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[[File:PEP ONE.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|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 Sparta feared of the growing might power and influence of the Athenian Empire.
==Background==How did Athens growing power threaten Sparta?====
[[File: PEP THREE.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|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 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>
====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. These powers both They had a network of alliances all over grown from just another city-state into an Empire. During and after the Greek world Persian Wars, it had transformed itself 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 the Greek islands, while power. For many decades’ Sparta, a land had been the greatest military power could control the Peloponnesein Greece. Despite this, Sparta grew increasingly fearful of Athens 's well-disciplined 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 when it much-feared army was suppressing a revolt on the island source of Samosits military power. The Spartan Kings always cautious had decided not to become involved in a war with their former allies. However, the Thirty Years Peace Hoplite was under increasing strain. In considered the Spartan assembly, there was growing alarm at best soldiers in the growth of Athenian powerGreek world.<ref> KaganHanson, pVictor Davis. 134<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812969707/ref> As Athens seemed to be growing more powerful there was a growing war=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0812969707&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-party in Sparta. They argued that 20&linkId=2988ca75b4a6858afae8101e8c5ce3d0 A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and 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 Fought the Athenians had any designs on Sparta or its allies.Peloponnesian War]<ref/i>Kagan. (New York: Random House, 2005), p. 21356</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 rise of Athens was meant that there were two great powers in the ultimate cause Greek world. These powers both had a network of alliances all over the war was the view of ThucydidesGreek world and beyond. According to, the great Greek historian, Thucydides the growth of the ‘power of Athens, The Greeks became divided into a Spartan and the alarm which this inspired in Lacedaemon (Sparta), made war inevitablean Athenian camp.<ref>ThucydidesCawkwell, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1p.67–71115</ref> "He believed 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 Peloponnesian War was inevitableGreek islands, while Sparta, because when a rising land power confronted another power, they would inevitably wage a 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 could control the two greatest Greek powersPeloponnese. It is still widely held that in international relationsDespite this, the growth Sparta grew increasingly fearful of a nation-state or empire will inevitably lead Athens and its main ally Corinth was actively encouraging it to rivalry and war with an established powerattack Athens.<ref>KaganHanson, p. 71 117</ref>
The profound cultural and political differences between Greek historian Thucydides argued that Sparta's fear of Athens was the two great Greek powers contributed to ultimate cause of the war. They had real difficulties understanding each other and this lead According to mutual suspicions. Because Thucydides, the growth of their different political systems and cultures they were often ideologically opposed. Sparta favored the many oligarchies ‘power of Athens, and distrusted the role of the common people alarm which this inspired in governmentLacedaemon (Sparta) made war inevitable. In contrast"<ref>Thucydides, Athens encouraged democracy and <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71</ref> Thucydides believed that it the Peloponnesian War was the best form of governmentinevitable because when a rising power confronted another power, they would inevitably wage a war against each other to further or protect their interests.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71</ref> This ideological rivalry Some later historians have also argued that war was inevitable between Sparta and Athens did much to increase tensions the two greatest Greek powers. It is still widely held that in international relations, the run up growth of a nation-state or empire will inevitably lead to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War rivalry and was a contributing factorwar with an established power.<ref>Kagan, p.71 </ref>
<dh-ad/> ==Immediate causes ==How fought in the Peloponnesian War?====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 very important 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. It was ostensibly ruled by two kings, from two royal families.<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 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, <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>
[[File:PEP FOUR.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Vase showing an Athenian ship, a Trireme]]
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 spark to start a Greek colony in war. Thrace that was in and Athens had a dispute with Athens and the Thracians, a Spartan ally, asked the Spartans for assistance. Athens despite this laid decided to lay siege to the colony. The Athenians, at this time were also in dispute with the small city-state of Megara and they . They unilaterally banned the ships of that city Megara from its port and its allies. This became known as the Megarian Decree. Megara was a long-time Spartan ally and this was widely resented, as it was seen as an attempt to make Megara completely dependent on Athens.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.71-73 </ref> [16] 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.
Sparta, supported by her allies demanded that Athens withdraw the Megarian decree, but this was opposed by Athens. Pericles the de-facto leader of the Athenian Empire argued against such a move as it would only encourage the Spartans to make more demands.<ref>Kagan, p. 115</ref> Thucydides states that the Corinthians condemned 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 that if it displayed any weakness that this could lead to its losing its pre-eminent position in the Peloponnese League.<ref>Thucydides, <i>The Peloponnesian War</i> 1.67–71</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 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==What were the longterm 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 balance of power in the Greek world. This greatly alarmed Sparta and its allies. The aggressive policies of Athens did not help the situation- the ambitions of the city-state 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 degree, it initiated a chain of event that led to the Spartan invasion of Athenian territory. 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 world.
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