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How Did Athens Handle The Peloponnesian War?

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How Did Athens Handle The Peloponnesian War?
Athens could not effectively handle the Peloponnesian War, do you agree? Why/why not? Athens encountered significant challenges during the Peloponnesian War, which ultimately hampered its ability to effectively manage the conflict. Various contributing factors led to this outcome: Strategic and Tactical Failures: Athens committed several significant strategic and tactical errors during the course of the war. The decision to launch the Sicilian Expedition stands out as one of the most notable. As chronicled by Thucydides, this campaign overextended the resources of Athens and ultimately culminated in a disastrous defeat. This grave miscalculation served to substantially undermine both the military strength and the morale of Athens. Internal Political Strife: Athens also suffered from internal political …show more content…
Economic Strain: The prolonged war put immense economic strain on Athens. Burke (1990) highlights how the Athenian economy, heavily reliant on maritime trade, suffered due to the Spartan blockade and the disruption of trade routes (Burke, 1990). The financial burden of maintaining a large navy and supporting prolonged military campaigns further depleted Athens' resources. Plague and Social Impact: The outbreak of plague in Athens during the early years of the war had a devastating impact. Thucydides describes the plague as a significant factor in weakening the city's population and morale). The loss of many citizens, including key military and political leaders like Pericles, compounded the challenges Athens faced. Given these points, it is clear that Athens could not effectively handle the Peloponnesian War due to a combination of strategic missteps, internal political strife, economic challenges, and social upheavals. These factors collectively contributed to Athens' eventual defeat. Is it correct to say that democracy in Athens was overthrown after the
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