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The Peloponnesian War

The Peloponnesian War. 431 – 404 BCE: The decline of the Athenian Empire (ancient Greece). Thucydides 460 - 395BCE. History of the Peloponnesian War Parcitipated in the war Recounts cause and effect of events leading up to and during the 27 year war

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The Peloponnesian War

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  1. The Peloponnesian War 431 – 404 BCE: The decline of the Athenian Empire (ancient Greece)

  2. Thucydides 460 - 395BCE History of the Peloponnesian War Parcitipated in the war Recounts cause and effect of events leading up to and during the 27 year war He wrote about human nature: honour, glory, dishonour

  3. The Delian League - Athens • Battle of Salamis – great victory for Athens • Delian League in 5th century – Athens is in the lead • Set up to fight for the ‘freedom of ancient Greece’ versus Persia • Over 150 members – make a contribution to Athens to the common treasure • 2 city-states: Lesbos, Chios not direct members

  4. The Alliance System

  5. Athens and its ‘Golden Age’ • New monies – Athens builds up its fleet • Athens also uses the money to embark upon great architectural monuments: Parthenon (temple to the gods and Athena) • Completes Long Wall – Athens to Piraeus (4.5 miles in length)

  6. Parthenon ‘Maiden’s apartments’, 447- 438 BCE

  7. Statue of Athena, designed by Phidias (438BCE)

  8. Peloponnesian League, 6th century BCE • Due to Doric invasions from North • Loose Network of allies • Served as soldiers under Spartan Command • Sparta, in turn, protected them and also granted their autonomy • Few gatherings • Corinth and Thebes strongest allies

  9. The Peloponnesian League

  10. Causes of the war • Distrust between Sparta and Athens • The alliance system • The growing power of the Athenian Empire

  11. Distrust between Sparta and Athens • Sparta opposed Athenian Long Wall construction • 465BCE – Athens besieged Thasos (north of Lesbos) • Sparta promised they would help Thasos but due to earthquake could not • Helots rebel in Peloponnese – Sparta kicks most out – ‘Never return’ • Athens help helots by setting them up in Naupactus (strategic site north of Corinthian Gulf)

  12. Ancient Greece

  13. The Corinthian Problem – Alliance system • Corinth and Megara – allies to Sparta go to war • 459BCE – Megara is losing and asks for help • Sparta refuses – Athens steps in (Cold War) • Athens: Megara is a strategic point • Corinthian ‘hatred’ for Athens begins • Athens is ‘invulnerable’ (Map)

  14. 30 Year Peace: Sparta and Athens, 446/5BCE Megara defects and joins Sparta again Sparta marches into Attica Pericles (Athenian general) negotiates peace Pericles: great orator, lead general in Athens, moderate measures - deterrents always

  15. Pericles’ Diplomacy • Thurii (modern Albania) set up as a Panhellenic colony by Athens - unprecedented • Majority of citizens not Athenian • Taras defeats Thurii, Athens does not get involved • Message – Athens will not expand west (Bismarck – ‘Saturated Germany’) • Corinth happy

  16. Epidamnus, Dyrrachium (Roman period)

  17. Immediate Cause (Spark) of the Peloponnesian War • Little Sarajevo and Serbia (WWI) • Epidamnus – civil war and asks for help from Corcyra (founders of Epidamnus) • They refuse • Go to Corinth (founders of Corcyra) – they agree to help (out of hatred for Corcyra – Thucydides) • Corcyra upset! – dishonour

  18. Battle of Sybota, 433BCE • Corcyra seeks help from Athens, 433 BCE • Athens agrees – Pericles: Defensive alliance only! • Why did they agree? a) War inevitable with Sparta b) Corcyra largest fleet next to Athens, if defeated then all of its fleet transferred – balance of power • Battle of Sybota – Corcyra and Corinth; Athens small fleet; Corinth goes home and will never forgive!

  19. Start of Peloponnesian War • Corinth convinces Sparta to ally with them against Athens • Athens is too aggressive: a) another problem in Potidea and b) Megarian Decree • Pericles decides that Megara’s involvement in Sybota will be punished by an economic embargo – unprecedented • Sparta gives ultimatum, Athens declines and they go to war ! • Sparta’s propaganda: ‘Fight for the freedom of Greece’!

  20. Pericles’ War • Defensive strategy: Spartan phalanx stronger • Sparta: invades Attica every year • Long wall, Athens does not engage them • 1st year closes: Pericles’ Funeral Oration • The Plague – unanticipated; Athenians lose morale but recover • Pericles dies • New Generals: Nicias and Alcibiades

  21. The Long Wall, 4.5miles

  22. Athens loses the war • Great expedition to Sicily in 415 under Alcibiades and Nicias – great failure • Sparta allies with Syracuse • Crushing defeat to Athenian naval fleet • Last crushing battle at Aegospotami, against Sparta and Persia in 405 BCE • Athens surrenders • Sparta tears down its walls

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