy . The Mantineans received the support of the Athenians, and the Tegeans that of the Thebans . In 362 BC, Epaminondas led a Theban army against a coalition of Athenian, Spartan, Elisian, Mantinean and Achean forces . Battle was joined at Mantinea . The Thebans prevailed, but this triumph was short - lived, for Epaminondas died in the battle, stating that "I bequeath to Thebes two daughters, the victory of Leuctra and the victory at Mantinea". </P> <P> Despite the victory at Mantinea, in the end, the Thebans abandoned their policy of intervention in the Peloponnesus . This event is looked upon as a watershed in Greek history . Thus, Xenophon concludes his history of the Greek world at this point, in 362 BC . The end of this period was even more confused than its beginning . Greece had failed and, according to Xenophon, the history of the Greek world was no longer intelligible . </P> <P> The idea of hegemony disappeared . From 362 BC onward, there was no longer a single city that could exert hegemonic power in Greece . The Spartans were greatly weakened; the Athenians were in no condition to operate their navy, and after 365 no longer had any allies; Thebes could only exert an ephemeral dominance, and had the means to defeat Sparta and Athens but not to be a major power in Asia Minor . </P>

8. what elements united greece during the classical era