CLA160H1 Lecture : Peloponnesian Wars
Document Summary
The peloponnesian wars were between athens, sparta, and their respective allies. Geographically speaking, athens controlled the coast of the aegean, tons of islands, etc. Sparta had the peloponnesian island-peninsula, thebes on the other side of that, and. At the time, the spartans were the dominant land force, and. This is in many ways why the wars lasted so long, neither one could successfully engage the others" strength. Athens sort of won" the first half, after which a peace treaty was established in 421, which lasted 7 years, after which the second half occurred and the athenians lost. The pre-war conflict was sort of cold-warry athens and sparta offered shelter to most states willing to defect from their respective empires. It"s called the long wall" policy because there was a long wall that extended all the way from athens proper down to protect the harbour, so the spartans couldn"t cut off their supply lines.
