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Peloponnesian & Punic Wars

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Peloponnesian & Punic Wars
LEGION OF CHRIST COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES

The Power Struggle:
Peloponnesian & Punic Wars

Professor: Mr. Robert Murphy
Student: Thomas More Kim LC
Student Number: US547
Course: H 311 World History
1st Semester Paper
Cheshire, December 16th, 2013

I. BEFORE THE WAR

A. Antecedent to the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) During 490-479 BC, the Delian League, with Athens as their leader, fought a desperate war against the world’s strongest power at the time, the Persian Empire. With the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC, in which the Athenian navy played a crucial role, the League checked the Persian invasion into the Greek mainland. After the war, Athens expanded its authority over the Delian League city states and turned the League into its empire, reducing them to its subjects. Athens imposed the use of Athenian coins, weights and measure on the other city states and used military strength to enforce its demands and to cruelly suppress the rebellions of the city states. The common treasury of the Delian League was moved from the island of Delos to Athens, which gave Athens tremendous amount of wealth from other cities. Spartans and their allies, seeing Athens ' influence over many cities began to be suspicious of Athens and her ambitions. They tried to find the way to diminish its power, and were ready even to go to war with Athens.

B. Antecedent to the Punic War Rome and Carthage were allies in sixth century BC when they came together to defeat the Etruscans. With this alliance, they agreed upon Carthaginian control of the Mediterranean Sea (with the stipulation that Rome would stay out of the affairs concerning the Mediterranean). The Carthaginians expected the Romans to keep themselves busy with the conquest of Italy. Under such condition; Carthage would have no problem controlling the Mediterranean. They were mistaken. By the year 264 BC, Rome had conquered Italy and was hungry for more territories. The first


Bibliography: ANCIENT HISTORY, Peloponnesian War, www.ancienthistory.about.com November.2nd. 2013 ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA, Peloponnesian War, www.britannica.com November.1st. 2013 ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD HISTORY, compiled by Andreas Kramarz L.C Legion of Christ College of Humanities – Ancient Greek Civilization & Roman Civilization THUCYDIDIES, Great Books of the Western World, Chicago University 1952 – Thucydides – The History of the Peloponnesian War
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