Debate: Why did Athens lose the Peloponnesian War?

Departure from Periclean Strategy

Thuc. 2.65: demagogues changed policy to please the demos, led to mistakes such as the Sicilian Expedition

Periclean Strategy

Thuc 2.13 "prepare for war and bring into the city their property in the country. They were not to go out and offer battle, but were to come inside the city and guard it. Their navy, in which their strength lay, was to be brought to the highest state of efficiency, and their allies were to be handled firmly"

Plague

430 BC 1/3 population lost, huge impact on economy and availability of manpower, death of Pericles, social instability

Mantinea

418 BC Thuc. Bk 5 "certainly the greatest battle that had taken place for a very long time among Hellenic states, and it was fought by the most renowned cities in Hellas..." Huge victory for Sparta - restored morale after Pylos/Sphacteria

Invasions of Attica

431-425 "had not lasted for long and had not prevented the Athenians from enjoying the use of their land for the rest of the time." Thuc. 7.28

Alcibiades

Thuc. 6.93 "after hearing all the points raised by [him], ...they had now definitely set their minds on fortifying Decelea and on sending help immediately to the Sicilians."

Nicias' objections to Sicily

Athens should focus on recouping losses at home; Alcibiades is too young for command and wants prestige from the campaign; "do not allow yourself to be browbeaten or be frightened of being called a coward if you do not vote for war...Remember that success comes from foresight and not much is ever gained simply by wishing for it. Our country is now on the verge of the greatest danger she has ever known." Thuc 6.12-13

Gylippus

Spartan Mothake general that led the Spartan and Sicilian forces to victory in the second, and decisive, phase of the war.

Decelea

(413) establishment of Spartan base in attica, led by Agis. Allowed Spartans to plunder Athens year round rather than a short time.

Decelea quote

Thuc. 7.28 lost control over rural areas, lost 20,000 slaves + sheep and farm animals, raids crippled cavalry, "supplies from Euboea, which previously had been brought in by the quicker route overland from Oropus through Decelea, now, at great expense, had to go by sea round Sunium. Every single thing that the city needed had to be imported, so that instead of a city it became a fortress."

Alcibiades' advice to Sparta

Thuc. 6.89-90: fortify Decelea and send help to the Syracusans on Sicily

Impact of Sicily

Thuc. 8.2 "the whole of Hellas...turned immediately against Athens" Neutral polies joined Sparta, "In particular the subjects of Athens were all ready to revolt"

Treaty of Miletus

Thuc. 8.18 412 agreement that Persia would supply Sparta with money in exchange for Ionia

Pay for sailors Thuc 8.29

"when Tissaphernes had seen to the garrisoning of Iasus he went on to Miletus, and, as he had promised at Sparta, gave a month's pay to all the ships at a rate of an Attic drachma a day for each man."

Lysander & sailors

"Cyrus was delighted with his public spirit and presented him with ten thousand darics, out of which Lysander raised his seamen's pay by an obol...he all but emptied the Athenians' ships" Plutarch, Lysander 6

Lysander

Spartan who led the naval command at Notium and Aeogospotami. So good allies demanded him back

Battle of Notium

Spartan naval victory in 406BC. This battle saw the rise of Lysander as a Spartan commander and the exile of Alcibiades. He had left his steersman in charge who engaged Spartans against his advice. Xen. Hellenica

Battle of Arginusae

Athenian Pyrrhic victory in 406bc. Inexperienced Athenian crews defeated a Spartan fleet, but storms prevented the generals from rescuing the fallen crews of 25 triremes. This led to a trial that saw 6 of the 8 generals executed.

Battle of Aegospotami

405 - final battle of the Peloponnesian War. Sparta destroyed the last Athenian fleet in a decisive victory. Athens was besieged. Xen Hellenica Bk 2