Summative Notes of all the battles/ events in the Peloponnesian Wars between the years 442-426 B.C. These notes include source quotes, and are great for easily remembering every event on a basic level, and having quote association. Notes were created for Ancient History/Classics A-Level.
Athens vs Sparta
Archidamian War (432-421)
Athens and her allies
Sparta and Corinth
442/1 – dispute between Samos and Miletus over the control of Priene, which ended with
the Athenians supporting Miletus and Samian refusal of help ‘The Athenians sailed to Samos
with forty ships and set up a democracy there’ Samian citizens went against this and attacked
the democratic party. The Athenians attacked Samos and came out victorious after Samos
surrendered in 439
435- Epidamnus (a democracy) was a colony of Corcyra (neutral) and under attack. Corinth
came to its aid against Corcyra. Corcyra feared an attack from Corinth and appealed to the
Athenians for help, Athens attacking meant a break of the treaty, since Corinth was a
Peloponnesian ally. In 433, Athenian ships turned away Corinthian ones.
432- meeting of the Peloponnesian League, due to Spartan concerns about the unrestrained
displays of Athenian power. The Corinthians spoke out against conflict, so as to not meddle in
Athenian affairs ‘we are superior in numbers and in military experience; secondly, one and all
together we obey the orders that we receive.’ , ‘Athens is much stronger than any single state
in our alliance (…) so unless we go to war with her not only in full force but also with every
city and nationality inspired by the same purpose, she will find us divided and will easily
subdue us’ (Corinthian delegation)
432- Megarian Decree, a series on sanctions placed on Megarians due to their previous
actions in 446 and for defiling sacred ground. It meant that they could no longer transport
goods, essentially leaving the Megarians to starve. Pericles refused to revoke the decree,
despite Spartan threats. ‘war might be prevented by the revocation of the Megarian Decree’,
‘I am against making concessions to the Peloponnesians’, ‘It was a result of that, that war
broke out for the whole of Greece – over three prostitutes’ ‘Pericles, who seemes to have
harboured some private grudge against the Megarians’
432-429 – Potidaea – Potidaea was an Athenian ally, but a Corinthian colony, and Athenians
feared their changing allegiance ‘might be induced to revolt and draw into the revolt the
other allied cities in the Thracian area’ Potidaeanas sent reps to Sparta, who promised their
support, and then revolted. Athens sent out a large army in return ‘the Athenians were
besieging their own colony of Potidaea
The Athenians consistently denied Spartan attempts of arbitration and peace talks.
Corinthian Complaint to the Spartans about failure to act ‘We have to complain of Athens for
her insolent aggressions and Sparta for her neglect of our advice’ , ‘Athens has deprived
some states of their freedom and is scheming to do the same thing for others’ , ‘if we
managed to stand up to Athenian aggression, it was more because of Athenian mistakes than
because of any help we got from you.’
King Archidamus’ speech to the allies, tried to convince the Peloponnesians to wait before
going to war, but was overruled by the ephor Stheneslaidas.
The Spartans started annual attacks in Attica, yet inability to do long period sieges meant
they returned home
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