Transcript Lead Up to peloponnesian wars

Lead Up to
Peloponnesian Wars
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What was Athens like after the Persian
wars?
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What was Sparta feeling after the wars?
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Why was Sparta upset with Athens after
the Persian wars?
Alliances
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Athens had the Delian League.
 (What were the requirements?)
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Sparta had its own league called the
Peloponnesian League.
The Spartan alliance, the Peloponnesian League,
did not ask money, only soldiers,
Except for Argos, all towns on the Peloponnese
were member of the League.
The votes of small towns were controlled by
Sparta.
Most towns had sworn to subordinate their
foreign policy to Spartan wishes and received
protection in return.
The Rivalry That Leads to War
Themistocles steps down because he was
too old.
 Cimon became new leader. He was the
son of Miltiades (had to live up to his dad).
 Was a very weak leader and was therefore
OSTRACIZED.
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– The counsel said, “You’re after wealth and
power.”
– Plus he wanted to be an ally with Sparta.
(You’re joking right?)
Here Comes Pericles
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Pericles became the new leader.
– He proved himself a good leader for 16 years
as a General.
– He believed in: Democracy, freedom, and
Athenian way of life.
Athens Under Pericles
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The city-state grows to over 150,000 people.
(some accounts say up to 200,000)
The Delian league grew to over 2,000,000.
City-states were still whining to get out of the
League because it was too costly. Many went to
Sparta for help.
 Corinth was one of the city-states who
consistently spoke out against Athens.
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 (it was a mess)
Corinth was known as the “evil city” or the “red
light city”
 Athens told them to clean up their act.
 Instead Corinth went and joined Sparta because
Athens interfered.
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Alliances
Before the War
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Athens
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Sparta
– Great land power
– Great sea power
– No imagination in
– Had imagination in
strategy.
strategy.
– Aided by a compact,
– Aided by a scattered
loyal league and the
and disconnected
Persians.
league (300 city-states)
– 200 Triremes and
– 500 Triremes and
100,000 hoplites.
30,000 hoplites.
•This would be a war between two beliefs, Sparta and her
allies were very conservative; Athens was radical.
•Athens wanted to expand, conquer and teach clean living.