The Achæan League was founded, in its new form, in 280 B. C., consisting
of the towns in Achæa, and afterwards including Sicyon, Corinth,
Athens, and many other Greek cities, so that it became the chief
political power in Greece. In 245 B. C. Aratus (sometimes called the
“last of the Greeks”) became head of the league, and much extended its
influence by skillful diplomacy. Philopœmen, another distinguished man
of this period, general of the league in 208 B. C., and again in 201 and
192 B. C., was successful in battle against the Spartans when they
assailed the League, and in 188 B. C. took Sparta, leveled the
fortifications, and replaced the institutions of Lycurgus by the Achæan
laws.
Greece from this time forward was greatly distracted; Greek power, Greek
energy, Greek genius, might now be found indeed anywhere rather than in
Greece. The Achæan League from time to time made spasmodic efforts, but
Rome constantly interfered in Greek affairs. Domestic faction helped
Roman intrigues, and the battle of Pydna (in Macedonia), gained by the
Romans in 168 B. C. over Perseus, the last king of Macedon, formally
ended the dominion established by Phillip II., nearly two centuries
before. Macedonia was made a Roman province in 147 B. C.