The Peloponnesian War (Archidamian War)(431-421 BC)

Question 1

Periclean Strategy

Answer 1

Established by Pericles, wished to (As recited by Thucydides):

• Remain within the walls of Athens, relying on allies for supplies
• Establish garrisons within the states of their allies to control them, prevent attack and revolution
• Supply lines kept safe by their Navy
• Wished to avoid Hoplite warfare on account of the Spartan land army being the strongest in the Greek world (Herodotus: Lakadaemonians no more but rather inclined to war)

Question 2

Spartan Strategy

Answer 2

Simpler than Athenian, relied on their land army initially

Would march out to Athens every year from the Isthmus of Corinth, missing out 429 and 426 due to the Plague of Athens and earthquakes on the Isthmus - would destroy and steal crops in order to create fears of Famine

Question 3

Great Plague - 429+426

Answer 3

⅓ of Athens including Pericles died
Thucydides- plague did more damage in war than any other factor
Archeological evidence- Kerameikos mass grave at Athens
Didn’t affect Peloponnese only Athens

Question 4

Revolt of Myteline 428

Answer 4

Only remaining ship provider after Samos revolts in 440
Cleon (who replaced Pericles) dispatches fleet to kill entire Myteline
Assembly changes its mind next day
Myteline surrenders to Athens in 27

Question 5

Change to periclean strategy - 427

Answer 5

Begin to go out and engage in conflict

Question 6

Cleonymos and Thoudipos decrees - 426/25

Answer 6

War was expensive so these increased tribute rate with punishment
Thucydides also details increase of tribute- 460 talents at start to 1460 talent by thoudippos decree

Question 7

Pylos and Sphacteria - 425

Answer 7

P+S owned by Sparta
Athens under Demosthenes constructs fort in Pylos and fleet surrounds Sparta in sphacteria
Sparta asks for peace but cleon rejects
Sparta eventually surrenders
Damaged Spartan reputation, increased risk of helot revolt and athens now had Spartan hostages, plus war continues as no peace
Thucydides- Sparta proposes alliance together
Thucydides- Athens kept Pylos prisoners, could use if Sparta retaliates

Question 8

Brasidas Campaigns - 424-21

Answer 8

Multiple campaigns successful in turning states away from Athens
Conquered amohipolis- this cuts supply of timber to Athens
One year peace in 23 to try and reign him in as Sparta is pushing for a peace with Athens Thucydides
His campaigns ended with both Brasidas’ own and Cleon’s death, ‘the two most opposed to peace’ according to Thucydides - two reasons for this - the proclaimed want for respect and war consistently displayed by brasidas, and Thucydides’ own aristocratic disdain for Cleon (‘The Tanner’ - Aristophanes, peace)

Question 9

429+426

Answer 9

Great Plague of Athens

Question 10

428

Answer 10

Revolt of Myteline

Question 11

426/25

Answer 11

Cleonymos and Thoudippos Decrees

Question 12

425

Answer 12

Pylos and Sphacteria

Question 13

424 -21

Answer 13

Brasidas Campaigns

Question 14

424

Answer 14

Occupation of Amphipolis

Question 15

422

Answer 15

Battle at Amphipolis

Question 16

422 - Battle of Amphipolis

Answer 16

Cleon travels out to trione and retakes it, then travels and meets Brasidas in Amphipolis, where he ‘died ingloriously’ after urning tail and taking a spear through the back - Brasidas is also injured and dies as a result - ‘the two … most opposed to peace … we’re dead’