The Peloponnesian War Sparta v Athens 431 BC

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 – People want to get the upper hand on the other

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

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

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 – 1 st 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 philosopherking • Aristotle – student of Plato and questioned the world – His research provided the basis for the scientific