Reasons for Athenian Loss of Peloponnesian War Flashcards
What were the main reasons for Athens losing the war?
The Plague in Athens (430-28 + 426)
Political Instability within Athens
Spartan Leadership + Persian Influence
The Sicilian Expedition + the Occupation of Decelea (415-413)
What were the impacts of the Plague on Athens?
The death of Pericles - leading to rise in demagogues
30% mortality rate
4400 hoplites were killed
Who are the two examples of demagogues who rose into prominence after Pericles’ death?
Cleon + Hyperbolos
Why was the Ekklesia’s attitude ultimately bad for Athens during the war?
It was war-hungry and ruthless (as shown in the Mytilene Revolt, Melos’ destruction + Sicily)
Due to political instability in Athens, what occurred in 411?
An oligarchic coup
Whose exile was ultimately a bad decision for the Ekklesia?
Alcibiades - his exile in 406 after Notium meant they did not heed his advice before Aegospotami which lead to them losing the war completely
Who was Cleophon? Why was he a hindrance to the Ekklesia?
He was a populist demagogue who took prominence after Cleon + Hyperbolos
Riles the Ekklesia to reject peace offers three times at Cyzicus (410), Arginusae (406) + Aegospotami (405)
What happened after the Athenian victory at Arginusae?
The Ekklesia voted to kill 6/8 of the successful generals for not collecting the dead bodies from the ocean during a storm
Whose Spartan leadership contributed to their victory of the war?
Brasidas
King Agis
Gylippus
Lysander
What did Brasidas do to contribute to the Athenian loss?
He gathered many allies of Athens in Thrace to revolt collectively - continued to do so even after being told not to (Thracian Campaign 424-422)
Defeated Thucydides at Amphipolis (leading to his exile - another general loss)
Fought a pitched battle at Amphipolis against Cleon resulting in both of their deaths (422)
What did King Agis do to contribute to the Athenian loss?
He defeated the Quadripartite Alliance at the Battle of Mantinea (418)
He occupied (epiteichismos) Decelea - loss of 20,000 slaves + Euboean food imports were more costly/slower
Paid for his troops while the Persians (Tissaphernes/Pharnabazus) funded the Peloponnesian Fleet
What did Gylippus do to contribute to the Athenian loss?
Defeated Nicias during the Sicilian Expedition - which had a knock-on effect of Nicias’ and Demosthenes’ executions + the loss of 200 ships/40,000 men (7,000 captured) for Athens
What did Lysander do to contribute to the Athenian loss?
Secured full Persian sponsorship from Darius II due to his mutual admiration of Prince Cyrus (407)
Defeated Antiochus at the Battle of Notium (406)
Defeats the Athenians at Aegospotami (405)
Blockades the Hellespont/Black Sea - no grain able to reach Athens - starved into surrender
Who led the Sicilian Expedition?
Nicias, Alcibiades + Lamachus
By late 415, what were the generals of the Sicilian Expedition’s situation?
Alcibiades had been recalled for impiety due to defamation of the Hermae + leaking secrets of the Eleusinian Mysteries
Lamachus had been killed in battle
Nicias left to command a half-hearted expedition
What were the statistic losses for the Sicilian Expedition?
Over 200 ships lost
33,000 hoplites killed
7,000 hoplites captured
What were the two consequences of the Sicilian Expedition?
The Occupation of Decelea
The Revolts of Chios + Miletus (start of Persian Intervention)
What were the consequences of the epiteichismos performed at Decelea?
20,000 Athenians slaves escaped
Food imports from Euboea now more costly/slower as new route needed
What was the significance of the Chios + Miletus revolts?
They had the backing of the Persian satrap Tissaphernes - beginning of Persian Intervention
What does Thucydides say about the Sicilian Expedition + Decelea?
Due to devoting 2 whole books on them, he highlights how important the loss at Sicily and the impact of Decelea was to the overall loss of Athens
