Peloponnesian Wars Review
Thucydides
Aristophanes
Aristotle
Xenophon
Archidamian War (432-421)
Peace of Nicias
Second Peloponnesian War (431-404)
425- Pylos and Spachteria – A storm lead the Athenians to be washed up on Pylos, where
they set up fortifications in enemy land (epiteichismos). Spartans responded by sending 420
hoplites to Spachteria, yet supplies for them were low. Spartan attempts to attack the
Athenians failed, and the two came to a temporary truce. The Athenians later attacked,
leading to a day of brutal hand-to-hand fighting and many Spartan losses. Athenian victory as
the Spartans surrendered. This shattered the Spartan mirage. ‘an Athenian ally in order to
insult one of the prisoners from the island asked if whether it was the ones who had fallen
who were the real Spartans.’120 Spartans were taken prisoner and the Athenians refused
any negotiations.
424-422 – Thracian Campaign. Lead by Brasidas to test new war tactics, since attacks on
Attica had little success. Thrace was economically important for Athens, would mean Athens
was fighting on two fronts, and be cause for re-negotiating about the Spartan prisoners. He
was accepted by the people of Acanthus, and the Athenians feared more of their allies would
join him. Athens suffered a defeat in the Battle of Delium. Thucydides failed to save
Amphipolis from capture. ‘ 700 hoplites’ ‘the chief factor is creating pro-Spartan feeling in
Athens was the gallantry of Brasidas, and the wisdom which he showed at this time.’ , ‘The
capture of Amphipolis caused great alarm at Athens (…) useful because it supplied timber for
ship-building and bought in revenue’
421- The Peace of Nicias – Made predominantly by Athenian leader Nicias and previous
Spartan King Pleistoanax (brought back from exile) Created after the Thracian Campaign due
to Athenian fears of converging allies, and the death of both Brasidas and Cleon at Sparta
had a great desire for peace due to the capture of Spartan prisoners held in Athens. ‘Now
Athens had suffered another defeat at Amphipolis, and Cleon and Brasidas were dead- the
two people who on each side had been most opposed to peace’ , ‘The treaty is to be in force
between the Athenians, with their allies, and the Spartans, with their allies, for fifty years
without fraud or damage by land or sea’ , ‘alterations may be made, without any breach of
oath, by mutual agreement and on due consideration by the two parties, Athens and Sparta.’
Thucydides on the Peace: ‘it is hardly possible to use the word ‘peace’ of a situation in which
neither side gave back or received what had been promised’
Alcibiades had Athens make an alliance with Argos, which the Spartans failed to block
418 – Battle of Mantinea - Spartan King Agis lead his army against Mantinea. Spartans
defeated the Athenians and the Argives due to courage of Spartan soldiers. Thucydides says
it to be one of the greatest battles the Greeks had fought for some time- restored Spartan
honour/prestige. Battle of Mantinea let Peloponnesians have road of Laconia – meant they
could access their allies. If they had not, they could have lost the Peloponnesian War. ‘Next
to them were the soldiers of Brasidas from Thrace and the helots who had been freed (…)
then came the Spartans themselves, regiment after regiment’
Thucydides
Aristophanes
Aristotle
Xenophon
Archidamian War (432-421)
Peace of Nicias
Second Peloponnesian War (431-404)
425- Pylos and Spachteria – A storm lead the Athenians to be washed up on Pylos, where
they set up fortifications in enemy land (epiteichismos). Spartans responded by sending 420
hoplites to Spachteria, yet supplies for them were low. Spartan attempts to attack the
Athenians failed, and the two came to a temporary truce. The Athenians later attacked,
leading to a day of brutal hand-to-hand fighting and many Spartan losses. Athenian victory as
the Spartans surrendered. This shattered the Spartan mirage. ‘an Athenian ally in order to
insult one of the prisoners from the island asked if whether it was the ones who had fallen
who were the real Spartans.’120 Spartans were taken prisoner and the Athenians refused
any negotiations.
424-422 – Thracian Campaign. Lead by Brasidas to test new war tactics, since attacks on
Attica had little success. Thrace was economically important for Athens, would mean Athens
was fighting on two fronts, and be cause for re-negotiating about the Spartan prisoners. He
was accepted by the people of Acanthus, and the Athenians feared more of their allies would
join him. Athens suffered a defeat in the Battle of Delium. Thucydides failed to save
Amphipolis from capture. ‘ 700 hoplites’ ‘the chief factor is creating pro-Spartan feeling in
Athens was the gallantry of Brasidas, and the wisdom which he showed at this time.’ , ‘The
capture of Amphipolis caused great alarm at Athens (…) useful because it supplied timber for
ship-building and bought in revenue’
421- The Peace of Nicias – Made predominantly by Athenian leader Nicias and previous
Spartan King Pleistoanax (brought back from exile) Created after the Thracian Campaign due
to Athenian fears of converging allies, and the death of both Brasidas and Cleon at Sparta
had a great desire for peace due to the capture of Spartan prisoners held in Athens. ‘Now
Athens had suffered another defeat at Amphipolis, and Cleon and Brasidas were dead- the
two people who on each side had been most opposed to peace’ , ‘The treaty is to be in force
between the Athenians, with their allies, and the Spartans, with their allies, for fifty years
without fraud or damage by land or sea’ , ‘alterations may be made, without any breach of
oath, by mutual agreement and on due consideration by the two parties, Athens and Sparta.’
Thucydides on the Peace: ‘it is hardly possible to use the word ‘peace’ of a situation in which
neither side gave back or received what had been promised’
Alcibiades had Athens make an alliance with Argos, which the Spartans failed to block
418 – Battle of Mantinea - Spartan King Agis lead his army against Mantinea. Spartans
defeated the Athenians and the Argives due to courage of Spartan soldiers. Thucydides says
it to be one of the greatest battles the Greeks had fought for some time- restored Spartan
honour/prestige. Battle of Mantinea let Peloponnesians have road of Laconia – meant they
could access their allies. If they had not, they could have lost the Peloponnesian War. ‘Next
to them were the soldiers of Brasidas from Thrace and the helots who had been freed (…)
then came the Spartans themselves, regiment after regiment’
