Peloponnesian War
Ancient Greek civil struggle
The Peloponnesian War was the conflict between Athens and Sparta that consumed the Greek world from 431 to 404 BCE.
Athens led a maritime empire; Sparta led a land-based alliance.
The war ended Athenian dominance and exhausted both powers.
Thucydides documented it in his history, establishing a model for political and military analysis that remains influential.
Fifth-century Athenian statesman
- AspasiaAncient Greek hetaera-philosopher
- PiraeusChief Greek seaport
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
- AcropolisFortified hilltop in Athens
trireme · democracy · ecclesia · silver mines · tribute · surrender
Bonded agricultural class
- LysanderSpartan military leader
- krypteiaSpartan anti-serf terror
- hoplitesAncient Greek heavy infantry
- land powerMilitary strength on terrain
Greek historiographer, fifth-century BCE
- XenophonGreek soldier-historian
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- speechesFormal spoken presentations
- objectivityFreedom from personal bias
eyewitness · primary source · realism · human nature · power politics · lessons · legacy
Formal unions for cooperation
- trucesAgreements to cease fighting
- embassiesForeign government offices abroad
- ArgosHellenic city-state
- CorinthAncient Greek maritime city
Thebes · neutrality · oaths · treaties · arbitration · heralds · negotiations · war guilt
City in two eras
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- hopliteAncient Greek heavy infantry
- phalanxMassed infantry formation
- cavalryMounted military force
fortification · walls · ravaging · attrition
Three-banked ancient warship
- PiraeusChief Greek seaport
- rammingStriking with violent impact
- boardingEntering a vehicle
- HellespontNarrow strait, classical name
Sicily · oarsmen · shipbuilding · dockyards · blockade
Justification for armed conflict
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- capitulationComplete yielding to demands
Pericles
Fifth-century Athenian statesman
Acropolis · trireme · democracy · ecclesia · silver mines · tribute · surrender
helots
Bonded agricultural class
land power · Cyrus · subsidies · hegemony
Thucydides
Greek historiographer, fifth-century BCE
- XenophonGreek soldier-historian
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- speechesFormal spoken presentations
objectivity · eyewitness · primary source · realism · human nature · power politics · lessons · legacy
alliances
Formal unions for cooperation
- trucesAgreements to cease fighting
- embassiesForeign government offices abroad
- ArgosHellenic city-state
Corinth · Thebes · neutrality · oaths · treaties · arbitration · heralds · negotiations · war guilt
Syracuse
City in two eras
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- hopliteAncient Greek heavy infantry
- phalanxMassed infantry formation
cavalry · fortification · walls · ravaging · attrition
trireme
Three-banked ancient warship
Hellespont · Sicily · oarsmen · shipbuilding · dockyards · blockade
casus belli
Justification for armed conflict
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- capitulationComplete yielding to demands
- WarsWorld War I, WWI, civil war, cold war, Korean War
- ancient GreeceAthens, Sparta, Zeus, Parthenon, Acropolis
- 5th Century BCPericles, Socrates, Parthenon, Battle of Marathon, Herodotus
- ancient AthensAcropolis, Parthenon, Agora, agora, Pericles
- Ancient WarsTrojan War, Punic Wars, Persian Wars, Gallic Wars, Social War
- Greek classicsHomer, Iliad, Plato, Odyssey, Aristotle