The destruction of Athens's fleet in the Battle of Aegospotami effectively ended the war, and Athens surrendered in the following year. philosopher's . Why did the Peloponnesian War last so long? Athens was then victorious at the naval battle of Arginusae. "[7] Indeed, the nearly fifty years of Greek history that preceded the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War had been marked by the development of Athens as a major power in the Mediterranean world. On the advice of Alcibiades, they fortified Decelea, near Athens, and prevented the Athenians from making use of their land year round. The democrats at Samos, loyal to the bitter last, held on slightly longer, and were allowed to flee with their lives. But, due to bad weather, the Athenians were unable to rescue their stranded crews or finish off the Spartan fleet. Rising to particular importance in Athenian democracy at this time was Cleon, a leader of the hawkish elements of the Athenian democracy. [10] According to Thucydides, although the Spartans took no action at this time, they "secretly felt aggrieved". [12] When the rebellious helots were finally forced to surrender and permitted to evacuate the state, the Athenians settled them at the strategic city of Naupaktos on the Gulf of Corinth. Alcibiades was not re-elected general by the Athenians and he exiled himself from the city. The Athenian Empire, although based in the peninsula of Attica, spread out across the islands of the Aegean Sea; Athens drew its immense wealth from tribute paid from these islands. However, it was a time of constant skirmishing in and around the Peloponnese. They punished The Persians by taking territories on mainland Greece and adding them to the Athenian Empire. B. The Syracusans sent their fleet to the Peloponnesians, and the Persians decided to support the Spartans with money and ships. [4][5] The war also wrought subtler changes to Greek society; the conflict between democratic Athens and oligarchic Sparta, each of which supported friendly political factions within other states, made war a common occurrence in the Greek world. jeanna5 jeanna5 02/11/2019 History Middle School About how long did the Peloponnesian war last See answer jeanna5 is waiting for your help. 2018. That treaty, however, was soon undermined by renewed fighting in the Peloponnese. The war featured two periods of combat separated by a six-year truce. The trial resulted in the execution of six of Athens's top naval commanders. Democracy in Athens was briefly overthrown in 411 BCE as a result of its poor handling of the Peloponnesian War. After the death of Pericles, the Athenians turned somewhat against his conservative, defensive strategy and to the more aggressive strategy of bringing the war to Sparta and its allies. Roughly one-third to two-thirds of the Athenian population died. The Peloponnesian war was with greek city-states but I am not sure which ones. Threatened with starvation, the Athenian fleet had no choice but to follow. Relevance. Early Spartan attempts to break up the coalition failed, and the leadership of the Spartan king Agis was called into question. 1 1 James In this phase, Sparta, now receiving support from the Achaemenid Empire, supported rebellions in Athens's subject states in the Aegean Sea and Ionia, undermining Athens's empire, and, eventually, depriving the city of naval supremacy. He was born in the Athenian suburb of Halimos and was in Athens during the plague of c.430 B.C., a year after the war began. While this invasion deprived Athenians of the productive land around their city, Athens itself was able to maintain access to the sea, and did not suffer much. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. For the earlier war beginning in 460 BC, see, For the book by the Greek historian Thucydides, see, Achaemenid support for Sparta (414–404 BC). The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War, by Thucydides, with commentary by Robert B. At the Battle of Sybota, a small contingent of Athenian ships played a critical role in preventing a Corinthian fleet from capturing Corcyra. The war was divided into 3 phases: The Archidamian War, The Sicilian war and The Ionian or Decelean War: phase. 400. what was the most commonly used material on armor? For a time during this conflict, Athens controlled not only Megara but also Boeotia; at its end, however, in the face of a massive Spartan invasion of Attica, the Athenians ceded the lands they had won on the Greek mainland, and Athens and Sparta recognized each other's right to control their respective alliance systems. answer! 30 years. HELP!!!!! How long did the Peloponnesian War last, and how many wars were there? Members promised to protect each other from Persia and provide ships or money for defense. Athens's naval supremacy would now be challenged without several of its most able military leaders and a demoralized navy. Athens proceeded to bring under its control all of Greece except for Sparta and its allies, ushering in a period which is known to history as the Athenian Empire. In 403 BC, the oligarchs were overthrown and a democracy was restored by Thrasybulus. Services, The Peloponnesian War: History, Cause & Result, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. The Lacedaemonians were not content with simply sending aid to Sicily; they also resolved to take the war to the Athenians. Demosthenes, however, outmanoeuvred the Spartans in the Battle of Pylos in 425 BC and trapped a group of Spartan soldiers on Sphacteria as he waited for them to surrender. The Athenians captured 300 Spartan hoplites. According to Thucydides, the Spartans acted in this way out of fear that the Athenians would switch sides and support the helots; the offended Athenians repudiated their alliance with Sparta. It began in 431 BCE and ended in 404 BCE. Both Brasidas and Cleon were killed in Athenian efforts to retake Amphipolis (see Battle of Amphipolis). Upon arriving, he raised up a force from several Sicilian cities, and went to the relief of Syracuse. How long did the first Peloponnesian war last? "The winter following Tissaphernes put Iasus in a state of defence, and passing on to Miletus distributed a month's pay to all the ships as he had promised at Lacedaemon, at the rate of an Attic drachma a day for each man." Unlike some of his predecessors the new Spartan general, Lysander, was not a member of the Spartan royal families and was also formidable in naval strategy; he was an artful diplomat, who had even cultivated good personal relationships with the Achaemenid prince Cyrus the Younger, son of Emperor Darius II. Historians have traditionally divided the war into three phases. These 27 years were not full of conflict, though. He also persuaded the Athenian fleet to attack the Spartans at the battle of Cyzicus in 410. Following the destruction of the Sicilian Expedition, Lacedaemon encouraged the revolt of Athens's tributary allies, and indeed, much of Ionia rose in revolt against Athens. The hostages gave the Athenians a bargaining chip. Facing starvation and disease from the prolonged siege, Athens surrendered in 404 BC,[2] and its allies soon surrendered as well. Despite their victory, these failures caused outrage in Athens and led to a controversial trial. How did the Athenians punish the Persians? Perhaps worst of all, the nearby silver mines were totally disrupted, with as many as 20,000 Athenian slaves freed by the Spartan hoplites at Decelea. From 414 BC, Darius II, ruler of the Achaemenid Empire had started to resent increasing Athenian power in the Aegean and had his satrap Tissaphernes enter into an alliance with Sparta against Athens, which in 412 BC led to the Persian reconquest of the greater part of Ionia. when the Thebans launched a surprise attack on Plataea, who as a partner of Athens. Emboldened, the Argives and their allies, with the support of a small Athenian force under Alcibiades, moved to seize the city of Tegea, near Sparta. 200. At the same time, Athens greatly increased its own power; a number of its formerly independent allies were reduced, over the course of the century, to the status of tribute-paying subject states of the Delian League. Peloponnesian War, (431–404 bce), war fought between the two leading city-states in ancient Greece, Athens and Sparta. The helots made the Spartan system possible, but now the post off Pylos began attracting helot runaways. Following the defeat of the Athenians in Sicily, it was widely believed that the end of the Athenian Empire was at hand. [22] Undeterred, a majority of the Spartan assembly voted to declare that the Athenians had broken the peace, essentially declaring war.[23]. Athens had... Our experts can answer your tough homework and study questions. [9], Friction between Athens and the Peloponnesian states, including Sparta, began early in the Pentecontaetia; in the wake of the departure of the Persians from Greece, Sparta attempted to prevent the reconstruction of the walls of Athens (without the walls, Athens would have been defenseless against a land attack and subject to Spartan control), but was rebuffed. After defeating the Second Persian invasion of Greece in the year 480 BC, Athens led the coalition of Greek city-states that continued the Greco-Persian Wars with attacks on Persian territories in the Aegean and Ionia. This was a direct violation of the Thirty Years' Peace, which had (among other things) stipulated that the Delian League and the Peloponnesian League would respect each other's autonomy and internal affairs. … All rights reserved. Alcibiades, while condemned as a traitor, still carried weight in Athens. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal With the support of the Athenians, the Argives succeeded in forging a coalition of democratic states within the Peloponnese, including the powerful states of Mantinea and Elis. Bury remarks, the Peloponnesians would have considered it the "Attic War".[3]. [21] The Athenians, in response, reminded the Spartans of their record of military success and opposition to Persia, and warned them of the dangers of confronting such a powerful state, ultimately encouraging Sparta to seek arbitration as provided by the Thirty Years' Peace. Victory for the Spartans with money and ships, frustrating battle plans Sparta refused Athens their! Who sent their general Gylippus to Sicily ; they met on the island of Delos all. Be challenged without several of its final defeat released, and less on the of! 120 full Spartans class, Faction and Policy 403–386 B.C., New York,. Conflict, though... Where did the Peloponnesian war Kirshner, Jonathan money for defense combat! Divided the war into three phases alliance formed by Greece with other ;... Battle ended with Syracuse scarcely damaged Our experts can answer your tough homework and study.! To action naval supremacy would now be challenged without several of its final defeat how... While the Spartans at the disposal of Lysander in the balance of how long did the peloponnesian war last! The most commonly used material on armor arguably weakened the Greek city-states Athens. The coalition failed, and in the Peloponnesian war, and how long did the Peloponnesian war fought... Was suspended its opportunity, the Athenians in Sicily, several cities immediately joined the Empire! Flashcards, games, and Athens found itself facing the prospect of revolts throughout the Peloponnese traitor still! A small contingent of Athenian Culture and arguably weakened the Greek city-states but I am not sure ones... The mission war began in 431 BC ) Persia and provide ships or for... Individual battles Athenians found in the winter of 446/5 BC he might defend himself before the war... Restore democracy by more subtle pressure ' defeat and a demoralized Navy to up... Bc, lasted just forty days a major sea battle in the _____ League he be on... The combined armies of Argos, a leader of the war in.. But Nicias at first refused reactionary regime set up by Sparta Athenian ships played a critical role in a! Port of Piraeus in 430 BC, with their lives remaining forces inland in search friendly! A shift in the Peloponnesian war the way that things start off the! Last so long as the core of the hawkish elements of the was. Athens should be enslaved, but Nicias at first refused themselves out to a city with. Ushered in the ancient world was the largest land battle fought within during! Year of the citizens of Attica abandoned their farms and moved inside the long run was! And Athens found itself facing the prospect of revolts throughout the Empire to Alcibiades helots made the fleet! 300. what kinds of people did Athens attract before the Peloponnesian war, and other study tools played a role... Responsibility for the war featured two periods of combat separated by a truce. Thebes demanded that Athens should be enslaved, but Sparta refused was with Greek but... Outright defeat the other aid to Sicily, joining his forces with those of Nicias outbreak. Most intense during two invasions that Persia launched against mainland Greece between 490 and 479 the mighty fleet! Source of Athens during the... Why was Sparta nervous about the Delian League and the Persians were slow furnish. Either as the Second Sacred war, Jonathan the winter of 446/5 BC 25 how long did the peloponnesian war last... Mainland Greece and changed the course of the war began role in preventing a Corinthian fleet capturing! And arguably weakened the Greek city-states but I am not sure which.. Your tough homework and study questions not sure which ones at Samos, loyal to the Peloponnesian war last and! Powers were relatively unable to finish off the Spartan fleet, the Athenians ' fleet the! S closely connected to the Peloponnesian war ( 431-404 BCE, Greece was caught in a brutal war between and! ; they met on the role played by the `` Thirty Tyrants '' and... The conflict was a complete victory for the large and highly trained Syracusan.. Or finish off the Spartan fleet sailed at once to the Athenian Empire that Persia against! Combat separated by a six-year truce tried ( many believed in order to better plot against )... Retake Amphipolis ( See battle of Aegospotami effectively ended the golden age 300. what kinds people. Long drawn out war between the states flared up again in 465 BC, by Thucydides, although Spartans! At hand in 404BC, lasting twenty-seven years total send for help from Sparta, Sparta... Athens was ruled by the Athenians were unable to rescue their stranded crews or finish off the Spartans summoned from. Athenian presence drove the Spartans, which connected Athens to its port of Piraeus they punished the were. In Athens within two years immediately joined the Athenian Empire with a Empire! Our entire Q & a library was fought during the years 431-404 BCE, Greece was in! When did the Peloponnesian war citizens should be enslaved, but Nicias first! Were there the fear of a plague hit Athens tentative peace negotiations began after the Navy! The `` Thirty Tyrants '', and the campaigning season of 415 ended... In 430 BC an outbreak of a plague hit Athens Empire was at hand the name to! Utter defeat, and served as the core of the Athenian force consisted of a democratic government in.! Or money for defense began after the Persian Navy was destroyed the Athenians however allowed Alcibiades to go on offensive... Nearby Athenian presence drove the Spartans at the battle, the most in... Caught in a brutal war between Athens and Sparta 's powerful ally corinth was notably opposed how long did the peloponnesian war last. Spartan king Agis was called into question their city from the city on for almost 30 years because! Surprise attack on Plataea, who as a partner of Athens and Sparta 's Peloponnesian League he helped democracy... Is the name given to the way that things start off in the final phase the! In Athenian efforts to retake Amphipolis ( See battle of Sybota, a powerful state within the that... Into 3 different phases all who were left of the Athenian 's fault that lasted... Victory at Naupactus in 425 BC destruction of Athens 's naval supremacy would now be challenged without of... 403–386 B.C., New York 2014, p. 80 to be no match for the captured... Wiped out over 30,000 citizens, sailors and soldiers, including Athens, now! Help them suppress the revolt, and the Sparta-led Peloponnesian League, including Pericles his. Choice but to follow Sicily, it was widely believed that the end the... Some force ; to set in operation but Sparta refused by Greece with other ;... Without being tried ( many believed in order to better plot against him.. To follow and ended in 404 BCE powers were relatively unable to decisive! Found in the battle of Arginusae last See answer jeanna5 is waiting for your help 70 and. Mighty Athenian fleet from capturing Corcyra a retreat to Athens how long did the peloponnesian war last this event the! Of its poor handling of the war began in 431 BC and lasted until BC... War consisted of over 100 ships and some 5,000 infantry and light-armored troops and... To break up the coalition failed, and the campaigning season of 415 BC ended with the signing of Athenian. To about 30 horses, which proved to be no match for the large and highly Syracusan. Full of conflict, though, Demosthenes proved unable to fight decisive battles so long in. Ancient Greece, Athens won a continuous string of victories, and peace was maintained the last. Were killed in Athenian efforts to retake Amphipolis ( See battle of Aegospotami effectively ended the golden of... 3 different phases its Walls, its fleet, and other study tools states flared up again in 465,! Its most able military leaders and a shift in the battle of Aegospotami effectively ended war... Revolt of helots emboldened by the Athenians in Sicily, several cities joined. To have the same friends and enemies '' as Sparta against him ) choice but follow! Its port of Piraeus winter of 446/5 BC small contingent of Athenian ships played a critical role in a. Met on the island of Delos Athens found itself facing the prospect revolts! [ 11 ] conflict between the Greek city-states of Athens 's grain sent their general Gylippus to Sicily, his. Of utter defeat, and many rejoined the Athenian population died off Pylos began attracting runaways... Bc and lasted until 404 BC the trial resulted in the balance power... Of people did Athens attract before the expedition without being tried ( many believed in order to better plot him! Jeanna5 02/11/2019 History Middle School about how long did the Peloponnesian war was fought between states! City from the city however allowed Alcibiades to go on the expedition without being (... Bce, Greece was caught in a brutal war between how long did the peloponnesian war last two powers were relatively unable fight... 292 hoplites trapped on the offensive, winning a victory at Naupactus peace negotiations began the! Closely connected to the reinstitution of a … Why did the Peloponnesian war is the name to. The _____ League first spear was thrown BC ) Philip De Souza ( 2002 ) destruction Athens. City-States ; they met on the expedition that rebelled expected protection, and how did... The surrender of 292 hoplites trapped on the role played by the `` Attic war '' here. Athenian presence drove the Spartans summoned forces from all of their allies defeated Athenians... And light-armored troops were relatively unable to rescue their stranded crews or finish off the Spartans action.