Changes

[[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). 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 of Sparta feared 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.

==Background==[[File: PEP THREE.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Statuette of a Spartan Warrior]]The origins of the Peloponnesian War lay in the Greeks victory over the Persians. 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 war began after the Persian Wars, the Greeks were unable to maintain their unityended in 449 BCE. The Greek world was riven by cultural and ethnic differences and people’s first loyalty was two powers struggled to agree on their Polis or local city or community. There was a definite sense respective spheres of ‘Greekness’ and a common cultural heritage.<ref> Kaganinfluence, Donaldabsent Persia's influence. The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1989), p. 56</ref> Yet this was not enough This disagreement led to overcome deep divisions in the Greek world friction 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 eventually outright war with Persia once their invasion had been defeated. Additionally, Athens continued the war against Persia and it formed the Delian Leagueits ambitions caused increasing instability in Greece. This League was an alliance of city-states The profoundly different Athens and islands that vowed to continue the war against Sparta societies were also a significant factor in the Persians.<ref>Kaganwar’s outbreak, pwhich also had an ideological aspect. 113</ref>

Over time the Athenians, who were the largest maritime == How did Athens's growing power in the Aegean came to dominate the Delian Leaguethreaten Sparta? ==[[File: PEP THREE. This was the Golden Age jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Statuette of Athens and was the era a Spartan Warrior]]The origins of Plato, Socrates and countless other great cultural figures and artists. Gradually the Athenians began to turn Peloponnesian War lay in Greece's victory over the Delian League into an Persian Empire. The Greeks had combined under Sparta and Athens used its superior navy ' leadership to intimidate its allies and they eventually became mere tributaries of defeat the Athenians. Sparta soon became very suspicious of the growing power of Athens. It was the head of Persians, then the most powerful Peloponnesian League, which comprised large city-states such as Corinth and Thebesempire in Asia. The League became very concerned about In the Athenians huge fleet aftermath of ships that allowed it to dominate its former allies. Athens had also been turned into a formidable stronghold, by the AtheniansPersian Wars, when they constructed the ‘Long Walls’. These walls connected the city with its port, Piraeus and allowed the city Greeks were unable to supply itself and made any siege of the city unlikely to succeed.<re> 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 maintain their respective spheres of influenceunity. Corinth Cultural and other members of the Peloponnesian League ethnic differences were unhappy about Sparta’s lack of leadership. Some leading Sparta became concerned that inaction would push driving the other major Greek powers, to side with Athensworld apart. During the so-called thirty Year Peace Athens grew ever stronger and in many ways arrogant, as seen in its increasing haughty attitude People’s first loyalty was often to its subject their Polis or local city-states.

==Long-term Factors in the Outbreak of War==The underlying cause of the war While there was the rapid rise a definite sense of the Athenians. They had grown from just another city-state to an Empire. During ‘Greekness’ and after the Persian Warsa common cultural heritage, it had transformed itself and became a major trading and maritime powerdid not override the more local loyalties.<ref> CawkwellKagan, GeorgeDonald. <i>[https://www.amazon. Thucydides and 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> (LondonIthaca, NY: RoutledgeCornell University Press, 19971989), p 67. 56</ref> It had developed into the greatest maritime power in This notion of Greekness was not enough to overcome deep divisions within the Greek world and had the ability to dominate the trade routes in the eastern Mediterranean. It had emerged As soon as a great Empire in a very quick period of time and this upset the traditional balance of powerPersians left, the Greeks immediately began to quarrel with each other. For many decades’ Sparta, a deeply conservative society, had been opted out of Persia's war after their invasion was repelled. Athens continued the greatest power in Greecewar against Persia, this and it formed the Delian League. This League was based on its wellan alliance of city-disciplined states and much-feared army. The Spartan Hoplite were considered islands that vowed to continue the best soldiers in war against the Greek worldPersians until they no longer represented a threat to their alliance.<ref>Hanson, Victor Davis. A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War. (New York: Random House, 2005)Kagan, p. 56113</ref>

The rise of Athens meant that there Over time the Athenians, who were two great powers the largest maritime power in the Greek worldAegean, dominated the Delian League. These powers both had a network This era constituted the Golden Age of alliances all over the Greek world Athens and was concurrent with Plato, Socrates, and beyondAristotle's lives. The Greeks became divided Gradually, the Athenians began to turn the Delian League into a Spartan and an Athenian campEmpire.<ref> CawkwellAthens used its superior navy to intimidate its allies, p.115</ref> Athens and Sparta had different spheres they eventually became mere tributaries of influences, as outlined in the ‘Thirty Year Peace’ treaty and theoretically this meant that they both could have lived in peaceful co-existenceAthenians. Sparta soon became very suspicious of Athens controlled 's growing power. Sparta was the coastal areas head of Greece and the Greek islandspowerful Peloponnesian League, while Spartacomprised of several large city-states, a land power could control the Peloponneseincluding Corinth and Thebes. Despite this, Sparta grew increasingly fearful of Athens and its main ally Corinth The League was actively encouraging very concerned about the Athenian fleet because it allowed Athens to attack Athensdominate Greece's seas.<ref> Hanson, p. 117</ref> In 440 BCE, Corinth urged the Spartans to wage war on Athens had also been turned into a formidable stronghold when it was suppressing a revolt on the island of Samos. The Spartan Kings always cautious had decided not to become involved in a war with their former allies. However, city constructed the Thirty Years Peace was under increasing strain‘Long Walls. ’ In These walls connected the Spartan assemblycity with its port, there was growing alarm at Piraeus, allowed the growth city to supply itself, and made any siege of Athenian powerthe city unlikely to succeed.<ref> Kagan, p. 134113</ref> As Athens seemed to be 's growing more powerful there was a growing war-party in Sparta. They argued that the Spartans had ambitions led to attack Athens before it became too powerful. The fear of Athens increasingly tensions with its neighbors and eventually led the Spartans to prepare for war. This conflict involved Athens and Corinth, even though there is no evidence that with the Athenians had any designs on latter receiving some support from Sparta or its allies.<ref>Kagan This war ended with a peace treaty and a ‘Thirty Years Peace.’ This treaty, in theory, pguaranteed Athens and Sparta their respective spheres of influence. 213</ref> There Corinth and other members of the Peloponnesian League were those in 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 who believed that a war should be welcomed. There was a strong ‘imperial’ party During the so-called thirty Year Peace, Athens grew ever stronger and in many ways arrogant, as seen in the city who believed that it was entitled its increasing haughty attitude to a great empire because of its role in the defeat of the Persianssubject city-states.

== How did the Peloponnesian War Start? ==The belief that Spartan fear of Athens was the ultimate underlying cause of the war was the view rapid rise of Thucydidesthe Athenians. They had grown from just another city-state into an Empire. According to, It had transformed itself during and after the great Greek historian, Thucydides the growth of the ‘power of Athens, Persian Wars and became a major trading and the alarm which this inspired in Lacedaemon (Sparta), made war inevitablemaritime power.<ref>ThucydidesCawkwell, The Peloponnesian War 1George.67–71<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FA5ZGY/ref> "He believed that =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000FA5ZGY&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b0d12599fc35ad97a1a071a79c90ab5e Thucydides and 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]<ref/i>Thucydides(London: Routledge, 1997), The Peloponnesian War 1.67–71 p 67</ref>. Some later historians have also argued that war was inevitable between It had developed into the two greatest maritime power in the Greek powersworld and could dominate the trade routes in the eastern Mediterranean. It is still widely held that had emerged as a great Empire in international relationsa quick period, and this upset the growth traditional balance of a nationpower. For many decades Sparta had been the greatest military power in Greece. Sparta's well-state or empire will inevitably lead to rivalry disciplined and war with an established much-feared army was the source of its military power. The Spartan Hoplite was considered the best soldiers in the Greek world.<ref>KaganHanson, 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. 71 56</ref>

==Sparta and The rise of Athens==The Spartans and meant that there were two great powers in the Athenians were very different societiesGreek world. Athens was These powers both had a democracy, network of alliances all over the Greek world and it was very individualisticbeyond. The population played Greeks became divided into a very important role in politics Spartan and indeed it was a radical democracy. 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. It was ostensibly ruled by two kings, from two royal familiesan Athenian camp.<ref>ThucydidesCawkwell, The Peloponnesian War 1p.67–71 115</ref> The kings shared power with a council of elders (Gerousia). Athens and Sparta society depended on a servile population the helots who toiled the lands had different spheres of Lacodemia for their Spartan masters.<ref>Thucydidesinfluence, The Peloponnesian War 1.67–71 </ref> Sparta was a highly military society and as outlined in the need for a strong ‘Thirty Year Peace’ treaty, and welltheoretically, this meant that they both could have lived in peaceful co-disciplined army was the main concern of the stateexistence. The state took boys from their family Athens controlled Greece's coastal areas 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 islands, while Sparta, a land power, could control the warPeloponnese. They had real difficulties understanding each other and Despite 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 grew increasingly fearful of the common people in government. In contrastAthens, Athens encouraged democracy and believed that its main ally Corinth was actively encouraging it was the best form of governmentto attack Athens.<ref>ThucydidesHanson, The Peloponnesian War 1p.67–71 117</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.

In 440 BCE, Corinth urged the Spartans to wage war on Athens simultaneously 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 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's fear of Athens was the ultimate cause of the war. According to Thucydides, the growth of Athens's ‘power and the alarm which this inspired in Lacedaemon (Sparta) made war inevitable."<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71</ref> Thucydides believed that the Peloponnesian War was inevitable because when a rising power confronted another power, they would inevitably wage war against each other to further or protect their interests.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71 </ref> Some later historians have also argued that war was inevitable between the 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 rivalry and war with an established power.<ref>Kagan, p. 71 </ref> <dh-ad/> == 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, 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 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, The Peloponnesian War 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 6</i> 1.6–1167–71</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</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? ==The Peloponnesian War changed Greece in every way. Nothing was the same after the war, and Athens was never to be as powerful. The causes of the war are that the Athenian Empire upset the Greek world's balance of power. This greatly alarmed Sparta and its allies. Athens' aggressive policies did not help the situation- the city-state'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 calls of its allied to declare war on its arch-rival. Once Athens had issued the Megarian decree, it initiated a chain of events that led to the Spartan invasion of the 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.  ====References====