Athenian Constitution: Description and critique of the political system of Athens. In what aspects it is inferior, according to the author, compared to that of Sparta. Spartan Constitution: A hymn to the educational system of Sparta, which is founded on the principles of Lycurgus' legislation. Ideas akin to those of Cyrus' Education. Agesilaus: A historical work that praises the king of Sparta, Agesilaus. Xenophon was born between 440 and 425 BC. He came from a wealthy family in Athens and as a young man was a student of Socrates. His love for military life, perhaps a consequence of his admiration for the Doric model, overcame his inclination towards philosophy. In 401 BC, he went to Persia, where he followed Cyrus in his campaign against his brother Artaxerxes II. After the battle at Cunaxa, he was elected general by the Ten Thousand Greek mercenaries. Xenophon's works, historical, philosophical, and educational, are, on the one hand, an important source for the events of his time and, on the other hand, a synthesis of moral and educational reflections, in a spirit of simplicity, while characterized by the skillful and clear Attic prose. [Excerpt from publisher or edition presentation text]