Peloponnesian War Essay
The Peloponnesian war was not an easy war at all for both sides. The war began shortly after the war against Persia (“Peloponnesian War” History). After the war with the Persians both Sparta and Athens were beaten up, and sort off broken down. Sparta and Athens were two very major powers at the time in Greece (“Peloponnesian War” Ancient History). Everyone new that eventually these two great powers would soon have conflict (‘Peloponnesian War” History). But Throughout the next half century Sparta and Athens were not fighting, but they still did not really like each other. Through that next half century Athens and Sparta resumed preeminence among the city states (“Peloponnesian War” History). Over the years Athens started to grow in their
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In the walls of Athens a great plague broke out. No one really knows what the name of the disease was; all we know is that it killed very many Athenians. This disease ended up killing at least half of the Athenian population. It also took out the great ruler of Athens Pericles. The plague was a curse for the Athenians, but a miracle for the Spartans. You could almost say that Sparta’s best ally was the plague. During this plague Spartan hoplites tried time after time to try and draw the Athenian army out but they could not. The hoplites were a very heavily armored army from Sparta. But they lacked in there fighting skills so they would often lose battles against larger armies unless they had back up. But during the entire Peloponnesian war there were now more than three or four hoplite battles. While Athens was going through the plague, Sparta and their allies started building up a competent fleet. They also started recruiting light armored skirmishers, sailors, and siege engineers. This was an expensive thing to do for the Spartans but they needed the help. Soon after the plague Athens needed both lumber and minerals. And Potidaea was just the place to get these two things. Athens was going to soon lay siege on Potidaea. After Potidaea found this out they asked for Sparta’s protection against Athens, Sparta agreed to help. Athens then went ahead and laid siege to Potidaea. They killed 200 members of the advanced party. After
In the walls of Athens a great plague broke out. No one really knows what the name of the disease was; all we know is that it killed very many Athenians. This disease ended up killing at least half of the Athenian population. It also took out the great ruler of Athens Pericles. The plague was a curse for the Athenians, but a miracle for the Spartans. You could almost say that Sparta’s best ally was the plague. During this plague Spartan hoplites tried time after time to try and draw the Athenian army out but they could not. The hoplites were a very heavily armored army from Sparta. But they lacked in there fighting skills so they would often lose battles against larger armies unless they had back up. But during the entire Peloponnesian war there were now more than three or four hoplite battles. While Athens was going through the plague, Sparta and their allies started building up a competent fleet. They also started recruiting light armored skirmishers, sailors, and siege engineers. This was an expensive thing to do for the Spartans but they needed the help. Soon after the plague Athens needed both lumber and minerals. And Potidaea was just the place to get these two things. Athens was going to soon lay siege on Potidaea. After Potidaea found this out they asked for Sparta’s protection against Athens, Sparta agreed to help. Athens then went ahead and laid siege to Potidaea. They killed 200 members of the advanced party. After