Chapter 8: The Peloponnesian War Flashcards
A location in ancient Greece where the decisive naval battle of the Peloponnesian War took place in 405 BCE. The Spartan fleet, led by Lysander, defeated the Athenian fleet, leading to Athens’ eventual surrender.
Aegospotami
An Athenian general and politician during the Peloponnesian War, known for his aggressive and populist policies. He played a central role in the execution of the Mytilenean prisoners and was killed at the Battle of Amphipolis in 422 BCE.
cleon
A Spartan general who played a key role in the final defeat of Athens during the Peloponnesian War. He led the Spartan navy at the Battle of Aegospotami and was instrumental in ending the war in 404 BCE, establishing the oligarchic government of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens.
Lysander
A coastal city in the southwest of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, known for the Battle of Pylos in 425 BCE, where the Athenians won a significant victory against the Spartans, capturing a large number of prisoners, including Spartan hoplites.
Pylos
An Athenian statesman, general, and notorious political figure, known for his shifting allegiances during the Peloponnesian War. He switched sides between Athens, Sparta, and Persia, influencing major events such as the Sicilian Expedition and the eventual defeat of Athens.
Alcibiades
An island in the Ionian Sea, which was involved in the Peloponnesian War. It was a colony of Corinth and became a key naval ally of Athens, leading to the Battle of Sybota in 433 BCE, one of the first significant naval engagements of the war.
Corcyra
An island in the Aegean Sea, the site of the brutal Melian Dialogue in 416 BCE. The Athenians, after a failed attempt at diplomacy, invaded and destroyed the neutral island, killing the men and enslaving the women and children.
Melos
A small island off the coast of Pylos, site of a key battle in the Peloponnesian War in 425 BCE. The Athenians, under Nicias, captured a large force of Spartan hoplites, leading to a significant Athenian victory and a temporary advantage in the war.
Sphacteria
A famous Athenian playwright known for his satirical and comedic plays. His works, such as Lysistrata, The Clouds, and The Frogs, often critiqued the political and social issues of Athens, particularly during and after the Peloponnesian War.
Aristophanes
A political body established in Athens during the Peloponnesian War in 411 BCE, which aimed to replace the democratic government with an oligarchic regime. It was eventually overthrown, and the democracy was restored shortly after
Council of 400
A city on the island of Lesbos, which was the site of a major revolt against Athens in 428 BCE. The revolt was suppressed, and the Athenian assembly debated whether to execute all the male inhabitants of the city and enslave the women and children. A subsequent reversal of this decision led to a more lenient punishment.
Mytilene
A powerful Greek city-state on the island of Sicily, involved in the Peloponnesian War when Athens launched an ill-fated military expedition there in 415 BCE. The Athenians were defeated, and this failure significantly weakened their position in the war.
Syracuse
A naval battle fought in 406 BCE, in which the Athenian fleet defeated the Spartans. However, a subsequent political crisis over the failure to rescue shipwrecked Athenian sailors led to the execution of several Athenian generals, despite their success.
Battle of Arginusae
A city in western Sicily, which played a significant role in the Peloponnesian War. In 415 BCE, Egesta appealed to Athens for military aid against Syracuse, which led to the disastrous Sicilian Expedition.
Egesta
An Athenian general and politician, notable for his role in the Sicilian Expedition. Although initially opposed to the expedition, he was later appointed to lead it, and his cautious approach contributed to the failure of the campaign.
Nicias
