HEGEMONY, the leadership especially of one particular state in a group of federated or loosely united states. The term was first applied in Greek history to the position claimed by dif ferent individual city-states, e.g., by Athens and Sparta, at differ ent times to a position of predominance among other equal states, coupled with individual autonomy. The reversion of this position was claimed by Macedon (see GREECE : Ancient History, and DELIAN LEAGUE).