The Peloponnesian War3.5 | Classical Athens and the Achilles heel of Greek power

GREEK DIVISION RETURNS

After Persia left, the threat of their return was terrifying Defensive leagues saved Greece, so they maintained themThe Spartans held on to their league – the Peloponnesian LeagueThe Athenians created one – the Delian League c.478 B.C.Each side claimed they deserved credit for victory against Persia

League? Or Empire• Athens at first aided those that joined• Ionia [protection against Persia]• Islands in the Aegean [pirates]

• However, the “service” of protection came at a cost• Initially, city-states had to contribute soldiers and ships• Later, they could pay, or provide ships

• Demand from Athens grew, and some city-states wanted out• Athens would not let them• In fact, Athens would attack them if they tried

Relations with Sparta• Initially good, cooperation benefited both parties• However, new democratic movements pushed Athens deeper

into a imperialistic mindset• Athens allies with Sparta’s enemies and provokes war• Unrest within the Delian League forces a ceasefire

Classical Athens• The Age of Pericles c. 462 B.C.• Part of the new regime of Athens [imperial]• Rebuilding projects – the Parthenon and Athenian walls • Pericles institutes a Direct Democracy

• Every male citizen participates directly in government decision making through mass meetings [the assembly]

• Everyone could speak and everyone could vote

Athenian Democracy, for Athens

• Athenian democracy was not spread throughout the league• It was, in essence, an empire and it oppressed the members

THE BOILING POINT

Sparta, in reaction to Athenian aggression, begins supporting those city-states that want out of the Delian “League”Athens responds by crushing those city-states Athens fortifies its port, to ensure its navy can operate unabridgedThe first conflict’s peace, would not last

Meet our Narrator Thucydides Historian, politician, and commander during the warMeaning he can be biased, but he tries not to

“And with regard to my factual reporting of the events of the war I have made it a principle not to write down the first story that came my way, and not even to be guided by my own general impressions; either I was present myself at the events which I have described or else I heard of from eye-witnesses whose reports I have checked with as much thoroughness as possible.”

The Great Peloponnesian War• c. 435 – 404 B.C.• Sparta’s strategy [superior on land]• Assemble the army• Confront the Athenian army• If not, then besiege Athens• Starve Athens into submission

• Athens’ (Pericles’) strategy [superior at sea]• Assemble the navy to make precision strikes across the empire• Avoid major confrontations on land with the Spartans on land• Defend the network of walls around Athens and its port• Import food and continue life as usual

The Catastrophe of Democracy• Athenian strategy relied on Pericles and his ability to restrain

the masses in Athens• Direct democracy however, would kill Athens after his death• In 429 B.C., a plague broke out in Athens, killing Pericles and a

third of Athens• Turns out building a wall around 500,000 people has sanitary

consequences• Over time, the whims of democratic elections made the state

succumb to whimsical demands• Failed expeditions to Sicily

The Defeat of Athens• Sparta, sticking to its strategy, continued to put pressure on

Athens• Aligned with Persia for help in Ionia and Aegean

• Athenian war exhaustion • The Battle of Aegospotami 405 B.C.• Spartan navy destroys the Athenian navy

• Sparta besieges Athens• The starving method works this time

• Athenian unconditional surrender in 404 B.C.

The Aftermath of the War• Sparta became the Greek hegemon• However over time, it began to resemble the Athenian Empire

• Rebellions against Sparta • Thebes would become the new hegemon, followed by Athens

again, et cetera• By the mid-4th century B.C., Greece was devastated by its own

ambition• The same division that made it great against Persia, hamstringed

Greece and made it vulnerable