The Peloponnesian Wars

The Peloponnesian Wars were ancient Greek wars fought between the cities of Athens and Sparta. The conflict was about the hegemony of the Greek world. For a long time, the outcome was undecided, until the Persian Empire intervened on Sparta's behalf.Athens
The Peloponnesian war was an ancient Greek war between the cities of Athens and Sparta for hegemony over the Greek world. For most of the war, the outcome was uncertain, until the Persian Empire intervened on Sparta's behalf.Both Athens and Sparta had previously quarreled with each other decades before the war. In the intervening years, Athens' ally Corinth had engaged Sparta's army. The threat of Sparta's invasion drew Sparta into the conflict, and the Spartans began raiding their allied cities. Athens responded by building a series of protective walls, stretching from their seaport to the city of Athens itself. Pericles, the head of the Athenians, urged his citizens to avoid direct land battles.The Spartan dress code had specific rules regarding the dress of men, women, and children. Adult males wore a standard wool cloak and uniform. They were easily identifiable by their appearance. Women were required to follow specific regulations and were not allowed to wear cosmetics, perfumes, or dresses.Pericles
Pericles was the leader of Athens during the Peloponnesian wars. He was responsible for coming up with an effective battle plan for Athens. While some historians have defended Pericles, others have criticized him for pushing the Peloponnesian wars too far. However, one thing is for sure: Pericles had his heart in the right place. He did not want his people to suffer misfortune.In 431 BCE, King Archidamius of Sparta invaded the Athenian territory. The Spartans stayed for a few months and cut down the city's olive trees, before departing. However, they came back again in 430 BC. This time, Pericles gave his famous "Funeral Oration." In this speech, Pericles praised the dead Athenian soldiers and declared that the city would win the war.Nicias
When the Athenians landed in Sicily, Nicias was in charge of the attack on Syracuse. He had initially argued against an attack, but the Athenians were unable to build walls to protect the city. This allowed the Syracusans to attack and take the city.Nicias's policies shaped the peace treaty that ended the war, and he was instrumental in making it happen. His military strategy also influenced the attack on Sicily. But ultimately, his actions weakened the Athenian empire. Nicias was a brilliant strategist, and his policies shaped history.The Peloponnesian War was ugly, but fortunately, the fighting was short. The prisoners and losing side were treated well. Although Nicias was a great warrior, he did not fight with excessive violence. Prisoners were tortured, and sometimes drowned.Artayctes
The history of the Peloponnesian Wars reveals the fate of Artayctes, a man who commanded a Persian army during the second Persian invasion of Greece. During his rule, Artayctes seized all the wealth of the area, and desecrated many Greek temples and sacred sites. In 479 BC, he was captured by Athenian forces and subsequently slain.During the Peloponnesian War, the powerful city-states of Athens and Sparta fought each other. The war lasted for a long time, spanning four centuries, and marked the transition of power from Athens to Sparta. This battle marked the end of the golden age of ancient Greek civilization and ushered in a period of regional decline.Athenians
When Athens began the Peloponnesian wars, they faced a huge problem. The Athenians wanted to rule all of Sicily, despite its small population. They also wanted the resources it would bring to Athens. They demanded more tribute from their subject allies, but they were afraid they would face rebellion within the empire.To prevent this from happening, Athens formed a League of 150 city-states called the Delian League. This alliance would help each other in times of war and would support each other if attacked. A famous battle of the Delian League, known as Eurymedon, took place on the coast of Asia Minor in 466 BC. The alliance's navy defeated the Persians' navy, but some of the Aegean islands were unsure of the alliance and wanted out.Athens also had a system of government that emphasized democracy. The city had a local assembly, called the Areopagus. It met on four days a month, with a quorum of 6,000 male citizens. Laws were adopted by a majority vote of hands, although some laws were required to be passed by a special body before they could be implemented.