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The Peloponnesian War Sparta v. Athens 431 BC. Lead-Up to the War. Tensions between Sparta and Athens grow Had been growing for years due to alliances Athens becomes a massive naval power Money from alliance helped to create this Both sides begin pressing for attacks
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Lead-Up to the War • Tensions between Sparta and Athens grow • Had been growing for years due to alliances • Athens becomes a massive naval power • Money from alliance helped to create this • Both sides begin pressing for attacks • People want to get the upper hand on the other • Eventually tension boils over into war
The War Begins (431 BCE) • Sparta declares war 431 BC – attacks Athens • Sparta known to be tough on land • Athens known to be tough at sea • Athens planned to avoid land battles and find a way to attack by sea • Sparta not easily accessible by sea – major problem • Sparta marches on Athens; burns farmland • Planned to eliminate Athenian food supply • Hoped they would eventually surrender
Athenian Respond to Attacks • Pericles pulls citizens inside the city walls for protection; trying to avoid land battle w/ Sparta • Good plan except for two major problems • Major plague hits – kills 1/3 to 2/3 of Athenian population including Pericles • Athenian attack fails – Athens sends 27000 soldiers to attack Syracuse to have Sparta retreat and help • Athenian army is completely destroyed • Athens surrenders after holding off Sparta for 9 years
Philosophers Arise w/ Answers • Following the time of crisis, people in Athens searching for answers • Philosophers try to provide answers • Philosopher- lovers of wisdom • Believed in two major principles • The world was put together in a logical way • People could understand the world with logic and reason • 3 major philosophers to know about • Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
The Philosophers • Socrates – 1st major philosopher of Greece • Encouraged Greeks to question themselves and their moral character • He was later put on trial and condemned to death for corrupting Athens’ youth; drank poison to die • Plato – student of Socrates • Most famous for writing The Republic • Said that there were 3 social classes • Smartest of the upper class would become philosopher-king • Aristotle – student of Plato and questioned the world • His research provided the basis for the scientific method • Also tutored Alexander the Great; later takes over Greece