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Questions and Answers
What was the primary result of Lysander's victory at Aegospotami?
What was the primary result of Lysander's victory at Aegospotami?
Sparta's victory at Aegospotami led to the rise of Athenian political power.
Sparta's victory at Aegospotami led to the rise of Athenian political power.
False
What was the name of the military alliance led by Athens?
What was the name of the military alliance led by Athens?
Delian League
The war involved both sides utilizing __________ strategies to weaken their opponent.
The war involved both sides utilizing __________ strategies to weaken their opponent.
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Match the following terms with their descriptions:
Match the following terms with their descriptions:
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What was a primary cause of the Peloponnesian War?
What was a primary cause of the Peloponnesian War?
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The Peloponnesian War ended with a decisive victory for Athens.
The Peloponnesian War ended with a decisive victory for Athens.
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Who was the Athenian statesman that guided policy during the early stages of the war?
Who was the Athenian statesman that guided policy during the early stages of the war?
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The __________ Expedition was a disastrous attempt by Athens to conquer Syracuse.
The __________ Expedition was a disastrous attempt by Athens to conquer Syracuse.
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Match the key figures with their contributions during the Peloponnesian War:
Match the key figures with their contributions during the Peloponnesian War:
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What factor contributed to Spartan fears leading to the Peloponnesian War?
What factor contributed to Spartan fears leading to the Peloponnesian War?
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The Peace of Nicias provided a permanent resolution to the conflict.
The Peace of Nicias provided a permanent resolution to the conflict.
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What dispute served as an immediate trigger for the Peloponnesian War?
What dispute served as an immediate trigger for the Peloponnesian War?
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Study Notes
Overview
- The Peloponnesian War was a major conflict fought between Athens and Sparta, along with their respective allies, from 431 to 404 BCE.
- The war profoundly reshaped the political landscape of ancient Greece, leading to the decline of Athenian power and the rise of Sparta.
- The war's causes were complex, rooted in long-standing tensions between Athenian democracy and Spartan oligarchy, competition for control of the Aegean Sea, and the growing power of Athens.
Causes of the War
- Athenian Hegemony: Athens' growing naval and economic power, particularly its dominance of the Delian League, fuelled resentment and fear among other Greek city-states.
- Spartan Fear: Sparta, a land-based power, viewed Athens' rising maritime dominance as a threat to its regional influence and security.
- Corinth's Grievances: Corinth, a major trade center, resented Athens' commercial policies and sought Sparta's support to counter Athenian influence.
- The Epidamnus Dispute: A dispute over the colony Epidamnus on the Adriatic Coast, exacerbated by Athenian interference, served as a catalyst for the war.
Phases of the War
- Archidamian War (431-421 BCE): Characterized by Spartan land offensives against Attica, Athenian naval strength, and both sides employing attrition tactics. Athens suffered from plagues which weakened them along with continuous ongoing tensions.
- Peace of Nicias (421-413 BCE): A temporary truce, failing to resolve the underlying causes of conflict, ultimately leading to renewed fighting.
- Sicilian Expedition (415-413 BCE): A failed Athenian attempt to conquer Syracuse in Sicily, resulting in a significant Athenian defeat and immense loss of life and ships. This was a critical turning point in the war.
- Decelean War (413-404 BCE): Sparta, backed by Persian funds, gained crucial allies. During this phase, Sparta focused on disrupting Athenian trade routes and benefitted from the continued support of Corinth and other allied city-states.
Key Figures and Events
- Pericles: Athenian statesman who guided Athenian policy during the initial stages of the war. His death by plague was a severe setback for Athens.
- Cleon: Athenian general advocating for a more aggressive war strategy, contributing to the escalation of conflict.
- Alcibiades: Athenian general initially supporting the Sicilian expedition, later switching sides to Sparta and significantly assisting their victories.
- Lysander: Spartan general achieving a decisive victory at Aegospotami, ending Athenian naval power.
Outcomes and Impact
- Athenian Defeat: Sparta's decisive victory at Aegospotami resulted in Athenian surrender and the destruction of the Athenian navy.
- Spartan Hegemony: Sparta briefly attained dominance over Greece.
- Decline of Athenian Power: Athens lost its political and economic influence, leading to instability and decline in the Greek world.
- Social and Economic Consequences: The war caused widespread destruction, financial ruin, and political upheaval throughout Greece, influencing the lives of its citizens dramatically.
- Rise of Macedonia: The weakened city-states of Greece were ultimately conquered by Philip II of Macedon, ushering in a new era in Greek history.
Key Concepts
- Delian League: A military alliance initially formed for protection against Persia, but later transformed into an Athenian empire.
- Peloponnesian League: A rival alliance led by Sparta, established to counter Athenian dominance.
- Strategia: The art of warfare, encompassing the roles and power of general officers in the Athenian and Spartan militaries.
- Attrition: Both sides in the conflict implemented attrition strategies, seeking to weaken the enemy through sustained conflict and exhaustion rather than decisive battles.
- Alliance Warfare: The war's outcome was significantly impacted by shifting alliances and support from opposing forces.
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Description
This quiz explores the complex causes of the Peloponnesian War, focusing on the tensions between Athenian democracy and Spartan oligarchy. Learn about the key players involved, including Athens, Sparta, and Corinth, and how their ambitions and fears contributed to this major conflict in ancient Greece.
