The Peloponnesian War Causes

The Peloponnesian War is known for the famous struggle between the two dominant Greek city-states, Athens and Sparta, which lasted over 27 years. In 480 BCE, Athens and Sparta defended Greece against the immense invasion of Xerxes. After defeating the Persians, Athens started to grow extremely powerful and tensions rose between the city-states, causing nearly three decades of war. Sparta remained victorious while Athens was left bankrupt. Neither city-state was able to recuperate the military strength they once had. (history.com) Politically, the growth of Athenian power led to the weakening of the city-states. Socially, the treatment of Sparta and other city-states from Athens in the Delian League was unjust. In economical terms, Athens stole money from the Delian League to adjust their city standards. Looking over these points, Athens is one of the main causes for the Peloponnesian War. “The real cause I consider to be the one which was formally most kept out of sight. The growth of Athenian power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired in Lacedaemon, made war inevitable” (Thucydides). Politically speaking, the growth
Athens had all control over the Delian league, so they started to treat the other members of the League as “ruled subjects rather than partners” (pbs) and fought many small wars to “force members who wanted to leave the League to rejoin it” (pbs). Athens in ways tried to be the best of the best and in other words tried to “conquer” all of Greece. Sparta’s jealousy started to increase with Athens’ growing polis. Anti-Athenian feelings were starting to spread throughout Greece. Spartans new they had to get out while they could due to the fact that Athens was starting to become a ruler instead of a leader. While Pericles was in charge of Athens, it became overcrowded. A plague broke out and wiped out almost half of the Athenian population including its army and