The Peloponnesian War - Athenians and Spartans - Info pack

The Peloponnesian War, often referred to as 'the war to end all wars,' was a prolonged conflict that raged between the city-states of Athens and Sparta. This infamous war spanned 27 years, from 431 BC to 404 BC, following a period of uneasy peace after both powers had united to defeat the Persians. Despite their previous collaboration and a 30-year non-aggression pact to facilitate recovery, tensions escalated, leading to a devastating war. Initially, during the truce, Athens experienced a golden age, becoming a powerful and affluent empire, which sparked jealousy and distrust among the Spartan alliance, eventually prompting Sparta to declare war on Athens in 431 BC.

Throughout the first decade of the war, the Spartans were dominant on land while the Athenians maintained control at sea. Athens constructed extensive defensive walls that reached the sea, ensuring continued access to supplies and trade despite the Spartan threat. However, a plague during this period claimed many Athenian lives. After a decade of fighting, a temporary truce was established in 421 BC, but it was short-lived. The Athenians suffered a catastrophic defeat in Sicily in 415 BC while aiding their allies, leading to a resurgence of the war. Sparta, bolstered by financial support from Persia to challenge Athenian naval supremacy, continued the conflict. Against the odds, Athens achieved a series of victories between 410 and 406 BC, but ultimately, a Spartan general's decisive naval victory in 405 BC brought the war to a close.