The Great Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC)

Question 1

Beginning of the war in 431 BC

Answer 1

Athens came into conflict with Spartan allies Corinth and Megara. all allies were rallied. Neutral states took to the side of Sparta

Question 2

Pericles’ strategy

Answer 2

wanted to launch a series of brief attacks on Sparta from the sea so as to entice them to besieging Athens and Piraeus and exhaust their men and use up their resources

Question 3

the long walls

Answer 3

Pericles concentrated the people in Attica in between the walls protecting Athens and Piraeus

Question 4

Sparta’s weakness

Answer 4

funds

Question 5

Athenian setbacks

Answer 5

Pericles died in 429 BC, a plague killed about 1/3 of the city’s population between 429 and 427 BC, Athens did not follow Pericles’ strategy and launched several risky expeditions against Sparta

Question 6

431-421 BC

Answer 6

first stage of the war, Athenians held their own against the Spartans

Question 7

The peace of Nicias

Answer 7

Athens concluded the treaty in 421 BC on reasonable terms

Question 8

413-404 BC

Answer 8

second stage of the war, Athens lost

Question 9

factors that contributed to Athenian loss

Answer 9

best part of the city’s army and navy was lost in an attempt to gain control over Sicily, Syracuse defeated Athenians with the help of Spartans between 415-413 BC, Alcibiades’ meddling, Persian aid to Spartans

Question 10

Alcibiades

Answer 10

intriguing aristocratic politician (c. 450-404), flamboyant young man, pupil of Socrates, associated with many scandals and often changed sides in political conflicts (including the war where he switched sides many times). died in 404 BC in Phrygia

Question 11

fort Decelea

Answer 11

located in Attica, Spartans occupied it to establish a permanent military base near Athens under the advise of Alcibiades, Athenian food supply and source of income was cut off

Question 12

Persian support

Answer 12

allied with Sparta from 412 BC and provided financial support so that they could build a strong fleet. this caused many Athenian allies to defect to Sparta

Question 13

Tissaphernes

Answer 13

a Persian commander-in-chief of the Persian army in Asia minor, Alcibiades looked to him for support when he was flipping sides

Question 14

regime of Four Hundered

Answer 14

installed in Athens by an oligarchic group in 411 BC to take down democratic rule, this was a short lived rule

Question 15

regime of Five Thousand

Answer 15

rowers from the oligarchic fleet turned to Alcibiades and elected him general in hopes of him securing Persian aid for them; set up a more moderate oligarchic regime

Question 16

Lysander

Answer 16

Spartan admiral who in 405 BC decisively defeated the Athenian fleet off the mouth of the river Aigospotamoi in the Dardanelles

Question 17

end of the war in 404 BC

Answer 17

lack of food forced Athens to surrender

Question 18

Athenian losses in the war

Answer 18

number of adult male citizens decreased marginally, Delian League was dissolved, the long walls were pulled down, pro-Spartan oligarchic government was set up (democracy restored after one year)