The Peloponessian War
431 – 404 B.C.
“ If one looks at the facts
themselves, one will see that this was the greatest war of
all.”
Thucydides
The Peloponnesian War 431 – 404 B.C.
The Archdamian War (431 – 421 B.C.)
Peace of Nicias
Sicilian Expedition 415 B.C.
The Sicilian War
The Ionian/ Decelean War (413 – 404 B.C.)
Oligarchic Coup of Athens (411 B.C.)
Defeat of Athens & End of Delian League (404 B.C.)
Contents
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Historical Background
Thirty Years’ Peace *
Greek World 431 B.C. *
Spartan Society *
Athenian Society
Clash of Cultures? *
Pericles *
Declaration of War
Battle of Sybota*
The Potidaean Affair
Cleon
Alcibiades
The Great Plague
Death of Pericles
The Archdamian War (431 – 421 B.C.)
Peace of Nicias
Sicilian Expedition 415 B.C.
The Sicilian War
The Ionian/ Decelean War (413 – 404 B.C.)
Oligarchic Coup of Athens (411 B.C.)
Defeat of Athens & End of Delian League (404 B.C.)
Historical Background
• Both Athens and Sparta had grown as empires
throughout the latter part of the 6th Century B.C. and
early 5th Century B.C.
• The First Peloponnesian War had broken out in 460 B.C.
as a result of
Empires & Alliances
Athens:
Delian League
Sparta:
Peloponnesian League
• Phlius
• Orneae
• Megara
• Elis
• Mantinea
• Thebes
• Corinth
Thirty Years’ Peace
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Signed between Athens & Sparta in 445 B.C. which brought the First
Peloponnesian War to an end. Lasted only 13 years.
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Arbitration was codified as a necessary precursor to any conflict between
the two.
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Recognised both empires (alliances) as legitimate
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Allowed neutral city-states & regions to join either alliance, but none could
switch alliances
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Neither alliance could interfere with other’s allies
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Athens had to give up a few territories, including Megarian ports
The Greek World 431 B.C.
Athens & Port of Piraeus
Clash of Cultures or Hellenistic Power
Struggle?
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Athens
Leader of the
Delian League
Democratic *
Semi-Liberal
Cosmopolitan
Cultured & Artistic
Maritime Empire
Diverse Trade Links
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Sparta
Leader of the
Peloponnesian League
Oligarchic
Ultra-Conservative,
Militaristic Society
Insular & Isolationist
Superstitious & Patriarchal
Land Power
Homogenistic
Spartan Society
An Oligarchic Complexity
King
King
Gerousia: Council of 28
Spartans
Traders &
manufacturers
Perioikoi
“like someone sitting in wait
for disasters to strike the
Spartans”
Helots
Aristotle
They would gladly eat
the Spartans raw”
Xenophon
“most institutions among the Spartans have always been established with regard to
security against the Helots”
Thucydides
Sparta
• ‘Mixed constitution’; containing monarchic,
oligarchic & democratic elements
Sparta’s Allies: The Peloponnesian League
Athenian Society:
•Cosmopolitan, mixed, democratic society
•Literature, arts and evolution of 'free thinking':
Socrates
Since the ascent of Pericles, Athenian democracy
had taken on a more ambitious, outward-looking
zeal
The Delian League
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Founded in early 5th Century B.C.
to resist the Persian threat. Other
city states joined.
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Treasury initially located in Delos
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Members gave money (not ships)
to combine their efforts in resisting
Persian threat
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Treasury moved to Athens in 454
B.C.
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Monies were used to strengthen
the military (naval) power of
Athens and also used to aid the
construction of the Parthenon
Pericles’ Building Programme
Pericles initiated an ambitious
building programme in 455 B.C.
“Future ages will wonder at us, as
the present age wonders at us
now.”
“Just because you do not take an
interest in politics doesn't mean
politics won't take an interest in
you”
“We do not imitate, but are a
model to others”
Pericles
495 – 429 B.C.
“Freedom is the sure possession
of those alone who have the
courage to defend it”
Pericles
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Became leader of Athens in 461 B.C.
establishing a popular vote in the Athenian
Assembly which ultimately resulted in the
exile of the Athenian leader, Cimon.
A patron of the arts
Hostile to Sparta
Led the ambitious building programme of
Athens – resulting in the timeless
architectures of the Parthenon and the
Acropolis
Ambitious, democratic and a great orator
Founded many of the democratic institutions
of Athens
Led the mission to recapture Delphi from the
Spartans in 448 B.C. and the invasion of
Samos
‘Age of Pericles’ = 460 – 429 B.C.
The Ecclesia
The Ecclesia: Pynx
Here at the 'Pynx', usually about 6,000
Athenians would voted directly on
Athenian policy, law and elect the
'strategoi'
Pericles democratic reforms of 452-451
allowed for payment of jurors,
thereby opening up attendance to
almost all levels of society.
The Ecclesia usually met about forty
times a year, deciding on public
honours, ratifying peace agreements
or declarations of war, electing
strategoi, public construction,
bestowal of honours etc.
Corcyra & Corinth:
Emissaries in Athens
Corcyra
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“A victim to the injustice of others”
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“your welcome of us under these
circumstances will be a proof of
goodwill which will ever keep alive the
gratitude you will lay up in our hearts.”
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“yourselves excepted, we are the
greatest naval power in Hellas”
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“a power that comes in quest of
assistance being in a position to give
to the people whose alliance she
solicits as much safety and honour as
she will receive”
Corinth
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“Corinth is at least in treaty with you;
with Corcyra you were never even in
truce.”
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“Why, if you make it your policy to
receive and assist all offenders, you
will find that just as many of your
dependencies will come over to us,
and the principle that you establish will
press less heavily on us than on
yourselves”
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“When you were in want of ships of
war for the war against the Aeginetans,
before the Persian invasion, Corinth
supplied you with twenty vessels.”
Corinth v. Corcyra: Battle of Sybota 433 B.C.
• Athens receives emissaries from both Corinth & Corcyra over
dispute
• Corcyra appeals for Athenian help BUT Corinth warns Athens of any
involvement in internal Corinthian affairs
• Athens decides to help Corcyra, albeit in a defensive posture,
sending ten ships to aid her defence. Just as the Corinthians were
about to defeat Corcyra, a further 20 Athenian triremes arrived to
bolster their defense.
• When questioned by Corinthians, Athenians steadfastly declare their
willingness to defend Corcyra.
• Both Corinth & Sparta interpret this as a breach of the Thirty Years’
Peace treaty.
Battle of Sybota 433 B.C.
Significance:
1)Known as the ‘first grievance’ between the Athenians & Spartans
2)Athenian response to Corinthian delegation at the Battle of Sybota:
"Neither are we beginning war, Peloponnesians, nor are we breaking the treaty;
but these Corcyraeans are our allies, and we are come to help them. So if you
want to sail anywhere else, we place no obstacle in your way; but if you are
going to sail against Corcyra, or any of her possessions, we shall do our best to
stop you."
3)Both sides claimed victory in this battle.
Pericles’ Funeral Oration
Pericles’ Funeral Oration
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In this funeral oration for the Athenian soldiers, Pericles makes his famous
speech concerning the virtues of Athens, it’s citizens and their way of life.
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Pericles describes Athens as a “model to others” rather than an imitator.
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Pericles places Athens’ strength in its citizens, their character being a
reflection of the society they inhabit.
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Pericles also makes subtle references to Sparta and the regressive nature
of their military strength.
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Pericles extols the courage of the dead Athenians, imploring others to take
their place to secure Athens’ destiny as the greatest, and most forwardthinking state in the Hellenic world.
Thucydides: Pericles
•“For as long as he was prominent in the city in peace-time
he guided with moderation and preserved her in safety, and
in his time she became very great...The fact is that he
retained the power of his influence by reason of his
reputation, the quality of his mind, and his utter integrity,
and so was able to restrain his fellow-citizens by his
moderation, free though they were: he was not led by the
Many, he led them”
The City of Epidamnus
Spartan Declaration of War
The Potidaean Revolt
432 B.C.
• Colony of Corinth but a
tributary ally of Athens.*
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Three Phases of War
• The Archdamian War
431 – 421 B.C.
• The Sicilian War
• The Ionian/ Declean War
The Archdamian War
431 – 421 B.C.
431 – Outbreak of Plague in Athens
429 - Siege at Plataea - Death of Pericles
428 – Revolt of Mytilene
427 – Debate of Mytilene
426 – Battle of Olpae
425 – Battle of Pylos & Sphacteria
424 – Battle of Delium
422 – Battle of Amphipolis
421 – Peace of Nicias
Siege at Plataea 429 B.C.
"If we begin the war
in haste, we'll have
many delays
before we end it,
owing to our lack
of preparation."
- King Archidamus II
(Sparta)
Siege at Plataea 429 B.C.
Archidamus beseiged the twon of Plataea, which only consisted of 800 citizens
and 85 Athenians
The Plataeans resisted courageously & Archidamus resorted to starving the city
out
Eventually, about half of the population escaped, but the other half eventually
surrendered
These were brought before a Spartan court, where they were asked simply
"Whether, during the present war, they had rendered any assistance to the
Lacedaemonians and their allies?"
These 200 citizens & 25 Athenians were then executed. This is seen as one of
the overt causes of the Peloponnesian War
Thucydides Account: Plataea
"the treaty had now been broken by an overt act
after the affair at Plataea"
"Athens and Lacedaemon now resolved to send
embassies to the King and to such other of the
barbarian powers as either party could look to
for assistance."
Periclean Strategy:
Tactical Land Retreat & Naval War
Pericles convinced his people
to perform a tactical retreat
behind the walls of Athens,
supported and supplied by
their powerful fleet through
the port of Peiraeus
Of a total population of
172,000, only 60,000
citizens lived within the city
“..the upheaval was a harsh
experience, for most of them had
always been accustomed to live in
the country...in their grave
depression they took it badly that
they were abandoning their
homes and the shrines that had
been theirs traditionally from the
very earliest days of the
community, and that they were
about to change their style of life.”
The Great Plague
Effects of the Plague: Pericles'
Strategic Flaw
Pericles' strategy had depended on the Athenian Navy protecting their supply
ships to the Port of Pireus
This strategy proved to be their undoing; as the surrounding population of
Attica retreated behind the walls of Athens, the over-crowding would
contribute to the disease
The supply ships apparently brought the plague with them and the whole city
of Athens, walled in, became a hot-bed of disease
As the disease spread, Thucydides writes of the physical, social and moral
decay that beset the city.
In his account, we see Thucydides depart from his usual scientific,
dispassioned accounts.
Thucydides: Effects of the
Plague
Physical:
“discharges of bile of every kind named by physicians ensued,
accompanied by very great distress...internally it burned so that
the patient could not bear to have on him clothing or linen even
of the very lightest description; or who plunged into the raintanks in their agonies of unquenchable thirst..... for it settled in
the privy parts, the fingers and the toes, and many escaped
with the loss of these, some too with that of their eyes”
Thucydides: Effects of the Plague
Social:
“the bodies of dying men lay one upon another, and half-dead creatures
reeled about the streets and gathered round all the fountains in their longing
for water....
sacred places also in which they had quartered themselves were full of
corpses of persons that had died there......
for as the disaster passed all bounds, men, not knowing what was to become
of them, became utterly careless of everything, whether sacred or profane....
they threw their own dead body upon the stranger's pyre and ignited it;
sometimes they tossed the corpse which they were carrying on the top of
another that was burning, and so went off....”
Thucydides: Effects of the Plague
Moral:
“Men now coolly ventured on what they had formerly done in a corner, and not just as
they pleased, seeing the rapid transitions produced by persons in prosperity suddenly
dying and those who before had nothing succeeding to their property.....
they resolved to spend quickly and enjoy themselves, regarding their lives and riches as
alike things of a day.....
it was settled that present enjoyment, and all that contributed to it, was both
honourable and useful.....
Fear of gods or law of man there was none to restrain them.....
As for the first, they judged it to be just the same whether they worshipped them or not,
as they saw all alike perishing; and for the last, no one expected to live to be brought
to trial for his offences, but each felt that a far severer sentence had been already
passed upon them all and hung ever over their heads, and before this fell it was only
reasonable to enjoy life a little.”
Death of Pericles 429 B.C.