History Shorts: The Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.)

Athens angered many of their neighbors. Following the Persian War, the Greeks formed a defensive alliance in the event of a Persian return. Athens came to dominate this Delian League and grew into a superpower that bullied its neighbors. Eventually, Sparta and Athens came to blows launching a conflict which lasted nearly 30 years.

The Peloponnesian War can be split into three phases. During the first phase (431-421 B.C.), Sparta assaulted Athenian interests in Attica. In 421 B.C., the two sides signed the Peace of Nicias ending hostilities. The second phase (415-413 B.C.) began when Alcibiades convinced Athenians to relaunch the war with an invasion of Syracuse. The invasion proved disastrous for Athens. Alcibiades ended up switching sides ushering in the third phase (413-404 B.C.) The final phase of the war witnessed an unlikely alliance between Persia and Sparta. The destruction of the Athenian fleet essentially ended the conflict.

The war devastated Athens. It never again threatened its neighbors. Athens' days as a superpower had ended. The victorious Spartans were mortally wounded in the conflict. The Macedonians eventually conquered all of Greece ushering in the age of Alexander.

Here is a clever video on the Peloponnesian War:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZzyuw_lBTM