Download The Peloponnesian War

The Peloponnesian War
I can explain the causes of the
Peloponnesian War and the effect
the war had on the Greek city-states.
PERICLES LEADS ATHENS
After the Persian Wars one of Athens’ greatest leaders, Pericles, emerged. By 460 B.C., Pericles was the strongest
leader in Athens. He remained the leader until his death 31 years later. He was so important that this time in Athens is often called
the Age of Pericles.
Pericles had three goals for Athens.
1) Strengthen Democracy: Pericles wanted to change the balance of power between the rich and the poor. He
increased the number of public officials who were paid. Now even poor citizens could hold a public office if elected. To hold office, a
person sill needed to be a free, Greek male, over 18, and the son of Athenian-born parents. Direct Democracy became the practice in
Athens. All citizens could participate in running the government.
2) Expand the Empire: To protect oversees trade, the Greek city-states formed a league for mutual protection called
the Delian League. Pericles used money from the Delian League to build a strong navy. The naval fleet made up of at least 300 war
ships. This fleet was the strongest in the Mediterranean. Because of the strong navy, Athens took over leadership of the Delian
League. The treasury was moved to Athens and Athens’ power was strengthened. Athens began treating others in the Delian league
as conquered people, not allies.
3) Beautify Athens: Greek city-states paid a tribute to the Delian League. The funds were supposed to help build the
power of the league. Instead, Pericles used these funds to beautify Athens, which was left in ruins after the Persian Wars. He did not
ask approval from other members to do this. This action made other city-states angry. Pericles spent the money to purchase gold,
ivory, and marble to create sculptures and construct beautiful buildings .
YELLOW: All Greek territories “loyal” to Athens
during the Age of Pericles.
THE OUTBREAK OF WAR
The Peloponnesian War broke out because of 3 main reasons.
1) Some city-states feared Athens because of its grab for power and prestige.
2) Under the leadership of Pericles, Athens grew from a city-state to a naval empire.
3) Athenian settlers began to move into lands of other city-states.
The other city-states resented how
Athens spent money from the Delian League,
which was intended for the mutual protection of
all the city-states. Several city-states wanted to
break free from Athenian power. Pericles’
policy was to punish any city-state that resisted
Athens.
Sparta headed a league of citystates to stand up to the power of the Delian
League. This was called the Peloponnesian
League. In 431 B.C., Sparta declared war on
Athens.
ALLIANCES OF THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR
THE WAR RAGES
Each side in the war had advantages and disadvantages. Sparta had the better land-based military
force, and its location could not be attacked by sea. Athens had the better navy and could strike Sparta’s allies
by sea. These differences shaped the war strategy of each side.
Over the course of the war major battles were fought
on both land and sea. Cities revolted leading to sieges.
It’s difficult to gage an accurate count of casualties
throughout the war. This war did not just affect those
involved in the military. All people throughout Greece
were in harms way.
THE SIEGE OF SYRACUSE
This two year campaign 414-413 ended with most or all of the 5,500 Athenian force being
either killed or captured into slavery. It is unknown how many civilians were killed during
the campaign.
Sparta’s strategy was to cut off the Athenian food supply by destroying crops. The Spartans did this by taking
control of the countryside around Athens. The Spartans planned an annual invasion of Athenian lands to destroy the freshly
planted crops. They were both trying to starve the people of Athens as well as antagonize the Athenian military to come out from
behind the city fortifications and confront the Spartans in the open battle.
Athens’s strategy was to avoid battles on land and to rely on sea power. Pericles persuaded the Athenians to allow
Spartans to destroy the countryside. The Athenian navy was able to supply the city with food from the sea as well as land troops
into Spartan territory to inflict similar damage. Pericles brought people from the areas surrounding Athens inside the city-walls.
The people would be safe there and Athens would be supplied with food by the sea.
With one side being a powerful land based army and the other being a dominant naval power, the war dragged on
for decades with many of the battle outcomes being indecisive.
DISASTER STRIKES ATHENS
Because of Pericles’ plan to bring people into Athens, the city became badly overcrowded. In
the second year of the war, an outbreak of a plague took many lives in Athens. The plague was a disease
that spread easily and usually caused death. Athens lost as many as one-third of its people and armed
forces. Pericles, too, died from the plague.
IN 404 B.C., ATHENS SURRENDERED TO SPARTA
Athens would never again regain the
power it once had.
Sparta suffered heavy losses as well.
By the end of the war it’s believed
that there were no more than a few
thousand men of fighting age left in
Sparta.
Cities and crops were destroyed.
Countless thousands of Greeks died.
ALL Greek city-states lost economic
and military power.
AFTERMATH
To the north of the Greek city-states,
King Philip II of Macedon came to power in 359
B.C. Planning to build and empire, he looked
south toward the weakened Greek city-states.
THE KINGDOM OF MACEDONIA
Macedonia was now the new power of Greece. King Philip II had plans to build an empire
that included the lands of Greece and Persia.
As a teenager, Philip had been a hostage in the Greek city of Thebes. There he observed its
army and its military tactics. Philip learned of the advantages of a professional army. Philip organized a
well-trained professional army. He devised new battle formations and tactics. He experimented with the
combined use of cavalry and infantry. He supplied his soldiers with new weapons, like the catapult. His
soldiers also used battering rams to smash through closed gates.
PHILIP CONQUERS GREECE
Philip II focused on the Greek city-states, which has
been severely weakened during the 50 years since the
Peloponnesian War. The Greek city-states were too disorganized
and weak to unite against Philip. In 338 B.C., Philip completed
his conquest of the Greeks, and Philip became the ruler of all
Greek city-states. His dictatorial rule ended Greek democratic
practices. He brought Greek troops into his army and prepared to
attack Persia.
In 336 B.C, Philip was assassinated at his daughters
wedding. They said at the time of his assassination that Philip
was a great king.
They also said that his son, Alexander was simply great.