The Peloponnesian Wars CHW 3 M The Greek

The Peloponnesian Wars CHW 3 M

The Greek Cold War While Athens dominated trading routes and grew richer and more powerful, the other Greek city-states began to feel threatened. As a result Alliance formed. Delian League (Athens) Peloponnesian League (Sparta) Neutral States

Athens Athenian Strategy Vs. 1. Defend Athens and sea port against land invasion (long walls) 2. Maintain control of their empire and continue to extract the revenue from it to pay for their navy and army and food for the city. 3. Use their amphibious forces to maintain control of the seas, to allow supply of the city and to contain and harass the Spartan-alliance cities. Spartan Strategy 1. Use massive army to fight land war. (outnumbered Athenians 3 to 1) 2. Invade Attica and burn crops, starving the Athenians into submission

In 431 BC Sparta marched into Attica and burned countryside. However Athenians were safe behind massive wall and relied on Navy to import food from all over Mediterranean. Athens became crowded since all the poor from the country side moved to the city for safety. Living conditions got worse and In 430 BC the city was struck by a plague which would last four years and would kill a third of the population, including military leader Pericles. Fearing the plague themselves and a Helot revolt the Spartans temporarily abandoned the Attica siege.

As time went on neither side managed to gain the upper hand all sense of right and wrong was abandoned. By 421 BC both sides were exhausted and signed a temporary truce. The Sicilian Expedition In 415 BC a politician named Alcibiades persuaded the Athenians to attack Syracuse a Spartan colony and food supplier. Before the attack Alcibiades was called back to Athens to face charges brought against him by his enemies. He fled to Sparta and betrayed Athens. • 175 ships destroyed or captured • 40, 000 Athenian causalities

The Final Blow The Persians agreed to build a fleet for the Spartans if they recognized the Persian claim on Ionia. In 405 BC the Spartans made a surprise attack and destroyed the Athenian navy. Without it’s ships Athens was unable to import food and was starved into surrender. End of the City States After war Athens ruled by pro. Spartan Aristocrats. The Thirty Tyrants made themselves so unpopular the King of Sparta restored democracy in 403 BC. Within 10 years Athens had once again weakened Spartan control, which would lead to the end of the independent city states.

A New Power Rises Philip II of Macedon was a strong leader and had united the Northern tribes. He sought to unify Greece and attack the Persians. Philips army was very • efficient, • completely loyal to him • Included hoplites, archers, slingers, and cavalry In 338 BC Philips army won a decisive battle over the Southern city states and unified Greece making himself leader.