hieu 2031 ancient greece unit 14 study guides

Key Players and Factions

• Athens, a powerful city-state with a strong navy and a democratic government led by Pericles
• Sparta, a militaristic city-state with a formidable army and an oligarchic government
  • Sparta was supported by the Peloponnesian League, an alliance of city-states in the Peloponnese region
• Corinth, a wealthy city-state and a major rival of Athens, played a significant role in instigating the war
• Thebes, a city-state in central Greece, initially remained neutral but later sided with Sparta
• Argos, a city-state in the Peloponnese, maintained neutrality during the early stages of the war
• Plataea, a small city-state and loyal ally of Athens, became a focal point of the conflict

Causes and Buildup

• Growing tensions between Athens and Sparta due to Athens' increasing power and influence after the Persian Wars
• Athenian interference in the affairs of Spartan allies, particularly Corinth and Megara, heightened tensions
• The Megarian Decree, an Athenian trade embargo against Megara, further strained relations
• Sparta's fear of Athens' expanding empire and its potential threat to Spartan hegemony in the Peloponnese
• The dispute between Corinth and its colony, Corcyra, over the city of Epidamnus drew Athens and Sparta into the conflict
• The Thirty Years' Peace, signed in 446 BC, failed to address the underlying causes of the rivalry between Athens and Sparta

Initial Strategies and Alliances

• Athens adopted a defensive strategy, relying on its strong navy and the protection of its Long Walls
  • The Long Walls connected Athens to its port, Piraeus, ensuring a secure supply line during a siege
• Sparta focused on land-based warfare, leveraging its powerful army to invade Attica, the region surrounding Athens
• Sparta formed alliances with other city-states in the Peloponnese and central Greece to bolster its military strength
• Athens maintained its Delian League alliances, providing financial and military support to its allies
• Both sides sought to win over neutral city-states and colonies to gain strategic advantages

Major Battles and Campaigns

• The Spartan invasion of Attica (431 BC) marked the beginning of the war, with Spartan forces ravaging the Athenian countryside
• The Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) devastated the city's population and weakened its military capabilities
  • The plague claimed the life of the Athenian leader Pericles in 429 BC
• The Siege of Plataea (429-427 BC) resulted in the capture and destruction of the city by Spartan forces
• The Mytilenean Revolt (428 BC) saw the city of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos unsuccessfully attempt to secede from the Delian League
• The Battle of Pylos (425 BC) was a significant Athenian victory, leading to the capture of Spartan soldiers on the island of Sphacteria
• The Athenian expedition to Sicily (415-413 BC) marked a turning point in the war, ending in a disastrous defeat for Athens

Political and Diplomatic Developments

• The death of Pericles in 429 BC led to a power struggle within Athens and the rise of more aggressive leaders like Cleon
• The Peace of Nicias (421 BC) brought a temporary truce to the conflict, but it was short-lived due to ongoing disputes
• The Athenian decision to launch the Sicilian Expedition (415 BC) was a major political miscalculation that weakened Athens' position
• Alcibiades, an influential Athenian politician and general, defected to Sparta in 415 BC, providing valuable intelligence to the enemy
• The oligarchic coup in Athens (411 BC) briefly overthrew the democratic government but was quickly reversed
• Diplomatic efforts to end the war were hindered by the competing interests of various city-states and the deep-rooted animosity between Athens and Sparta

Social and Economic Impact

• The war had a profound impact on the daily lives of citizens in both Athens and Sparta
  • Athenian citizens were forced to seek refuge within the city walls during Spartan invasions, leading to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions
• The Spartan strategy of ravaging Athenian farmland led to food shortages and economic hardship in Athens
• The Plague of Athens further exacerbated the city's social and economic problems, claiming the lives of a significant portion of the population
• The cost of maintaining a large navy and financing military campaigns strained Athens' financial resources
  • Athens increased tribute demands from its Delian League allies to fund the war effort
• The prolonged conflict disrupted trade routes and agricultural production, affecting the economies of both Athens and Sparta
• The war widened the gap between rich and poor, as wealthy citizens were better able to weather the economic challenges

Technological and Military Innovations

• The Athenian navy introduced the trireme, a fast and maneuverable warship with three rows of oars
  • Triremes played a crucial role in Athens' naval supremacy and its ability to project power across the Aegean Sea
• Sparta developed the use of hoplites, heavily armed infantry soldiers who fought in a tightly packed formation known as the phalanx
• The use of siege engines, such as catapults and battering rams, became more prevalent during the war
• Both sides employed spies and intelligence gathering to gain strategic advantages
• The Athenians developed a system of fire signals to quickly transmit messages over long distances
• The Spartans adapted their tactics to counter the Athenian navy, focusing on land-based warfare and amphibious assaults

Outcome and Consequences

• The Peloponnesian War ended in 404 BC with the surrender of Athens to Sparta
  • The Spartan general Lysander played a key role in the final Spartan victory
• The war weakened both Athens and Sparta, leaving them vulnerable to external threats and internal strife
• The conflict marked the end of the Golden Age of Athens and the decline of its cultural and intellectual influence
• Sparta's victory was short-lived, as its hegemony was challenged by other city-states in the aftermath of the war
• The war had far-reaching consequences for the Greek world, paving the way for the rise of Macedon under Philip II and Alexander the Great
• The Peloponnesian War served as a cautionary tale about the dangers of imperial overreach and the devastating effects of prolonged conflict
• The war's impact on Greek society, politics, and culture would be felt for generations, shaping the course of ancient Greek history