Sparta: (PW)

The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE) was a transformative conflict between the two leading city-states of ancient Greece: Athens and Sparta. It shifted the power dynamic of the Greek world, ending the Athenian "Golden Age" and establishing a period of Spartan hegemony. Key Conflict Phases The war is traditionally divided into three distinct stages: Archidamian War (431–421 BCE): Named after Spartan King Archidamus II, this phase featured annual Spartan invasions of Attica and Athenian naval raids on the Peloponnese. It ended with the Peace of Nicias, a temporary and uneasy truce. Sicilian Expedition (415–413 BCE): Athens launched a massive assault on Syracuse in Sicily, seeking resources and expansion. The campaign was a total disaster; the entire Athenian force was destroyed or enslaved, severely crippling their military and morale. Decelean (or Ionian) War (413–404 BCE): In the final phase, Sparta received financial support from the Persian Empire to build a fleet. This culminated in the Battle of Aegospotami in 405 BCE, where the Spartan admiral Lysander decimated the Athenian navy.Why They Fought Historians, most notably Thucydides, point to three primary causes: Wikipedia Wikipedia +1 Fear: Sparta and its allies were alarmed by the rapid growth of Athenian power and imperialism. Ideology: It was a struggle between Athenian democracy and Spartan oligarchy. Economic Tension: Disputes over trade routes and specific allies, such as Corinth and Megara, acted as the final sparks for open war. Causes and Strategies