Download the peloponnesian war

THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR
431 BCE – 404 BCE
 A war between the two great Greek powers: Athens and Sparta.
 Athens became arrogant following the Persian Wars and their great defeat
of the Persian army at Salamis.
 The Delian League was formed in 478 BCE by Athens after the Persian
Wars to protect the Greeks from further Persian attacks. Athens
controlled the league, which at its height had 150 member city-states.
Members had to either contribute boats or money to this common defence
fund.
 The treasure of the Delian League was held on the island of Delos.
 Athens grew arrogant following the Persian wars. They sought to expand
their empire which grew to 300 city-states.
 The Athenians moved the treasure to Athens to “better protect it”. They
used the money to reconstruct their city which had been sacked by the
Persians.
 Sparta feared that Athens would take control of Greece. They form the
Peloponnesian League to protect themselves from Athens.
 Feeling threatened the Athenians built long walls which reach to the sea
to guard their city. Pericles, a great Athenian general, brought all the
people of Attica inside these walls to protect them from a Spartan attack.
 Athens had a strong navy, and Sparta had a great land army of
professional soldiers.
 Sparta declared war on Athens in 431 BCE.
 In 430 BCE, a plague struck Athens and 1/3 of the population died
(including Pericles).
 Sparta attacked Athens several times, but the city was too well-protected.
Athens attack areas in the Peloponnese several times as well, however,
neither side was actually winning the war. The two city-states, therefore,
made peace for a time.
 Athens longed to demonstrate its superiority and decided to attack
Syracuse (an ally of Sparta). Led by Alciabiades, the Athenians were
defeated. They lost 160 boats and 40 000 soldiers. This attack proved to
be one of the greatest strategic errors made by Athens, who had now had
no strong leaders.
 Sparta next allied itself with the Persians in order to build ships that
would rival Athens on the sea.
 Sparta’s navy surprised the Athenians and destroyed it with the help of
the Persians.
 Sparta now controlled the land and the sea. They surrounded Athens and
blockaded its port. Athens surrendered in 404 BCE. Sparta won the
war. They torn down the walls surrounding Athens and took control of
the city for a year. One year later Athens regained control of the city.