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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). This 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 and these will be evaluated in this work. It will be argued in this piece The primary causes were that the ultimate origins of the war lay in Sparta’s fear Sparta feared of the growing might power and influence of the Athenian Empire. In the aftermath of the Persian Wars, the two powers could not come to an agreement on their respective spheres of influence and this led to friction and eventually outright war. Athens and its ambitions also led to increasing instability and this is exemplified in the Megarian Decree. The profoundly different societies of Athens and Sparta was also a significant factor in the war’s outbreak, which also had an ideological aspect.

The Peloponnesian war began after the Persian Wars ended in 449 BCE. The two powers 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 also a significant factor in the war’s outbreak, which also had an ideological aspect. ====Background====

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 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  While there was a definite sense of ‘Greekness’ and a common cultural heritage, it did not override the more local loyalties.<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 This notion of Greekness was not enough to overcome deep divisions in within the Greek world and as . As soon as the Persians left they , the Greeks immediately began to fall out amongst themselvesquarrel with each other. Sparta , a very deeply conservative society , had opted out of the war with Persia once after their invasion had been defeatedwas repelled. 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 Persiansuntil they no longer represented a threat to their alliance.<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 era constituted the Golden Age of Athens and was concurrent with the lives of Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle. Gradually, the Athenians began to turn the Delian League into an Empire. Athens used its superior navy to intimidate its allies and they eventually became mere tributaries of the Athenians. Sparta soon became very suspicious of Athens's growing power. Sparta was the head of the powerful Peloponnesian League, which was comprised of several large city-states, including Corinth and Thebes. The League was very concerned about the Athenian fleet because it allowed Athens to dominate seas around Greece. Athens had also been turned into a formidable stronghold when the city constructed the ‘Long Walls’. These walls connected the city with its port, Piraeus and allowed the city to supply itself and made any siege of the city unlikely to succeed.<ref>Kagan, p. 113</ref> Athens growing ambitions led to tensions with its neighbors and eventually led to a war. This conflict involved Athens and Corinth, with the latter receiving some support from Sparta. This war ended with a peace treaty and a ‘Thirty Years Peace.’ This treaty, 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 Spartans became concerned that their 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 in the Outbreak of War====The underlying cause of the war was the rapid rise of the Athenians. They had grown from just another city-state into an Empire. During and after the Persian Wars, it had transformed itself and became a major trading and maritime 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 67</ref> It had developed into the greatest maritime power in the Greek world and could dominate the trade routes in the eastern Mediterranean. It had emerged as a great Empire in a quick period, and this upset the traditional balance of power. For many decades’ Sparta, had been the greatest military power in Greece. Sparta's well-disciplined and much-feared army was the source of its military power. The Spartan Hoplite was considered 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. 56</ref>  The rise of Athens meant that there were two great powers in the Greek world. These powers both had a network of alliances all over the Greek world and beyond. The Greeks became divided into a Spartan and an Athenian camp.<ref>Cawkwell, p.115</ref> Athens and Sparta had different spheres of influences, as outlined in the ‘Thirty Year Peace’ treaty and theoretically this meant that they both could have lived in peaceful co-existence. Athens controlled the coastal areas of Greece and the Greek islands, while Sparta, a land power could control the Peloponnese. Despite this, Sparta grew increasingly fearful of Athens and its main ally Corinth was actively encouraging it to attack Athens.<ref>Hanson, p. 117</ref>  In 440 BCE, Corinth urged the Spartans to wage war on Athens at the same time as Cornith was suppressing a revolt on the island of Samos. The Spartan Kings were cautious and decided to avoid conflict with Athens at that time. However, the Thirty Years Peace was under increasing strain. In the Spartan assembly, they were growing alarmed at the growth of Athenian power.<ref> Kagan, p. 134</ref> As Athens seemed to be growing more powerful, there was a growing pro-war party in Sparta. They argued that the Spartans had to attack Athens before it became too powerful. The fear of Athens increasingly led the Spartans to prepare for war, even though there is no evidence that the Athenians had any designs on Sparta or its allies.<ref>Kagan, p. 213</ref> Additionally, there were those in Athens who believed that a 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 defeat of the Persians. Sparta's concerns were not entirely unfounded.

Over time the Athenians, who were the largest maritime power in the Aegean came to dominate the Delian League. This was the Golden Age The Greek historian Thucydides argued that Sparta's fear of Athens and was the era ultimate cause of Plato, Socrates and countless other great cultural figures and artists. Gradually the Athenians began to turn the Delian League into an Empirewar. Athens used its superior navy According to intimidate its allies and they eventually became mere tributaries of Thucydides, the Athenians. Sparta soon became very suspicious growth of the growing power ‘power of Athens. It was the head of the powerful Peloponnesian League, 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 to dominate its former allies. Athens had also been turned into a formidable stronghold, by the Athenians, when they constructed the ‘Long Walls’. These walls connected the city with its port, Piraeus and allowed the city to supply itself and alarm which this inspired in Lacedaemon (Sparta) made any siege of the city unlikely to succeedwar inevitable."<reref> KaganThucydides, p<i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1. 11367–71</ref> Athens growing ambitions led to tensions with its neighbors and eventually this led to Thucydides believed that the Peloponnesian War was inevitable because when a war. This involved Athens and Corinthrising power confronted another power, with the latter receiving some support from Sparta. This conflict ended with they would inevitably wage a peace treaty and a ‘Thirty Years Peace’, This in theory guaranteed Athens and Sparta war against each other to further or protect their respective spheres of influenceinterests. Corinth and other members of the <ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian League were unhappy about Sparta’s lack of leadershipWar</i> 1. 67–71 </ref> Some leading Sparta became concerned later historians have also argued that inaction would push war was inevitable between the other major two greatest Greek powers. It is still widely held that in international relations, the growth of a nation-state or empire will inevitably lead to side rivalry and war with Athensan established power. During the so-called thirty Year Peace Athens grew ever stronger and in many ways arrogant<ref>Kagan, as seen in its increasing haughty attitude to its subject city-statesp. 71 </ref>

==Long-term Factors in the Outbreak of War==The underlying cause of the war was the rapid rise of the Athenians. They had grown from just another city-state to an Empire. During and after the Persian Wars, it had transformed itself and became a major trading and maritime power.<ref> Cawkwell, George. Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War (London: Routledge, 1997), p 67</ref> It had developed into the greatest maritime power in the Greek world and had the ability to dominate the trade routes in the eastern Mediterranean. It had emerged as a great Empire in a very quick period of time and this upset the traditional balance of power. For many decades’ Sparta, had been the greatest power in Greece, this was based on its welldh-disciplined and much-feared army. The Spartan Hoplite were considered the best soldiers in the Greek world.<ref>Hanson, Victor Davis. A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War. (New York: Random House, 2005), p. 56<ad/ref>

====Sparta and Athens====The rise of Athens meant that there Spartans and the Athenians were two great powers in the Greek worldvery different societies. These powers both had Athens was a network of alliances all over the Greek world democracy, and beyondit was very individualistic. The Greeks became divided into population played a Spartan very important role in politics and an Athenian campindeed it was a fairly radical democracy for the time.<ref> CawkwellThe citizens, p.115</ref> Athens and Sparta had different spheres of influences, as outlined in the ‘Thirty Year Peace’ treaty and theoretically this meant that they both (only free males) could have lived in peaceful co-existence. Athens controlled directly vote on the coastal areas affairs of Greece and the Greek islands, while city. Sparta, a land power could control was almost the Peloponnese. Despite this, Sparta grew increasingly fearful opposite of Athens in every way. It was a very stratified and its main ally Corinth conservative society. It was actively encouraging it to attack Athensostensibly ruled by two kings, from two royal families.<ref> HansonThucydides, p<i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1. 11767–71 </ref> In 440 BCE, Corinth urged the Spartans to wage war on Athens when it was suppressing The kings shared power with a revolt on the island council of Samoselders (Gerousia). The Spartan Kings always cautious had decided not to become involved in Sparta society depended on a war with their former alliesservile population. However, the Thirty Years Peace was under increasing strain. In The helots toiled the lands of Lacodemia for their Spartan assembly, there was growing alarm at the growth of Athenian powermasters.<ref> KaganThucydides, p. 134</refi> As Athens seemed to be growing more powerful there was a growing war-party in Sparta. They argued that the Spartans had to attack Athens before it became too powerful. The fear of Athens increasingly led the Spartans to prepare for war, even though there is no evidence that the Athenians had any designs on Sparta or its allies.Peloponnesian War<ref/i>Kagan, p1. 21367–71 </ref> There were those in Athens who believed that Sparta was a war should be welcomed. There was highly militarized society and the need for a strong ‘imperial’ party in and well-disciplined army was the main concern of the city who believed that it was entitled state. The state took boys from their family and trained them from youth to a great empire because of its be soldiers. The role in the defeat of the Persianswomen was to produce good soldiers and men were expected to be brave warriors.

The belief that Spartan fear of Athens was profound cultural and political differences between the ultimate cause of two great Greek powers contributed to the war was the view of Thucydides. According They had real difficulties understanding each other and this lead tomutual suspicions. Because of their different political systems and cultures, they were often ideologically opposed. Sparta favored the great Greek historian, Thucydides many oligarchies and distrusted the growth role of the ‘power of common people in government. In contrast, Athens, encouraged democracy and believed that it was the alarm which this inspired in Lacedaemon (Sparta), made war inevitablebest form of government.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War 1.67–71</ref> "He believed that the Peloponnesian War was inevitable, because when a rising power confronted another power, they would inevitably wage a war against each other to further or protect their interests<refi>Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War 1.67–71 </ref>. Some later historians have also argued that war was inevitable This ideological rivalry between the two greatest Greek powers. It is still widely held that Sparta and Athens did much to increase tensions in international relations, the growth of a nationrun-state or empire will inevitably lead up to rivalry the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War and war with an established power.<ref>Kagan, pwas a contributing factor. 71 </ref>

==Sparta and 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 Immediate causes of the city. Sparta was almost the opposite of Athens in every way. It was a very stratified and conservative society. It was ostensibly ruled by two kings, from two royal families.<ref>Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War 1.67–71 ====</ref> The kings shared power with a council of elders (Gerousia). Sparta society depended on a servile population the helots who toiled the lands of Lacodemia for their Spartan masters.<ref>Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War 1.67–71 </refdiv class="portal" style='float:right; width:35%'> Sparta was a highly military society and the need for a strong and well-disciplined army was the main concern of the state. The state took boys from their family 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, The Peloponnesian War 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.

==Immediate causes of the War==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, The Peloponnesian War 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 Athenstime were also in dispute with the small city-state of Megara. Pericles They unilaterally banned the de-facto leader ships of that Megara from its port and its allies. This became known as the Athenian Empire argued against such Megarian Decree. Megara was a move long-time Spartan ally and this 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, p. 115</ref>. Thucydides states that the Corinthians condemned [16] This was not acceptable to Sparta's lack of action until then and warned them that they had remained too passive for too long. They demanded action. Sparta was concerned believed that if it displayed any weakness Megara came within the orbit of the Athenians that this could lead they would use the port to its losing its pre-eminent weaken their position in the Peloponnese League.<ref>Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War 1Greece.67–71 </ref>

The Athenians 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 , supported by her allies on demanded that Athens withdraw the battlefield. This strategy Megarian decree, but this was recommended opposed by Athens. Pericles to the Athenians and was much praised by Thucydides. Sparta began to contemplate war but they seemed unwilling to formally declare war. Then the situation spun out de-facto leader of control when allies of Sparta attacked the allies of Athens. The Spartans came to believe that they had no choice but to go to war. In 431 BCE, the senior Spartan king led an army into the countryside around Athens and laid Athenian Empire 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.69–71 115</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 6</i> 1.6–11 67–71</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.

The Athenians 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. This strategy was recommended by Pericles to the Athenians and was much praised by Thucydides. Sparta began to contemplate war but they seemed unwilling to formally declare war. Then the situation spun out of control when allies of Sparta attacked the allies of Athens. The Spartans came to believe that they had no choice but to go to war. In 431 BCE, the senior Spartan king led an army into the countryside around Athens and laid it waste. This was the start of the great Peloponnesian War. The early years of the war were a stalemate because according to Thucydides writings, this was because the Athenians followed Pericles cautious strategy.<ref>Thucydides, The Peloponnesian 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 and it 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</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====

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