Topic 4: Archidamian War 431 - 420 Flashcards
Sparta strategy -
431 - 421
Thucydides
- Spartan aim was the liberation of Hellots.
- They assumed their traditional strategy of hoplite wafare would make them victorious. Destroyaing crops too.
- They launched annual invasions in Attica, 5 times.
- They marched into Athens hoping the Athenians would be lured into attacking back.
- Archidamus worried about over-confidence due to the Athenians being super pissed off.
- They beleived they could win by laying waste to Athenian land, unsuccessfully.
- Athens then invaded Syracuse , which shocked the Spatans as they were unaware of their financial embarassment, hence the 5%.
Athenian stategy
Thucydides
- Intead of fighting they reterateed intoi the walls and live off resources.
- The long walls were completed in 457 so this was possible and garanteed accessd to their main port.
- It was largely defensive but had some offensive strategy.
- Pericles’ three objectives: A peaceful approach, Not expanding the empire, Take care of navy and take their time.
- Pericleshad 13,000 hoplites and 16,000 other soldiers.
- They had 1200 cavalry, 1600 bowmen and 300 triremes.
- Sparta tried ruining their crops but olive trees ae impossible to destroy and were used for tade.
What started the war
Thebes attacked Plataea which brokme 30 years of peace and Thebes briefly caotued plattaeauntil plataea defeated them. The Athenoans sent garrisons to the city and this caused a three year seige. Plataea fell to the Spartans but most had evacuated to Athens.
Plague in Athens - 430Bc
Thucydides
- Around 100,000 people in Attica died.
- The plague had a 30% mortality rate and it easily spead because they were within the long walls.
- It resulted in Mytilene revolting which sucked because they were one of two allies who contributed ships.
- Thucydides got the plague but survived, and argued that this was the main thing that damaged Athens.
- Cleon wanted the entie population of Mytilene to be put to death but this was stopped at the last mkinute as it was to harsh.
- Evidence of their changing natur eis the Cleonymous and Thoudippos decree. Both tightened up the collection of tribute from allies and had penalties.
- In 429BC, Pericles dided of the plague.
Pylos and Sphacteria
Thucydides
- Demosthenes began building a fort inside enemy teritory in Pylos, known as epitechismos.
- Spatans occupies Sphacteria to try to take control of the harbou below, but Athenians took control.
- Sparta then offered Athens peace, saying if thy stood together they would be shown every possible mark of honour.
- This suggests that they know that they couldnt successfgully fight sagainst Athens any longer.
- Thucydides present Cleon as the main reason why they didnt accept Sparta’s peace.
- After rejecting Spata, Commander Nicias offered to give up his role if Cleon thought he could do better. He took him up on his offer, despite having to military experinece, and said gimme 20 days.
- He sais he wouldnt attack them on Sphacteria if they surrendered. And they did, which shoicked everyone.
Brasidas
Thucydides
• Brasidas’ plan was to invade the territory of Athenian allies to cut the supply of materials and stir revolt.
•To do this he led mercenaries and freed helots to Thrace in 424, which was Athens’ supply of timber for the navy.
•Thucydides says that Brasidas was trusted, wise and had an excellent reputation.
•Aristophanes play “peace” was performed in 421 and shows the desire for some Athens for peace and how they knew about revolts.
•He first marched to Acanthus and were oppsed by member of the Boeotian confederacy who degeated Athens at the battle of Delium in 424.
•After Acanthus, Brasidas went to Amphipolis, and Thucydudes was a general so was dispatched there.
•The defeat was damaging as they werent able to get material for their ships and this is where Athens realised that their allies coukd still revolt.
The peace of Nicias
• Spartans wanted peace bacuse they wanted their prisoners back, they thought Athens was easier to negotiate with when defeated and the treaty between them and Argos was ending.
•Nicias and Pleistoanax singed the peace of Nicias in 421 BC.
•There were 9 main terms:Everyone could go to the panhellenic temple
•50 years peace between Athens and Soarta.
•They kust resolve any issues by oath and law.
•Sparta must give Amphipolis to Athens.
•Cities are indeoendand but pay tribute
•Cities onky ally if they want to.
•Prisoners return to Sparta
•Shall review oath annually
•Alterations can be made through kutual agreement.
•Snaller states like Corinthians and Megarians didnt support the treaty which was damaging as it upset the treatment and created tension
Sources
- ThUCYDIDES - “Laying waste and destroying property”, Athenians attacked Syacuse after.
- THUCYDIDES - “Defensive, not offensive, no expanding the empire, and bide her time and take care of the navy.”
- THUCYDUDES - “Thebes attacked Plataea without a formal declaration of war”
- THUCYDIDES - “It was the plague that did more harm than any other factor”
- THUCYDIDES - “SIf Athens and Sparta stand together, everyone will show us thew highest maekr of honour”.
- ARISTPHANES PEACE - Shows Athenoan want of peace after defeat at Delium and Amphipolis
- THUCYDUDES - “The nine terms of the peace of Nicias”
