What Was The Great Peloponnesian War?

The Peloponnesian War was a war fought in two different stages between Athens and Sparta. It follows the creation a truce in 451 BCE that stated 30 years of peace between the city states. The first stage of the battle lasted about a decade ending in about 423 BCE due to plague. Not too long after, about 420 BCE, war was on the horizon and this battle would end in 404 BCE with the downfall of Athens and the rise of Sparta. Although the war ravaged both sides Sparta, along with help from the Persians, managed to build up and take its place as the sole ruler of Greece, while Athens was forced into a truce and would see the end of its Golden Age. Before the Peloponnesian War there was the Great Peloponnesian War which pitted Athens and Corinth,
The Atheneian-Spartan relationship would never be the same after the Persian invasions. Tensions began to rise as Athens began to rebuild their “Persian War-damaged citadel, the Acropolis, however, [Sparta’s] anger against this perceived self-service erupted into the Peloponnesian War” (187). The first stage of the battle lasted around 10 years and was set into motion with the Athenian invasion of Potidaea despite Sparta promising assistance. Along with this invasion Athens also issued the Megarian Decrees. “These prevented Megara from using any port of Athens or her allies, effectively imposing a trade embargo” (1). Sparta attempted to find a solution to help their long-time allies, but Athens rallied by their leader Pericles and refused to ease up. This only led to more tension between the city states. By 431 the war was back on with the invasion of Attica led
With the invasion of Hysiai, led by Sparta, and the invasion of Melos, led by Athens the brutality began to increase with both sides ultimately killing the citizens of each town. “The uncertain peace was finally shattered when, in 415, the Athenians launched a massive assault against Sicily” (4). Not too long after was Athens defeated. Sparta, with the help of the Persian, were able to improve the one aspect of their warfare they lacked in, a navy. By 410 Athens democracy had begun to crumble and a weak effort was put forth to restore it only to be shot down once and for all by Sparta. The Spartans “[were] able to inflict a final and total defeat on the Athenians at Aegospotami near the Hellespont in 405 BCE where 170 Athenian ships were captured on the beach and at least 3,000 Athenian captives were executed” (1). With nowhere to go and nothing to fall back on surrender was the only option. In the end Sparta would be recognized as the dominant power in