District and ancient republic, eastern central Greece.
Bounded by Attica and the Gulf of Corinth, its chief cities were Orchomenus and Thebes . Inhabited by Boeotians, an Aetolian people from Thessaly, it became politically significant after the Boeotian League was formed under Theban leadership с 600–550 BC. Hostile to Athens , the League revolted against it с 447 BC. In the Peloponnesian War , Boeotia defeated Athens at Delium in 424 BC. Led by Thebes, it dominated Greece until Thebes was destroyed by Alexander the Great с 335 BC.