Changes

The great defeat in Sicily not only weakened the city militarily but also politically. Many of the traditional elite and the aristocracy had never been reconciled to the democracy. They wanted a return to oligarchy, that is the rule of the few<ref> Kallet, p. 234</ref>. They attributed the defeat to the democrats and they believed that if the city was to be saved that Athens had to change its form of government. Then there was the fiscal strain produced by the defeat outside Syracuse. The Athenian democracy began to make more and more demands on the rich of the city and these were so exorbitant that many wealthy people were left penniless. This caused great resentment among the old aristocracy<ref>Kallet, p. 235</ref>. However, the democracy was still supported by the mass pf citizens, especially the hoplites and the oarsmen. Alcibiades and others became involved in a plot to oust the democracy. During a difficult time for the Athenians, the plotters took their chance and seized power from the democrats. The oligarchy was known as the 400 and it ended the radical democracy in the city. They did continue the war, even though many of them were secretly pro-Spartan. The oligarchy was divided and it was succeeded by a more moderate form of oligarchy government the 5000 <ref>Kagan, p. 313</ref>. The Athenians all the while continued their war and after a victory at the Battle of Cyzicus took place in 410 BC, when an Athenian fleet destroyed a Spartan navy. This led to a backlash against the oligarchy and it soon fell and was replace, once more by democracy. The disaster in Sicily was to exacerbate political divisions in Athens and led to great political instability. This was to undermine the Athenian efforts in the war. For example, it failed to capitalize on its great victory at Cyzicus<ref>Kagan, p. 323</ref>. The aftermath of the Sicilian Expedition was that it divided Athens between democrats and oligarchs and this undermined its efforts.

[[File: PEP SEVEN.jpg|thumbnail|200px|A portrait of Alcibiades ]]

==Conclusion==

The Peloponnesian War was a terrible defeat for Athens. It was never again to be a great political force in the Greek world and beyond. The war had for many years gone well for the Athenians and by the time of the Peace of Nicias, it could even be said to have won a strategic victory. However, this was all to change after the Sicilian Expedition. It was a foolhardy and poorly planned invasion. It probably never had a chance of succeeding. The expedition was an unmitigated disaster for the Athenians and it weakened their army and navy. They were never as militarily powerful again. They did manage to continue the war but it was clear that they were always going to be on the defensive after Sicily. The expedition left the city militarily weakened it also weakened it financially. This led to heavy taxes that provoked a coup and government by an oligarchy. Athens was destabilized by the disaster in Sicily and this was a factor in its defeat. The Sicilian Expedition was the beginning of the end for Athens and her Empire and ensured that she would ultimately be defeated by her enemies.

=References==