How Did Sparta Prevent The Peloponnesian War?

It is difficult to say whether or not the Peloponnesian War could have been prevented, had Sparta adopted a democratic constitution. However, given that the war was essentially a struggle for power between Athens and Sparta, the removal of ideological differences alone would most likely not have been enough to avert the conflict. As stated by Thucydides, in his History of the Peloponnesian War: “The real cause I consider to be the one which was formally most kept out of sight. The growth of the power of Athens, and the alarm which this inspired in Lacedaemon.” It is probable that Sparta’s fear and jealousy of Athens’ increasing influence, alongside resentment caused by Athens’ shift into an empire, would have made a conflict between the two

Following the departure of the Persians from Greece, Sparta attempted to prevent the rebuilding of Athens’ walls. It was suspicious of the Long Wall project, which would fortify the route from the city to the harbour of Piraeus. However, the Spartans were rebuffed by Themistocles, who stated that Athens would see herself as an equal partner in the alliance between the two states. Afterwards, in 464 BC, when an earthquake in Sparta caused the helots to revolt, various Spartan allies, including Athens, sent forces to help quell the rebellion. However, the Spartans, fearing that Athens would side with the helots and turn against them, dismissed the Athenian force upon its arrival, while allowing the forces of other allies to remain. This greatly offended the Athenians, who then renounced their alliance with Sparta, and furthermore helped to resettle the evicted harlots after the quelling of the revolt. Athens also formed an alliance with Argos, an enemy of Sparta’s. This began a period of open hostility between the two states, known as the First Peloponnesian

In 432 BC, the Peloponnesian League voted that Athens had broken the terms of the Thirty Year Peace. Finally, Sparta issued an ultimatum to Athens, stating that there would be war unless Athens lifted economic sanctions on Megara (which had defected to the Spartan side fifteen years after its battle with Corinth) and stopped the military blockage of Potidaea. This was done in support of Megara and Potidaea, but also to pacify Corinth, which had threatened to join a different ‘international league’ should Sparta refuse to take action against Athens. Thus, when the Athenian assembly rejected this ultimatum, at the urging of Pericles, the actions of these lesser powers nudged Sparta and Athens back into