 Many of the tactical innovations that Epaminondas implemented would also be used by Philip of Macedon, who in his youth spent time as a hostage in Thebes and may have learned directly from Epaminondas himself.In some ways Epaminondas dramatically altered the face of Greece during the 10 years in which he was the central figure of Greek politics.By the time of his death, Sparta had been humbled, Messenia freed, and the Peloponnese completely reorganized.