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[[File:PEP ONE.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px200px|A bust of Pericles]]One of the most important wars in the Ancient World was the [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0192821911/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0192821911&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=5fd0b01d22c877e6aa555ca1eb8eacff Peloponnesian War ] (431-404 BCE). The conflict was a long drawn out war between Athens and Sparta and their respective allies. It convulsed Greece and changed the course of the Classical world. The war ended the Golden Age of Athenian Culture and arguably weakened the Greek world forever. What was the cause of the Peloponnesian War? The origins of such a conflict are complex. The ultimate origins of the war primary causes were in Sparta’s fear of that Sparta feared the growing might power and influence of the Athenian Empire.

In the aftermath of The Peloponnesian war began after the Persian Wars, the ended in 449 BCE. The two powers could not struggled to agree on their respective spheres of influence, absent Persia's influence. This disagreement led to friction and eventually outright war. Additionally, Athens and its ambitions caused increasing instability in Greece. The profoundly different societies of Athens and Sparta was societies were also a significant factor in the war’s outbreak, which also had an ideological aspect.

====Background==How did Athens's growing power threaten Sparta? ==[[File: PEP THREE.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px200px|Statuette of a Spartan Warrior]]The origins of the Peloponnesian War lay in the Greeks Greece's victory over the PersiansPersian Empire. The Greeks had combined under the leadership of Sparta and Athens ' leadership to defeat the Persians, then the most powerful empire in Asia. In the aftermath of the Persian Wars, the Greeks were unable to maintain their unity. The Greek world was riven by cultural Cultural and ethnic differences and people’s were driving the Greek world apart. People’s first loyalty was often to their Polis or local city or community. There was a definite sense of ‘Greekness’ and a common cultural heritage.<ref>Kagan, Donald. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0801495563/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0801495563&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a72c6923cec3d4d8a05a33168424d78d The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War]</i> (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1989), p. 56</ref> Yet this was not enough to overcome deep divisions in the Greek world and as soon as the Persians left they immediately began to fall out amongst themselves. Sparta a very conservative society had opted out of the war with Persia once their invasion had been defeated. Athens continued the war against Persia and it formed the Delian League. This League was an alliance of city-states and islands that vowed to continue the war against the Persians.<ref>Kagan, p. 113</ref>

Over time the Athenians, who were the largest maritime power in the Aegean came to dominate the Delian League. This While there was the Golden Age a definite sense of Athens ‘Greekness’ and was a common cultural heritage, it did not override the era of Platomore local loyalties.<ref>Kagan, Socrates and countless other great cultural figures and artistsDonald. Gradually the Athenians began to turn the Delian League into an Empire<i>[https://www.amazon. Athens used its superior navy to intimidate its allies and they eventually became mere tributaries com/gp/product/0801495563/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0801495563&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a72c6923cec3d4d8a05a33168424d78d The Outbreak of the AtheniansPeloponnesian War]</i> (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1989), p. Sparta soon became very suspicious 56</ref> This notion of Greekness was not enough to overcome deep divisions within the growing power of AthensGreek world. It was the head of As soon as the powerful Peloponnesian LeaguePersians left, which comprised large city-states such as Corinth and Thebes. The League became very concerned about the Athenians huge fleet of ships that allowed it Greeks immediately began to dominate its former alliesquarrel with each other. Athens had also been turned into Sparta, a formidable strongholddeeply conservative society, by had opted out of Persia's war after their invasion was repelled. Athens continued the Athenianswar against Persia, when they constructed and it formed the ‘Long Walls’Delian League. These walls connected the This League was an alliance of city with its port, Piraeus -states and allowed islands that vowed to continue the city to supply itself and made any siege of war against the city unlikely Persians until they no longer represented a threat to succeedtheir alliance.<reref>Kagan, p. 113</ref> Athens growing ambitions led to tensions with its neighbors and eventually this led to a war. This involved Athens and Corinth, with the latter receiving some support from Sparta. This conflict ended with a peace treaty and a ‘Thirty Years Peace’, This in theory guaranteed Athens and Sparta their respective spheres of influence. Corinth and other members of the Peloponnesian League were unhappy about Sparta’s lack of leadership. Some leading Sparta became concerned that inaction would push the other major Greek powers, to side with Athens. During the so-called thirty Year Peace Athens grew ever stronger and in many ways arrogant, as seen in its increasing haughty attitude to its subject city-states.

====Long-term Factors Over time the Athenians, who were the largest maritime power in the Outbreak of War====The underlying cause of Aegean, dominated the war was Delian League. This era constituted the rapid rise Golden Age of Athens and was concurrent with Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle's lives. Gradually, the Athenians. They had grown from just another city-state began to turn the Delian League into an Empire. During Athens used its superior navy to intimidate its allies, and after they eventually became mere tributaries of the Persian Wars, it had transformed itself and Athenians. Sparta soon became a major trading and maritime very suspicious of Athens's growing power.<ref>Cawkwell Sparta was the head of the powerful Peloponnesian League, comprised of several large city-states, Georgeincluding Corinth and Thebes. <i>[https://wwwThe League was very concerned about the Athenian fleet because it allowed Athens to dominate Greece's seas.amazonAthens had also been turned into a formidable stronghold when the city constructed the ‘Long Walls.com/gp/product/B000FA5ZGY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000FA5ZGY&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b0d12599fc35ad97a1a071a79c90ab5e Thucydides ’ These walls connected the city with its port, Piraeus, allowed the city to supply itself, and made any siege of the Peloponnesian War]city unlikely to succeed.</iref> (London: Routledge, 1997)Kagan, p 67. 113</ref> It had developed into the greatest maritime power in the Greek world Athens's growing ambitions led to tensions with its neighbors and had the ability eventually led to dominate war. This conflict involved Athens and Corinth, with the trade routes in the eastern Mediterraneanlatter receiving some support from Sparta. It had emerged as This war ended with a great Empire in peace treaty and a very quick period of time and this upset the traditional balance of power‘Thirty Years Peace. For many decades’ Sparta’ This treaty, had been the greatest power in Greecetheory, this was based on its well-disciplined guaranteed Athens and much-feared armySparta their respective spheres of influence. The Spartan Hoplite Corinth and other members of the Peloponnesian League were considered the best soldiers in unhappy about Sparta’s lack of leadership. Some leading Spartans became concerned that their inaction would push the other major Greek worldpowers to side with Athens.<ref>HansonDuring the so-called thirty Year Peace, Victor Davis. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812969707/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0812969707&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=2988ca75b4a6858afae8101e8c5ce3d0 A War Like No Other: How the Athenians Athens grew ever stronger and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War]</i>. (New York: Random Housein many ways arrogant, 2005), pas seen in its increasing haughty attitude to its subject city-states. 56</ref>

== How did the Peloponnesian War Start? ==The underlying cause of the war was the rapid rise of Athens meant that there were two great powers in the Greek worldAthenians. They had grown from just another city-state into an Empire. These powers both It had a network of alliances all over transformed itself during and after the Greek world Persian Wars and beyond. The Greeks became divided into a Spartan major trading and an Athenian campmaritime power.<ref>Cawkwell, George. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FA5ZGY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000FA5ZGY&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b0d12599fc35ad97a1a071a79c90ab5e Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War]</i> (London: Routledge, 1997), p.11567</ref> Athens and Sparta It had different spheres of influences, as outlined developed into the greatest maritime power in the ‘Thirty Year Peace’ treaty Greek world and theoretically this meant that they both could have lived dominate the trade routes in peaceful co-existencethe eastern Mediterranean. Athens controlled It had emerged as a great Empire in a quick period, and this upset the coastal areas traditional balance of Greece and power. For many decades Sparta had been the Greek islands, while Sparta, a land greatest military power could control the Peloponnesein Greece. Despite this, Sparta grew increasingly fearful 's well-disciplined and much-feared army was the source of Athens and its main ally Corinth military power. The Spartan Hoplite was actively encouraging it to attack Athensconsidered the best soldiers in the Greek world.<ref>Hanson, Victor Davis. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812969707/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0812969707&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=2988ca75b4a6858afae8101e8c5ce3d0 A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War]</i>. (New York: Random House, 2005), p. 11756</ref>

In 440 BCE, Corinth urged the Spartans to wage war on The rise of Athens when it was suppressing a revolt on meant that there were two great powers in the island of SamosGreek world. The Spartan Kings always cautious These powers both had decided not to become involved in a war with their former allies. However, network of alliances all over the Thirty Years Peace was under increasing strainGreek world and beyond. In the The Greeks became divided into a Spartan assembly, there was growing alarm at the growth of and an Athenian powercamp.<ref> KaganCawkwell, p. 134115</ref> As Athens seemed to be growing more powerful there was a growing war-party and Sparta had different spheres of influence, as outlined in Sparta. They argued the ‘Thirty Year Peace’ treaty, and theoretically, this meant that the Spartans had to attack Athens before it became too powerfulthey both could have lived in peaceful co-existence. The fear of Athens increasingly led controlled Greece's coastal areas and the Spartans to prepare for warGreek islands, while Sparta, a land power, even though there is no evidence that could control the Athenians had any designs on Peloponnese. Despite this, Sparta or grew increasingly fearful of Athens, and its alliesmain ally Corinth was actively encouraging it to attack Athens.<ref>KaganHanson, p. 213117</ref> There were those in Athens who believed that a war should be welcomed. There was a strong ‘imperial’ party in the city who believed that it was entitled to a great empire because of its role in the defeat of the Persians.

The belief that Spartan fear of Athens was the ultimate cause of In 440 BCE, Corinth urged the Spartans to wage war on Athens simultaneously as Cornith was suppressing a revolt on the view island of ThucydidesSamos. According The Spartan Kings were cautious and decided toavoid conflict with Athens at that time. However, the great Greek historianThirty Years Peace was under increasing strain. In the Spartan assembly, Thucydides they were growing alarmed at the growth of the ‘power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired in Lacedaemon (Sparta), made war inevitableAthenian power.<ref>ThucydidesKagan, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1p.67–71134</ref> "He believed that the Peloponnesian War As Athens seemed to be growing more powerful, there was inevitable, because when a rising power confronted another power, they would inevitably wage a growing pro-war against each other to further or protect their interests<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71 </ref>party in Sparta. Some later historians have also They argued that war was inevitable between the two greatest Greek powersSpartans had to attack Athens before it became too powerful. It The fear of Athens increasingly led the Spartans to prepare for war, even though there is still widely held no evidence that in international relations, the growth of a nation-state Athenians had any designs on Sparta or empire will inevitably lead to rivalry and war with an established powerits allies.<ref>Kagan, p. 71 213</ref> Additionally, there were those in Athens who believed that war should be welcomed. There was a strong ‘imperial’ party in Athens who believed that it was entitled to a great empire because of its role in the Persians' defeat. Sparta's concerns were not entirely unfounded.

====The Greek historian Thucydides argued that Sparta and 's fear of Athens====The Spartans and the Athenians were very different societies. Athens was a democracy, and it was very individualistic. The population played a very important role in politics and indeed it was a radical democracy. The citizens, (only free males) could directly vote on the affairs ultimate cause of the citywar. Sparta was almost According to Thucydides, the opposite growth of Athens 's ‘power and the alarm which this inspired in every way. It was a very stratified and conservative society. It was ostensibly ruled by two kings, from two royal familiesLacedaemon (Sparta) made war inevitable."<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71 </ref> The kings shared Thucydides believed that the Peloponnesian War was inevitable because when a rising power confronted another power with a council of elders (Gerousia). Sparta society depended on a servile population the helots who toiled the lands of Lacodemia for , they would inevitably wage war against each other to further or protect their Spartan mastersinterests.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71 </ref> Sparta Some later historians have also argued that war was a highly military society and inevitable between the two greatest Greek powers. It is still widely held that in international relations, the need for growth of a strong and wellnation-disciplined army was the main concern of the state. The state took boys from their family or empire will inevitably lead to rivalry and trained them from youth to be soldierswar with an established power. The role of women was to produce good soldiers and men were expected to be brave warriors<ref>Kagan, p. 71 </ref>

The profound cultural and political differences between the two great Greek powers contributed to the war. They had real difficulties understanding each other and this lead to mutual suspicions. Because of their different political systems and cultures they were often ideologically opposed. Sparta favored the many oligarchies and distrusted the role of the common people in government. In contrast, Athens encouraged democracy and believed that it was the best form of government.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71<dh-ad/ref> This ideological rivalry between Sparta and Athens did much to increase tensions in the run up to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War and was a contributing factor.

==Who fought in the Peloponnesian War? ==Immediate causes The primary combatants in the Peloponnesian War were the city-states of Athens and Sparta and had allies that supported them during the war. The Spartans and the Athenians had radically different societies. Athens was a democracy, and it was very individualistic. The population played a significant role in politics, and indeed it was a fairly radical democracy for the time. The citizens (only free males) could directly vote on the affairs of the city. Sparta was almost the opposite of Athens in every way. It was a very stratified and conservative society. Two kings from two royal families ostensibly ruled it.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71 </ref> The kings shared power with a council of elders (Gerousia). Sparta society depended on a servile population. The helots toiled the lands of Lacodemia for their Spartan masters.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71 </ref> Sparta was a highly militarized society, and the need for a strong and well-disciplined army was the main concern of the state. The state took boys from their families and trained them from youth to be soldiers. The role of women was to produce good soldiers, and men were expected to be brave warriors.  The profound cultural and political differences between the two great Greek powers contributed to the war. They had real difficulties understanding each other, and this lead to mutual suspicions. Because of their different political systems and cultures, they were often ideologically opposed. Sparta favored the many oligarchies and distrusted the role of the common people in government. In contrast, Athens encouraged democracy and believed that it was the best form of government.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71</ref> This ideological rivalry between Sparta and Athens did much to increase tensions in the run-up to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War and was a contributing factor. == What event sparked the war between Athens and Sparta? ==<div class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'> ====Related DailyHistory.org Articles===={{#dpl:category=Ancient Greek History|ordermethod=firstedit|order=descending|count=7}}</div>

The tensions between the Athenians and the Greek only Sparta grew. Thucydides noted that many believed that war was only a matter of time and that the Thirty Years Peace Treaty would soon be brokenby one side or the other. There All Greece needed was a crisis when a Greek colony in Thrace that was in dispute with Athens asked the Spartans for assistance. Athens despite this laid siege spark to the colony. The Athenians, at this time were also in dispute with the small city-state of Megara and they unilaterally banned the ships of that city from its port and its allies. This became known as the Megarian Decree. Megara was start a long-time Spartan ally and this was widely resented, as it was seen as an attempt to make Megara completely dependent on Athenswar.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.71-73 </ref> This was not acceptable to Sparta and they believed that if Megara came within the orbit of the Athenians that they would use the port to weaken their position in Greece.

SpartaThrace and Athens had a dispute and the Thracians, a Spartan ally, supported by her allies demanded that asked the Spartans for assistance. Athens withdraw decided to lay siege to the Megarian decreecolony. The Athenians, but at this was opposed by Athens. Pericles time, were also in dispute with the desmall city-facto leader state of Megara. They unilaterally banned the Athenian Empire argued against such ships of that Megara from its port and its allies. This became known as the Megarian Decree. Megara was a move long-time Spartan ally, which was widely resented, as it would only encourage the Spartans was seen as an attempt to make more demandsMegara completely dependent on Athens.<ref>Kagan[16] This was not acceptable to Sparta, p. 115</ref> Thucydides states and they believed that if Megara came within the Corinthians condemned Sparta's lack orbit of action until then and warned them that the Athenians, they had remained too passive for too long. They demanded action. Sparta was concerned that if it displayed any weakness that this could lead would use the port to its losing its pre-eminent weaken their position in the Peloponnese League.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1Greece.67–71</ref>

The Athenians were extremely confident Her allies supported Sparta and they knew demanded that as long as they had their navy and their ‘Long Walls’ that they could not be defeated even if they could not beat Sparta and her allies on Athens withdraw the battlefield. This strategy was recommended by Pericles to the Athenians and was much praised by Thucydides. Sparta began to contemplate war Megarian Decree, but they seemed unwilling to formally declare war. Then the situation spun out of control when allies of Sparta attacked the allies of Athensopposed it. The Spartans came to believe that they had no choice but to go to war. In 431 BCEPericles, the senior Spartan king led an army into the countryside around Athens and laid Athenian Empire's de-facto leader, argued against such a move as it waste. This was would only encourage the start of the great Peloponnesian War. The early years of the war were a stalemate because according Spartans to Thucydides writings, this was because the Athenians followed Pericles cautious strategymake more demands.<ref>ThucydidesKagan, The Peloponnesian War 2p.69–71115</ref> Later Athens, encouraged by Alcibiades launched Thucydides states that the Sicilian expedition to conquer Sicily during a lull in the fighting, known as the Peace Corinthians condemned Sparta's lack of Niciasaction until then and warned them that they had remained too passive for too long. This proved to be a disaster and They demanded action. Sparta was concerned that if it led displayed any weakness that this could lead to its losing its pre-eminent position in the loss of an Athenian army and navy. Remarkably, the Athenians continued to fight and the Spartans needed Persian help to defeat themPeloponnese League.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 61.6–1167–71</ref> The destruction of the Athenian fleet at Aegospotami ended the war, and Athens surrendered the following year. Athens was forced to tear down its Long Walls and was fortunate not to be utterly destroyed.

====Conclusions====The Peloponnesian War changed Greece in every wayAthenians were extremely confident, and they knew that as long as they had their navy and their ‘Long Walls’ that they could not be defeated even if they could not beat Sparta and her allies on the battlefield. Nothing This strategy was recommended by Pericles to the same after the war Athenians and Athens was never much praised by Thucydides. Sparta began to be as powerful. The causes of the contemplate war, are that but they seemed unwilling to declare war formally. Then the Athenian Empire upset situation spun out of control when the balance allies of power in Sparta attacked the Greek world. This greatly alarmed Sparta and its alliesof Athens. The aggressive policies of Athens did not help the situation- the ambitions of the city-state certainly provoked the Spartanscame to believe that they had no choice but to go to war. Increasingly In 431 BCE, the Spartans became very nervous about senior Spartan king led an army into the growing naval countryside around Athens and commercial power laid it waste. This was the start of Athensthe great Peloponnesian War. At firstAccording to Thucydides' writings, they resisted the calls early years of its allied to declare the war on its arch-rival. Once Athens had issued the Megarian degree, it initiated were a chain of event that led to stalemate because the Spartan invasion of Athenian territoryAthenians followed Pericles's cautious strategy. <ref>Thucydides, The deep cultural differences between the two Greek powers was also a contributory factor to the increasing tensions that later exploded into an all-out war that consumed the entire Greek worldPeloponnesian War 2. 69–71</ref>

Later Athens, encouraged by Alcibiades, launched the Sicilian expedition to conquer Sicily during a lull in the fighting, known as the Peace of Nicias. This proved to be a disaster, which led to the loss of an Athenian army and navy. Remarkably, the Athenians continued to fight, and the Spartans needed Persian help to defeat them.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 6.6–11<div class="portal" style="width:85%;"/ref>The destruction of the Athenian fleet at Aegospotami ended the war, and Athens surrendered the following year. Athens was forced to tear down its Long Walls and was fortunate not to be utterly destroyed. ==What were the long-term effects of the Peloponnesian War on Greece? ==Related DailyHistoryThe Peloponnesian War changed Greece in every way.org Articles====*[[How did Nothing was the same after the Silk Road develop?]]*[[How did war, and Athens become was never to be as powerful. The causes of the war are that the Athenian Empire upset the leading Greek world's balance of power. This greatly alarmed Sparta and its allies. Athens' aggressive policies did not help the situation- the city-state?]]*[[When was Insurance First Used?]]*[[How did Early Empires facilitate 's ambitions certainly provoked the Spartans. Increasingly, the Spartans became very nervous about the growing naval and commercial power of Athens. At first, they resisted the Rise calls of Investment Banking?]]*[[What was its allied to declare war on its arch-rival. Once Athens had issued the impact Megarian decree, it initiated a chain of events that led to the defeat Spartan invasion of the Sicilian Expedition on Athens?]]</div>{{Mediawiki:Ancient Greece}}Athenian territory. The big cultural differences between the two Greek powers was also a contributory factor to the increasing tensions that later exploded into an all-out war that consumed the entire Greek world.