Download File - Mr. C at Hamilton

Mr. C’s

Athens?

Sparta?

After a time, though, Athens' influence began
to dominate the other city-states. The city
proceeded to conquer all of Greece save for
Sparta and its allies, and became known as
the Athenian Empire. By the middle of the
century, the Persians had been driven from
the Aegean and forced to cede control of a
vast range of territories to Athens.

At the same time, Athens greatly increased
its own power; a number of its formerly
independent allies were reduced, over the
course of the century, to the status of tributepaying subject states of the Delian League.
This tribute was used to support a powerful
fleet and, after the middle of the century, to
fund massive public works programs in
Athens, ensuring resentment

Those who revolted unsuccessfully during the
war saw the example made of the Mytilenians,
the principal people on Lesbos. After an
unsuccessful revolt, the Athenians ordered the
death of the entire male population. After some
thought, they rescinded this order, and only put
to death the leading 1000 ringleaders of the
revolt, and redistributed the land of the entire
island to Athenian shareholders, who were sent
out to reside on Lesbos.

Sparta and its allies, with the exception of
Corinth, were almost exclusively land-based
powers, able to summon large land armies
which were very nearly unbeatable (thanks to
the legendary Spartan forces). The Athenian
Empire, although based in the peninsula of
Attica, spread out across the islands of the
Aegean Sea; Athens drew its immense wealth
from tribute paid from these islands. Athens
maintained its empire through naval power.
Thus, the two powers were relatively unable to
fight decisive battles.

“Case for war?”
 Sparta attempted to prevent the reconstruction
of the walls of Athens
 465 BC – Helot revolt
▪ 4000 Athenians sent home
▪ Revolt is done, Athenians settled them at the strategic
city of Naupactus
 459 – Megara and Corinth (both allies of Sparta
▪ Athens sides with Megara

This starts a 15 year long war.
 Ends with 30 Year’s Peace signed in 446/5 BC

What starts the war for good?
 Samos/Athens
▪ Samos seeks help from Persian, Athens crushes
 Corcyra/Corinth
▪ Corcyra becomes an Athenian ally
 Potidaea/Athens
▪ Corinth helps Potidaea rebell against Athens

Final straw that broke the camel’s back?
 Athenians speech in Sparta
 http://www.classicpersuasion.org/pw/thucydides/thucydides-
passages.php?pleaseget=1.7378&passageid=Athenian%20Envoy%20At%20Sparta

Do you remember a little thing called Marathon?
 “We tell you that we, first and alone, dared to engage with the
Barbarian at Marathon, and that when he came again, being too weak
to defend ourselves by land, we and our whole people embarked on
shipboard and shared with the other Hellenes in the victory of
Salamis.”
 “The event proved undeniably that the fate of Hellas depended on her
navy. And the three chief elements of success were contributed by us;
namely, the greatest number of ships, the ablest general, the most
devoted patriotism.”

The war begins in 431 BC.