Peloponnesian War

Athens vs. Everyone Else

What Leads Up to the War?
There were three main factors that led up to the war:

1. Many city-states feared how power hungry Athens was

2. Athens had developed into a naval empire and

threatened other city-states

3. Athenian settlers began to move into the lands of other

city-states
 The War Begins
Pericles had punished any
city-states that tried to resist
Athens power and control
Sparta and other city-states
created the Peloponnesian
League
In 431 B.C.E., Sparta
declared war on Athens and
their allies
Pericles Funeral Oration
It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in
the hands of the many and not of the few. But while the law secures
equal justice to all alike in their private disputes, the claim of
excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way
distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of
privilege, but as a reward of merit. Neither is poverty a bar, but a
man may benefit his country whatever be the obscurity of his
condition
 Strategies Used in the War
Sparta and its allies
Tried to cut off Athens
food supply
Stuck to land-based
fighting
Athens and its allies
Brought all of its citizens
inside the city walls
Stuck to navy-based
fighting
Supplied food by sea
 Disaster in Athens
The city became very
overcrowded after everyone
moved into the city walls
A plague broke out in Athens,
in the 2nd year of the war,
which killed over a third of the
population
Pericles and his family were
also killed by the plague
Consequences of the War
The plague spread chaos throughout Athens and the city
signed a truce in 421 B.C.E. to stop fighting and then later
surrendered to Sparta in 404 B.C.E.
The war lasted for over 27 years
Cities and farmlands were destroyed
Thousands of Greeks were killed
Greece was left weakened and defenseless to outside
powers
Pop Quiz Time!! YAY!!!
1. What were the three goals that Pericles had for
Athens?
2. What is a Golden Age?
3. What was one of the three factors that led to the
Peloponnesian War?
4. What happened in Athens that cost them the war?
Bonus: What do you think will happen now that
Greece is weakened?
Battles of the Peloponnesian War
The Helot Revolt

The Megara Corinth Conflict

Samian War

The Battle of Sybota

Siege of Plataea

Revolt of Mitylene

Battle of Mantinea

Athenian expedition to Syracuse. Sicily

Battle of Aegosotami