Peloponnesian War # 35
431 – 404 BCE
Test Friday
Notebooks Due Friday
WARM UP: What was the
result of the Persian War and
how did it affect Athens?
Peloponnesian War
431 – 404 BCE
Sparta gets jealous of Athens
Sparta and Athens fight over
control of Greece
Causes of the Peloponnesian War
Overconfident
Both sides believed
they held
advantages (Athens
at sea,
Sparta on land) over
the other and would
win, so they moved
towards war.
Power struggle
Athens treated Delian League city states as if
they were their empire, used League funds for
projects in the city of Athens (statues, etc.)
Sparta feared Athens was
getting too powerful.
Economics
Athens stopped Corinth
(Sparta’s ally) from taking over
another city-state. laid siege to a
colony of Corinth.
Athens slapped Megara with
trade sanctions (they could not
trade with any allies of Athens – a
death blow to their economy.
Corinth and Megara convinced
Sparta to go to war with Athens.
Peloponnesian War
Results (404 BCE)
Though Sparta had won, no one could claim
victory.
The war had resulted in the deaths of many of their
citizens.
Orchards, vineyards, and fields had been destroyed.
The treasuries of the city-states had been destroyed, and
faith in democracy had been reduced.
As a result of the Peloponnesian War, Greece became
weaker, and poorer.
338 BCE - Led by Philip II the Macedonians in
conquered Greece
Motives for war
• How could the goal of strengthening democracy
have helped lead Athens into war?
– Civic pride may have convinced citizens of
Athenian invincibility.
Motives for war
• How could war be used to strengthen Athens’
trade empire?
– The Athenian navy could conquer other ports and
prevent Athens’ enemies from trading with other
cities.
Motives for war
• How might war increase Athens’ prestige?
– By making Athens the region’s dominant
military, economic, and cultural power.