Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was a primary concern that Sparta had about Athens?
What was a primary concern that Sparta had about Athens?
- Athens was becoming too powerful and influential. (correct)
- Athens's decision to abandon its democratic principles.
- Athens’s promotion of trade with the Persians.
- Athens was building a superior land army.
What was the main aim of The Peloponnesian League?
What was the main aim of The Peloponnesian League?
- To counteract the increasing influence and power of Athens. (correct)
- To establish trade routes with neighboring colonies.
- To seek diplomatic relations with the Persian Empire.
- To promote cultural exchange with Athenian intellectuals.
Why did Pericles and the Athenians decide to avoid a major land battle with Sparta?
Why did Pericles and the Athenians decide to avoid a major land battle with Sparta?
- To show that they did not believe in warfare.
- To give more time for the Athenian allies to help.
- Because they had a superior navy and were wealthier. (correct)
- Because they believed their hoplites were superior.
How did the Athenians act when the Spartans tried to lure them into combat, according to Pericles’s plan?
How did the Athenians act when the Spartans tried to lure them into combat, according to Pericles’s plan?
What was the primary strategy of the Spartans to force the Athenians to fight?
What was the primary strategy of the Spartans to force the Athenians to fight?
Which of the following is the MOST accurate description of the Peloponnesus?
Which of the following is the MOST accurate description of the Peloponnesus?
According to the historian Thucydides, what did the farmers do when they left the area surrounding Athens?
According to the historian Thucydides, what did the farmers do when they left the area surrounding Athens?
What was the MOST likely short-term military objective for Sparta at the start of the war?
What was the MOST likely short-term military objective for Sparta at the start of the war?
What was Pericles' primary strategy at the beginning of the war?
What was Pericles' primary strategy at the beginning of the war?
Why did the Spartans eventually withdraw from attacking Athens during the first year of the war?
Why did the Spartans eventually withdraw from attacking Athens during the first year of the war?
What was the ultimate effect of the plague that swept through Athens?
What was the ultimate effect of the plague that swept through Athens?
What did Alcibiades propose to the Athenians as a way to gain an advantage in the war?
What did Alcibiades propose to the Athenians as a way to gain an advantage in the war?
Why was the decision for the Athenian army to invade Sicily controversial from the start?
Why was the decision for the Athenian army to invade Sicily controversial from the start?
What key event marked a turning point, or a shift in the balance of power during the Peloponnesian War?
What key event marked a turning point, or a shift in the balance of power during the Peloponnesian War?
Why did Alcibiades flee to Sparta after the invasion of Sicily?
Why did Alcibiades flee to Sparta after the invasion of Sicily?
What was the final consequence of the Spartans' naval victory in 405 BCE?
What was the final consequence of the Spartans' naval victory in 405 BCE?
What does the text say was the effect of the plague on the people of Athens?
What does the text say was the effect of the plague on the people of Athens?
What was the Athenian navy primarily doing during the war, before the proposal to invade Sicily?
What was the Athenian navy primarily doing during the war, before the proposal to invade Sicily?
Flashcards
Diplomatic Relations
Diplomatic Relations
A formal contact and communication between different countries, involving representatives called diplomats.
Peloponnesian League
Peloponnesian League
A league of Greek city-states led by Sparta, formed to oppose Athenian dominance.
Peloponnesian War
Peloponnesian War
The devastating war between Athens and Sparta and their allies, lasting over twenty-five years.
Pericles
Pericles
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Pericles' Strategy
Pericles' Strategy
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Thucydides
Thucydides
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Luring into Battle
Luring into Battle
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Fortified Athens
Fortified Athens
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Plague
Plague
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Waiting Game
Waiting Game
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Athenian Plague
Athenian Plague
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Rock Quarry
Rock Quarry
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Stalemate
Stalemate
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Treason
Treason
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Invasion
Invasion
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Alliance
Alliance
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Balance of Power
Balance of Power
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Study Notes
The Peloponnesian War
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Athens' growing empire sparked Spartan concern and resentment of Athenian-style democracy, leading to the formation of the Peloponnesian League, a coalition including Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes.
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The league was named for the Peloponnesus, the southern Greek peninsula where many members were located.
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Diplomatic tensions escalated, culminating in the Peloponnesian War, which lasted over 25 years and ultimately dismantled the Athenian empire.
Beginning of the War
- Pericles, Athenian leader, recognized Sparta's superior land army and Athens’ stronger navy and wealth.
- Pericles, fearing a disastrous land battle, designed a strategy of avoiding conflict on land.
- This strategy involved Athenian retreat behind fortified city walls, using the navy to supply the city and attack Peloponnesian coastal cities.
- All Athenian farmers, along with their families and belongings, were moved into the city.
- This strategy proved initially successful, as the Spartans, unable to find food in the deserted lands, retreated after a year without engaging the Athenians.
- Their retreat was followed by Athenian naval raids on Peloponnesian coast.
The War Continues
- The second Spartan attack brought another Athenian retreat.
- A devastating plague ravaged Athens, killing nearly a quarter of the population, lowering morale and faith.
- Pericles, a key strategist, died during the plague, replaced by less capable leaders.
- The long war stalled, with neither side capable of breaking the stalemate.
The Sicilian Expedition
- Alcibiades, an Athenian, proposed an invasion of Sicily to renew supplies, attack Sparta from two fronts, and destroy its main rivals.
- The invasion was disastrous, ending with the Athenian army being defeated, many killed or taken captive in Sicilian rock quarries.
- Alcibiades defected to Sparta, revealing Athenian plans, and later fled to Persia.
- The Sicilian disaster severely weakened the Athenian military and naval forces.
Spartan Victory
- Sparta, boosted by the losses in Sicily, began building its navy and enlisted Persian support.
- The Spartans secured a decisive naval victory in 405 BCE.
- This victory cut off Athens' grain supply, and the Athenians were eventually forced to surrender.
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Description
Explore the events leading to the Peloponnesian War, highlighting the conflict between Athens and Sparta. This quiz covers the strategies employed by Pericles and the formation of the Peloponnesian League. Test your knowledge on this significant historical conflict that reshaped ancient Greece.
