Explain Why Athens Could Not Effectively Handle The Peloponnesian War
Athens could not effectively handle the Peloponnesian War, do you agree? Why/why not?
Yes, I agree that Athens could not effectively handle the Peloponnesian War. The Peloponnesian War, a long and gruelling conflict between Athens and Sparta, lasted from 431 BCE to 404 BCE. While Athens was a formidable naval power and possessed a strong economy, it ultimately lost the war due to a combination of factors. This essay argues that Athens could not effectively handle the Peloponnesian War because of its over-reliance on its navy, poor management of its allies, and ineffective leadership.
Athens had a powerful navy, which made it a formidable force on the seas. However, its reliance on its navy proved to be a significant disadvantage in the Peloponnesian War. Athens lacked a strong land army, which meant it struggled to defend its territory against Spartan attacks. Furthermore, maintaining a large fleet of ships and paying for the upkeep of its sailors drained
…show more content…
In 411 BCE, a group of oligarchs known as the Four Hundred overthrew the democratic government in Athens and established an oligarchy. This was done with the support of the Spartan army, which had been occupying parts of Attica, the region around Athens. The oligarchs established a new government that was heavily influenced by Sparta. They reduced the power of the assembly, which was the main democratic institution in Athens, and established a council of 500 citizens to govern the city. This council was heavily weighted towards the wealthy and excluded many of the poorer citizens of Athens. According to Kagan (2003), “The oligarchy was short-lived, as it faced resistance from the democratic forces in Athens” (p. 238). In 410 BCE, the democratic government was restored largely due to the efforts of a general named Thrasybulus, who had led a rebellion against the oligarchy and had gained the support of the democratic forces in
How Did Thucydides Affect The Peloponnesian War?
824 Words | 4 PagesBeing alive to witness the events that occurred in and around fifth century B. C. E. Greece meant that Thucydides could not help but write down his experiences. The Athenians of Greece and the people of the Persian Empire were constantly at odds with each other, and these differences eventually led to the Peloponnesian war. This war lasted from 431-404 B.C.E. and began an era of conflict between the two peoples (Bulliet). This power struggle not only inflated the ego of the Athenians, but created many negative viewpoints of the Persians. Thucydides, being an Athenian, was therefore extremely biased against the Persians.
Government System: Athenians Vs. Spartans
1229 Words | 5 PagesUnlike the Athenian democratic system the Spartans believed in Oligarchy, meaning ruling by a few. Sparta came to reach the height of it power after defeating rival City Sate, Athens in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) (Bailey). The oligarchy was a governmental system composed by a limited number of elite citizens such as: Ephors, five magistrates with executive and judicial privileges, elected by assembly; two kings, army leaders and chief priests; gerousia, council of thirty elders comprise of men at least sixty tears old, twenty-eight of which were elected by assembly and includes two kings; assembly of citizens, men over thirty years old, they do not vote, but shout acclamations supporting the decisions of the oligarchy above (Bailey). The Spartan governing system led to a military based society where male children from the age of seven would start going to a special educational institution, which was military based. This led to Spartans being warrior like people unlike the Athenians.
Thucydides Decisions In The Peloponnesian War
701 Words | 3 PagesAs a world-renowned Athenian historian and general, Thucydides famed history The Peloponnesian War recounts some of Athens’ and other Greeks’ most telling moments world powers. Thucydides, unlike his predecessor Herodotus, approaches his history with a generally detached and serious tone, yet his opinion does shine through his writing at times. Perhaps, the Athenians’ Sicilian Expedition (415 BCE- 413 BCE) sections in the histories features the most of Thucydides’ opinion on a particular subject sneaking into the text. The Sicilian Expedition began with Athens’ distant Sicilian allies seeking help from Athens for civil strife, and Athens eventually agreed to assist and sent numerous ships and troops under the command of Nicias, Alcibiades,
Pericles Words In Ending The Peloponnesian War
214 Words | 1 PagesAlthough Pericles’ words strived to inspire and encourage the Athenian people to fight valiantly against Sparta and its allies, they are not enough to embolden the Athenian people onto victory in the Peloponnesian War. His words do motivate Athenians to make tremendous effort in extending their power and defeating Sparta and its allies, but in the end, may have lead to Athenians’ demise. Fostering pride and determination throughout the war, Athens makes several attempts to expand its naval power, but fails in its plan to overtake Syracuse on the coast of Sicily, weakening its efforts against Sparta and its allied city-states. Finally, in the naval battle at Aegospotami, the Spartans have a decisive victory over Athens, and the Athenians eventually surrender, ending the Peloponnesian War.
The Utilization Of Primary Sources In Herodotus And The Persian Wars
760 Words | 4 PagesAthens, had many challenges, both geographically and alliance wise. The Athenians were advised to appease all feuds within its neighboring polis. Greece was needed to unite under one cause, and that could not be done while the polis in Greece were at war.
Boundless World History: Democracy In Athens Was Overthrown In 411 BCE
353 Words | 2 PagesAs we had read in the assignment titled ‘Boundless World History’, “Democracy in Athens was overthrown in 411 BCE because of its poor handling of the Peloponnesian War.” Athens and Sparta had engaged in the Peloponnesian War that was between 404 and 431 BCE. In ancient Greece, Athens and Sparta were two of the most important city-states. According to most historians, the Peloponnesian War battle, which was supposed to have almost consumed the entire Greek world, was the most important battle of its time. Since Sparta won and Athens ultimately lost the Peloponnesian War, it can be stated that Athens was unable to accomplish the Peloponnesian War successfully.
Ap World History Dbq Questions And Answers
548 Words | 3 Pages“In 508 BCE, the Athenian aristocrat Cleisthenes instituted the first Athenian political democracy.” As the Greek playwright, Euripides wrote in his play that,“ Nothing is worse for a city than a tyrant.” (Section 2.2The Rise of Democracy and the Threat of Persia) Cleisthenes knew that, so he gave every
Was Athens Better Than Sparta
466 Words | 2 PagesAside from this, that is about the only thing Sparta had going for them. Meanwhile, Athens was busy focusing on creating democracy and making famous literary works, like it was no big deal. Sparta, not so much, they just wanted strong jocks. After a reviewing a few elements of Athenian culture, it is clear to see Athens was clearly better than Sparta.
Thucydides Grievances
444 Words | 2 PagesThe historian Thucydides described himself as a wealthy Athenian general whose exile to the Peloponnese allowed him to personally observe, from both the sides of the conflict, a comprehensive account of the Peloponnesian War. Book 1 in Thucydides’ “History of the Peloponnesian War” is dedicated to explaining over fifty years of the events and proceedings that led to the abandonment of the Thirty Year’s Peace and subsequent war. In Book 1 he identifies four main incidents, which I shall refer to as ‘grievances’, regarding the conduct of Athens towards both their Delian members and the Peloponnesian allies. Yet he also mentions what he deems to be a more ‘real’ truth than these four grievances that led to Sparta and the Peloponnese going to
Athens Vs Sparta Dbq Essay
1028 Words | 5 PagesEven to this day, we still use Athens and Sparta’s societal systems and structures because they were so revolutionary. Athens even introduced the idea of democracy, and Sparta had a strong military culture. Although Athens and Sparta were close together, Athens focused on leadership and education while Sparta focused on the military and war. However, due to their different governments and cultures, each has their strengths and weaknesses. However, because Athens focuses on its future leaders, Athens is the better model for a society.
How Did Elect Ten Archons Affect The Future Of The Athenian Republic
1072 Words | 5 PagesIn mid-6th c. BCE Athens, just five years after the government of Solon (594), the Athenians found themselves encompassed by dissension and internal disorder. Athens created the first democracy-based government, although their government became more of a republic with democratic attributes. They, the electors, were unable to elect an Archon for five years due to their dissent with the former principles ran by the State. All people within Athens viewed these principles with contempt, those in the elite[upper] class were ‘estranged because of the abolition of debts,’ while the poor people wanted the distribution of all land and property. Both parties were unhappy with the changes made by Solon’s reforms and so many refused to vote for any new
The Cultural Values Of Athens And Sparta
1488 Words | 6 PagesAthens and Sparta, located between the Aegean and the Ionian Sea, allied with each other in the Greco-Persian war. Due to the advanced and powerful navy of Athens incorporation with the well-built army of Sparta, they gained victory over the Persian Empire. After the victory, Athens gained wealth and dominance over the other Greek societies causing tensions between Sparta. They both share similarities towards their cultural background but had different views in creating an ideal society in addition to their state’s place in the world. Moreover, they differ from the concepts of a well trained or educated society and a well built military, but share similarities in their government format.
How Did Athens Code Of Law Influence Athenian Government
941 Words | 4 PagesAthens established what is generally considered the first democracy in the fifth century BC. It took over three hundred years for it to evolve from a monarchy. The Athenians were far ahead of other countries in their structure of government. The revisions of laws, representative justice, and citizen-based law making impacted Athens’ movement from a monarchy to a democracy, influencing the United States’ government today. The Athenian Code of Laws was an important step in the protection of the rights of the individual.
Why Did Athens Lose The Peloponnesian War Essay
728 Words | 3 PagesFactors of Athens's Defeat in the Peloponnesian War Introduction Athens and Sparta, the two most powerful city-states in ancient Greece, fought each other for many years in the Peloponnesian War. Unfortunately, Athens was defeated, and its democratic rule collapsed due to the war, which lasted from 431 to 404 BCE, with a brief truce. In this paper, I will claim that Athens' arrogance, overreliance on the navy, the plague, and poor judgment rendered Athens incapable of winning the Peloponnesian War. Overconfidence Athens could not manage the war effectively because of its overconfidence and arrogance.
Why Was Athens Successful
875 Words | 4 PagesAthens organized a group of Greek city states into the Delian League and eventually lead and dominated all of the city states in the League. Athens’s military prowess allowed them to look down on the other members of the League and treat them as members of an empire instead of equals. This caused some to view them with hostility which sparked the conflicts between Athens and Sparta that lead to the Peloponnesian War. The direct democracy of Athens wasn’t actually as inclusive and steady as the statement at Pericles 's funeral state, “Our Constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people (Doc C).” In fact, of the 450,000 citizens of Athens in 430 BC, only about 40,000 people had the power to vote.
More about Explain Why Athens Could Not Effectively Handle The Peloponnesian War
How Did Thucydides Affect The Peloponnesian War?
824 Words | 4 PagesGovernment System: Athenians Vs. Spartans
1229 Words | 5 PagesThucydides Decisions In The Peloponnesian War
701 Words | 3 PagesPericles Words In Ending The Peloponnesian War
214 Words | 1 PagesThe Utilization Of Primary Sources In Herodotus And The Persian Wars
760 Words | 4 PagesBoundless World History: Democracy In Athens Was Overthrown In 411 BCE
353 Words | 2 PagesAp World History Dbq Questions And Answers
548 Words | 3 PagesWas Athens Better Than Sparta
466 Words | 2 PagesThucydides Grievances
444 Words | 2 PagesAthens Vs Sparta Dbq Essay
1028 Words | 5 PagesHow Did Elect Ten Archons Affect The Future Of The Athenian Republic
1072 Words | 5 PagesThe Cultural Values Of Athens And Sparta
1488 Words | 6 PagesHow Did Athens Code Of Law Influence Athenian Government
941 Words | 4 PagesWhy Did Athens Lose The Peloponnesian War Essay
728 Words | 3 PagesWhy Was Athens Successful
875 Words | 4 Pages