Peloponnesian+War

=********__The Peloponnesian War__******** =

media type="youtube" key="IlKSz3GOIA0" height="315" width="420" align="center" The Peloponnesian war was fought in 431-404 B.C. (pg. 232). It was fought by the Greek city-states Athens and Sparta (pg. 232). Athens and Sparta never liked each other so the war started by the Peloponnesian league, consisting of Sparta and its allies (pg. 232). It feared the power increasing in Athens (pg.232).

The war was divided into three parts (pg. 232). One part was the Archidamian war (431-321 B.C.) (pg.232). The Archidamian war was named after archidamus, the Spartan king, who, led attacks on Athens (pg. 232). What he hoped to do was force Athens to surrender but Athens navy successfully defended their city (pg. 232).

Another section of the three part war was the Peace of Nicias (421-413 B.C.) (pg. 232). The Peace of Nicias was arranged by Nicias himself, an Athenian politician (pg. 232). The peace was broken when an Athens commander persuaded Athens to attack the Peloponnesian league (418 B.C.), and Sicily (415 B.C.) (pg. 232). Unfortunately for Athens both attacks did not succeed (pg.232).

The third part and last part of the war was the decelean or Ionian war (413-404 B.C.) (pg. 232). In this part of the war Sparta gained Persia’s support (pg. 232). They also helped citizens of Athens revolt, and also forced Athens to surrender (pg.232). This section of the war ended in Sparta’s benefit and victory (pg. 232).

Some of the weapons used in the Peloponnesian war were bows and arrows, but they had a limited range. (pg. 38) They also had catapults in which they could chuck large rocks long distances. (pg.38) Athens and Sparta both used ships to fight. (Athens had a better Navy)(pg. 38) Some ships used during the war were, Uniremes, Biremes, Quadremes and Quinqueremes.(pg. 38)

Thucydicles was the first historian to seek the true cause of events. It was not a conflict between kings; it was a conflict between citizens from Athens and Sparta. They had citizen assemblies that decided questions of war and peace. They were literally voting their fate, since they were the ones that had to fight. (Knight pg 352)

In 405 B.C, Lysander, the Spartan naval commander, had formed another alliance with the Persians. Together they defeated Athens at Aegospotami off the cost of Thrace. Athens one rich and glorious, had been reduced to melting gold temple ornaments to pay for it’s war efforts. Only the memory of their shared struggle in the Persian Wars kept the Spartans from destroying Athens completely. They did destroy the long walls, however, and placed the city under Spartan rule, bringing to an end a Golden Age that was all too brief.(Knight pg 353)



Work Cited: Book: Knight, Judson. //Ancient Civilazation//. 2. New York: 2000. pg 350-353. (Knight pg 350-353) Encyclopedia: Krrentz, Peter. "Peloponnesian War." 16. New York: 2006. Print. (Krrentz pg 232 ) Website: []