The Athenian War: The Peloponnesian War

The Peloponnesian war arose between 431-404 BC. This confrontation hurled the two most powerful city-states of Greece against each other. The two conflicting sides of Athens and Sparta forced many other city-states of the Hellenic world to align themselves. Each city-state could side with the powerful naval confederacy of the Athenians, or the elite Spartan military. The combat supremacy of Athens and Sparta was not the only factor. Athens was a mighty empire and wished to expand its control. The Spartans feared Athenian power, and they entered hostilities with Athens under the pretext of freeing the Panhellenic people. In a display of strength, Athens decided to take Melos. Melos was a mostly neutral city-state, but the Athenians believed
This dialogue is most likely not what the Athenians and Melians spoke to each other. Instead, Thucydides placed a theme within the dialogue like many Greek writers before him. The Athenians attempted to persuade the Melians to become tributary allies of the Athenian confederacy, but Melos preferred to not be slaves to the Athenian empire. The Athenians cited Melos’ alliance with Sparta as the unjust act which condoned Athenian action despite Melos’ claim of neutrality. Melos retorted by accusing Athens of being unjust for attacking the mostly neutral city-state, claiming the Melian disposition as just. Revealing their true intentions, Athens stated that the reason for the assertion of power was due to its own strength. Melos pleaded for Athens to see what was fair, but Athens responded that Melos would do the same if they were in a similar position. The Athenians ignored the Melians’ warning that attacking their unprovoked city-state would bring costly repercussions. The consequences being the creation of new enemies of Athens. This was a risk the Athenians were willing to take in the name of their empire. A compromise was not possible since both sides claim they could not show weakness by submitting to the