Peloponnesian War Research Paper
The Peloponnesian WARRRRRRRRRR!
Importance of the Peloponnesian War • The Peloponnesian War paved the way for the Macedonian takeover of Greece and Alexander the Great's empire.
Thucydides on the Causes of the Peloponnesian War
“I think that the truest explanation (prophasis), but the one that was least made public, was the growth of Athens’ power and the fear that this caused among the Spartans made war inevitable”
“But the grounds of complaint (aitiai), which where openly stated by each side and led them to break the peace and go to war were as follows.”
1.23
I.1.23 History of the Peloponnesian War
Theories include: 1. Spartan jealousy and desire for more for itself, 2. Spartan unhappiness at no longer having all …show more content…
Athens used it to build up its navy and therefore its importance and power.
Sparta's Allies
Earlier, Sparta had been the military leader of the Greek world. Sparta had a set of loose alliances by means of individual treaties that extended to the Peloponnese, excepting Argos and Achaea. The Spartan alliances are referred to as the Peloponnesian League.
Sparta Insults Athens
When Athens decided to invade Thasos, Sparta would have come to the aid of the north Aegean island, had Sparta not suffered a timely natural disaster. Athens, still bound by alliances of the Persian War years, tried to help the Spartans, but was rudely asked to leave. Kagan says that this open quarrel in 465 was the first between Sparta and Athens. Athens broke off the alliance with Sparta and allied, instead, with Sparta's enemy, Argos.
Athens and …show more content…
Corcyra's offer included the use of her navy. Corinth urged Athens to remain neutral. Since Corcyra's navy was powerful, Athens did not want it to fall into Spartan hands and disrupt whatever fragile balance of power there was. Athens signed a defence-only treaty and sent a fleet to Corcyra.
“The Athenians ordered the generals not to fight a sea-battle with the Corinthians unless they should sail against Corcyra and were about to land there or at some other point in their territory – then they were to prevent it as best as possible. They gave these orders in order to avoid breaking the treaty” – Thucydides
Corinth was given warning that if they continued to fight with Corcyra, the Athenians would be brought into battle. They continued to fight, determined to crush Corcyra, and Corcyra, with Athens' aid, won the Battle of Sybota against Corinth, in 433.
Athens’ treatment of Potidaea
Potidaea was part of the Athenian empire, but also a daughter city of Corinth. Athens feared a revolt because the Thraceward region, in which Potidaea lay, was rich in natural resources and had a favourable trading
Importance of the Peloponnesian War • The Peloponnesian War paved the way for the Macedonian takeover of Greece and Alexander the Great's empire.
Thucydides on the Causes of the Peloponnesian War
“I think that the truest explanation (prophasis), but the one that was least made public, was the growth of Athens’ power and the fear that this caused among the Spartans made war inevitable”
“But the grounds of complaint (aitiai), which where openly stated by each side and led them to break the peace and go to war were as follows.”
1.23
I.1.23 History of the Peloponnesian War
Theories include: 1. Spartan jealousy and desire for more for itself, 2. Spartan unhappiness at no longer having all …show more content…
Athens used it to build up its navy and therefore its importance and power.
Sparta's Allies
Earlier, Sparta had been the military leader of the Greek world. Sparta had a set of loose alliances by means of individual treaties that extended to the Peloponnese, excepting Argos and Achaea. The Spartan alliances are referred to as the Peloponnesian League.
Sparta Insults Athens
When Athens decided to invade Thasos, Sparta would have come to the aid of the north Aegean island, had Sparta not suffered a timely natural disaster. Athens, still bound by alliances of the Persian War years, tried to help the Spartans, but was rudely asked to leave. Kagan says that this open quarrel in 465 was the first between Sparta and Athens. Athens broke off the alliance with Sparta and allied, instead, with Sparta's enemy, Argos.
Athens and …show more content…
Corcyra's offer included the use of her navy. Corinth urged Athens to remain neutral. Since Corcyra's navy was powerful, Athens did not want it to fall into Spartan hands and disrupt whatever fragile balance of power there was. Athens signed a defence-only treaty and sent a fleet to Corcyra.
“The Athenians ordered the generals not to fight a sea-battle with the Corinthians unless they should sail against Corcyra and were about to land there or at some other point in their territory – then they were to prevent it as best as possible. They gave these orders in order to avoid breaking the treaty” – Thucydides
Corinth was given warning that if they continued to fight with Corcyra, the Athenians would be brought into battle. They continued to fight, determined to crush Corcyra, and Corcyra, with Athens' aid, won the Battle of Sybota against Corinth, in 433.
Athens’ treatment of Potidaea
Potidaea was part of the Athenian empire, but also a daughter city of Corinth. Athens feared a revolt because the Thraceward region, in which Potidaea lay, was rich in natural resources and had a favourable trading