Peace in Conflict - Why Did War Break Out 446-431

• ATHENS GROWTH - SPARTAN FEAR

  "what made war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta" - Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
• ATHENS GROWTH - ATHENS ABUSE OF POWER

  The Chalcis Decree

  "I will obey the Athenian people"

  "i will not revolt from the Athenian people ... neither in word nor deed"
• ATHENS GROWTH - DELIAN LEAGUE TURNED EMPIRE

  "they were afraid of the further growth of Athenian power ... greater part of Hellas was under the control of Athens" - Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
• POOR SPARTAN LEADERSHIP - 30 YEARS PEACE WAS UNREALISTIC

  "Athens gave up ... places which they has seized from the Peloponnesians" - Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
• POOR SPARTAN LEADERSHIP - CORINTH BLAMES SPARTA IN THE CORINTHIAN COMPLAINT

  "and it is you who are responsible for all this. it was you who in the first place allowed the Athenians to fortify their city" - Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War

  "you have withheld freedom not only from those who have been enslaved by Athens but even your own allies" - Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
• POOR SPARTAN LEADERSHIP - STHENELAIDAS IN THE CORINTHIAN COMPLAINT

  "cast your votes for the honor of Sparta and for war! Do no allow the Athenians to grow still stronger! Do not entirely betray your allies!" - Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
• INDIVIDUALS - PERICLES' TACTICS

  "Sparta wants peace. Peace is still possible if you will give the Hellenes their freedom" - Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War

  "it was evident before that Sparta was plotting against us, and now it is even more evident" - Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
• INDIVIDUALS - PERICLES' CRUELTY TOWARDS THE MEGARIANS

  "Pericles ... passed an edict ... 'the Megarians be banished both from our land and from our markets and from the sea and from the continent'" - Aristophanes Acharnians

  "meanwhile the Megarians, who were beginning to die of hunger" -Aristophanes Acharnians
• INDIVIDUALS - ATHENIAN ASSEMBLEY

  The Chalcis Decree

  "i will obey the Athenian people"

  "i will not revolt from the people of Athens by any means or device whatsoever"
• GREEK STATES - ATHENIAN TREATMENT OF POTIDAEA

  An Athenian subject state, but a Corinthian colony wanted to rebel against Athens in 432BC

  "following demands ... they were to pull down the fortifications ... send hostages to Athens ... banish their Corinthian magistrates" - Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
• GREEK STATES - ATHENIAN TREATMENT OF SAMOS

  Weakened their own ally - perhaps to keep them dependent

  "Pericles tore down their walls, took away their ships of war, and laid a heavy fine upon them" - Plutarch Pericles
• GREEK STATES - PERICLES' TREATMENT OF MEGARA

  "meanwhile the Megarians, who were beginning to die of hunger, begged the Lacedaemonians to bring about the abolition of the decree" - Aristophanes Acharnians