Relations between Athens and Sparta

Question 1

Dates of the Archidamian war?

Answer 1

431-21 BCE

Question 2

How come the Arch war has its name?

Answer 2

Named after Archidamus II, one of the Kings of Sparta at the time (the main one seeing as his peer was under age)

Question 3

Why would Thucydides have chosen the Archidamian War as a starting point for his Peloponnesian war concept?

Answer 3

first direct military interaction between Ath and Sparta

Question 4

What was the Athenian strategy in the Archidamian war? (3)

Answer 4

Periclean: be more defensive with priority of protecting their arche. Take advantage of superior navy and finances.
Post-Pericles: more offensive.

Question 5

What was the Spartan strategy in the Archidamian war? (2)

Answer 5

Use superior land force and experience to target Attica - invasions, support for Thebes vs Plataea, Brasidas’ later campaign
Weaken the allies of Athens to thus restrict access to resources

Question 6

When did the plague break out in Athens? What did this coincide with? Reference?

Answer 6

Summer 430
second invasion of Attican countryside by Pelos
2.47

Question 7

What was the political impact of the plague on Athens with respect to the war?

Answer 7

Morale was very low and the masses turned on Pericles, seeing him as the instigator of their bad fortunes. They even started considering making peace, with an unsuccessful embassy sent to Sparta (2.59)

Question 8

When did Pericles die? Impact on relations?

Answer 8

429
Athens became more aggressive in war policy

Question 9

What limited the effectiveness of Sparta’s annual Attican invasions? (2)

Answer 9

refusal of Athens to come out of city walls and fight
inability to establish a permanent garrison

Question 10

What was the mythological origins of the division of Hellenes between Ionians, Dorians, and Aetolians?

Answer 10

They were descendants of progenitor Hellen - Dorus and Aeolus her sons, and Ion her grandson.

Question 11

Where is the farthest Pelopons got in Attic invasions? When?

Answer 11

laurium, affecting the supply of silver
summer of 430

Question 12

When do the Sps plan to attack Peiraeus but withdraw? What was their back up?

Answer 12

429
Attack salamis

Question 13

When does Athens introduce property tax on citizens? Why?

Answer 13

winter 428/7
struggling with finances due to the

Question 14

In what year did the Mytilenean debate occur?

Answer 14

427

Question 15

When doe sthe plague return to athens?

Answer 15

winter 427/6

Question 16

When was the Pylos incident? What narrative purpose does this seem to have served in Thuc’s account?

Answer 16

425
Was a turning point in Sparta’s fortunes

Question 17

What happened in the Pylos incident? What is controversial about Thuc’s account?

Answer 17

Athenian men settle at Pylos (threatening for Sps); Sps place holpites on on nearby island Sphacteria; they were beseiged and stalemate created; Cleon takes action with a large fleet; naval battle ensues, Aths win and take 129 Spartan hostages (v offensive and actually impactful on hoplite no.s); Spartans then sent many peace pleas to Ath but were rejected.
LJ Samons suggests topography does not make sense for plans in Thuc (Spa wanted to blockade exit of bay w ships) so he suggests a rereading of Spartan hubris thinking bay was small enough to be restrictive for Ath ships AND had hoplites on Sphacteria to stop escapees - this failed as space was big enough.

Question 18

When did Brasidas set out Thrace ward? What was unique about his army?

Answer 18

424
made up of helots

Question 19

When did Sp and Ath agree to a years truce?

Answer 19

423-22

Question 20

Why did Sp and Athens agree to Peace of Nicias?

Answer 20

Sparta had not anticipated the length of the conflict and resources were fast dwindling
Athens was feeling militarily weak

Question 21

What does Aristophanes identify as the cause of war between Sp and Athens? Why?

Answer 21

Megarian Decree.
There was much animosity betw Megara and Athens after years of alliance - prostitutes had been kidnapped from M, then in retaliation they kidnapped some from Athens, ones assoc w Pericles, so he responded by drawing up Megarian decree that put great limits on the trade M could do w Athens/Ath emp; M calls on Sparta to help them oppose the decree which fails and frustrates them so leading to war.