Unit 8: The Peloponnesian Wars and Thucydides: Terms Flashcards
Aegospotami:
The final battle of the Peloponnesian War (405 BCE), where the Spartan navy, under Lysander, destroyed the Athenian fleet. This defeat left Athens defenseless, leading to its surrender in 404 BCE. The battle marked the end of Athenian dominance in Greece.
Alcibiades:
An Athenian general and politician who switched allegiances multiple times between Athens, Sparta, and Persia during the Peloponnesian War. He played a key role in the Sicilian Expedition but was recalled due to scandal. His shifting loyalties reflected the instability of Athenian politics.
Archidamian War:
The first phase of the Peloponnesian War (431–421 BCE), named after the Spartan king Archidamus II. Sparta repeatedly invaded Attica, while Athens relied on its navy and long walls for defense. It ended inconclusively with the Peace of Nicias.
Herm:
A stone pillar with a carved head (often of Hermes) and a phallic symbol, used as religious and protective markers in Athens. The mutilation of herms in 415 BCE, just before the Sicilian Expedition, was seen as an omen and led to political turmoil. Alcibiades was accused of involvement in the vandalism.
Ionian War:
The final phase of the Peloponnesian War (413–404 BCE), also called the Decelean War, where Sparta, with Persian financial support, built a navy to challenge Athens. Sparta focused on revolting Athenian allies in Ionia and blockading Athens. The war ended with Athens’ defeat at Aegospotami and surrender in 404 BCE.
Peace of Nicias:
A treaty signed in 421 BCE to pause the Peloponnesian War after the Archidamian phase. It was meant to last 50 years but failed due to ongoing conflicts and mistrust. Fighting resumed within a few years, leading to the Sicilian Expedition.
Peloponnesian War
A major Greek conflict (431–404 BCE) between Athens and its allies (Delian League) and Sparta and its allies (Peloponnesian League). It was fought in three phases: the Archidamian War, the Sicilian Expedition, and the Ionian War. The war ended with Sparta’s victory and the downfall of Athenian power.
Sicilian Expedition:
A disastrous Athenian military campaign (415–413 BCE) to conquer Sicily, particularly Syracuse. Poor leadership, logistical failures, and Spartan intervention led to the complete destruction of the Athenian force. The defeat severely weakened Athens and contributed to its eventual downfall.
Stasis:
A term for internal civil strife and factional conflict within Greek city-states. During the Peloponnesian War, many poleis, including Athens and Corcyra, experienced violent stasis, leading to political instability and social breakdown. Thucydides analyzed stasis as a consequence of war and shifting loyalties.
Thucydides:
An Athenian historian and general who wrote The History of the Peloponnesian War. Unlike Herodotus, he took a rational and analytical approach, focusing on political and military events. His work is considered a foundational text of historical realism and political theory.
