The Peloponnesian War

Sparta-Athens Rivalry Peloponnesian League Peloponnesus = large peninsula in southern Greece Members: Sparta, Corinth, Elis Delian League Association of 173 city-states led by Athens after defeating Persia

Rising Tensions 460 BCE – Athens employed strategy of “Long Walls” (linking city to port at Piraeus) Sparta interpreted this as a sign of Athenian aggression 448 BCE – Fighting between Sparta and Athens 447 BCE – Thirty Years Peace treaty signed

Prelude to War: Athens and Corinth Athens kept Corinth’s merchants away from profitable trade of Aegean area Athens began to interfere with Corinth’s colonies Accused of breaking peace treaty with Sparta

Athens Prepares Pericles knew Attica (greater Athens) could be invaded yearly by the more powerful land army of the Spartans Arranged for importing food and refuge in the Long Walls Athenian fleet was strong and could raid the coast of the Peloponnese at will Surplus in Athens’ treasury Prospect for victory looked sure

Archidamian War: 431-421 BCE Sparta launched repeated invasions of Attica Athens took advantage of its naval supremacy to raid the coast of the Peloponnese attempting to suppress signs of unrest in its empire Period of war concluded in 421 BCE, with the signing of the Peace of Nicias 50 year truce Treaty soon undermined by renewed fighting in the Peloponnese

Plague! Plague struck Athens in 430 BCE (2nd year of war) In cramped, unsanitary conditions of the city walls, disease spread rapidly In two years, 1/3 of Athenians died, including leader Pericles

Sicilian Expedition: 415-413 BCE Athens dispatched a massive expeditionary force to attack Syracuse (Spartan ally) in Sicily Attack failed disastrously with the destruction of the entire force

Decelean or Ionian War: 405-404 BCE Sparta, now receiving support from Persia, supported rebellions in Athens’ subject states in the Aegean Sea and Ionia Undermined Athens’ empire and deprived city of naval supremacy Destruction of Athens’ fleet at Aegospotami effectively ended the war and Athens surrendered

Significance: Reshaping Greece International Relations Athens, strongest city-state in Greece prior to the war, was reduced to state of near-complete subjection Sparta became leading Greek power Economic Costs Poverty became widespread in the Peloponnese Athens found itself completely devastated and never regained its pre-war prosperity Social Changes Conflict between democratic Athens and oligarchic Sparta (each with friendly political factions in other states) made civil war common in the Greek world Peloponnesian War marked the dramatic end to the 5th Century BCE Golden Age of Greece

Peloponnesian War… in song!