Greek Historians Greek Historians and The and The

Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian War

The Father of HistoryThe Father of History

Herodotus…Herodotus…

of Halicarnassus of Halicarnassus

Halicarnassus is now modern day Halicarnassus is now modern day Bodrum Bodrum

http://www.livius.org/he-hg/herohttp://www.livius.org/he-hg/herodotus/logoi.htmldotus/logoi.html

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This site talks about the book Herodotus This site talks about the book Herodotus wrote, wrote, The Histories.The Histories.

HerodotusHerodotus

That Herodotus was able to write tells us that That Herodotus was able to write tells us that his parents could afford a teacher and were his parents could afford a teacher and were well to do. Herodotus must have been a rich well to do. Herodotus must have been a rich man, possibly a member of the old man, possibly a member of the old aristocracy. aristocracy. We may speculate that he fought as a heavy We may speculate that he fought as a heavy armored infantryman (a armored infantryman (a hoplitehoplite), like all Greek ), like all Greek men of his class and age. This would explain men of his class and age. This would explain why his descriptions of battles are always from a why his descriptions of battles are always from a soldier's point of view and sometimes confused. soldier's point of view and sometimes confused. He was a soldier, He was a soldier, not not a general. a general.

Don’t ask…

Book written by Thucydides.Book written by Thucydides.

You can still purchase his book You can still purchase his book today. today.

(Wait for the movie)(Wait for the movie)

Thucydides from AthensThucydides from Athens

Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian War

Thucydides, an Athenian aristocrat, was a Thucydides, an Athenian aristocrat, was a young man when the war began. He young man when the war began. He eventually became a general for Athens. eventually became a general for Athens. However, after a defeat in battle, However, after a defeat in battle, Thucydides was exiled from Athens for the Thucydides was exiled from Athens for the rest of the war. Despite being exiled, he rest of the war. Despite being exiled, he had a keen interest in the events had a keen interest in the events happening in Athens. Thucydides happening in Athens. Thucydides continued to follow the war.continued to follow the war.

History of the Peloponnesian WHistory of the Peloponnesian Warar

Thucydides authored Thucydides authored The History of the The History of the Peloponnesian War.Peloponnesian War. He gathered He gathered information from many sources. But in the information from many sources. But in the retelling he shaped the information to retelling he shaped the information to emphasize his version of the truth. His emphasize his version of the truth. His views are present throughout his work. views are present throughout his work. However he did present events as being However he did present events as being caused by the actions and motives of men. caused by the actions and motives of men.

Athens and Sparta and their Athens and Sparta and their respective allies.respective allies.

Causes for the Peloponnesian Causes for the Peloponnesian WarWar

After the defeat of the Persians in 480 BC, After the defeat of the Persians in 480 BC, the Greek city-states formed an alliance. the Greek city-states formed an alliance. They did this to protect themselves from They did this to protect themselves from other invaders. Their goal was also to other invaders. Their goal was also to protect the trade routes in the Aegean Sea.protect the trade routes in the Aegean Sea.

To pay for this protection each city state To pay for this protection each city state gave money to the alliance. The funds were gave money to the alliance. The funds were kept on the island of Delos, hence they kept on the island of Delos, hence they

called the alliance the called the alliance the Delian LeagueDelian League

Causes of the Peloponnesian Causes of the Peloponnesian WarWar

Because the Athenian navy was protecting the Because the Athenian navy was protecting the islands, Athens became the strongest member islands, Athens became the strongest member of the league.of the league.It was felt that the Athenians treated other It was felt that the Athenians treated other members of the league unfairly.members of the league unfairly.At the same time the city-states on the At the same time the city-states on the Peloponnesian peninsula had their own alliance Peloponnesian peninsula had their own alliance called the Peloponnesian Leaguecalled the Peloponnesian LeagueIt seemed to some that without any fighting the It seemed to some that without any fighting the Athenians made the Delian League the Athenian Athenians made the Delian League the Athenian Empire. This concerned the members of the Empire. This concerned the members of the Peloponnesian LeaguePeloponnesian League

Peloponnesian WarPeloponnesian War

Lasted from 431 BC Lasted from 431 BC until 404 BC.until 404 BC.

Athens vs. SpartaAthens vs. Sparta

Athens was a naval power.Athens was a naval power.

Athens controlled the Aegean SeaAthens controlled the Aegean Sea

Corinth was a city-state aligned with Corinth was a city-state aligned with Sparta.Sparta.

Corinth believed their food supply from Corinth believed their food supply from Sicily to be in jeopardy.Sicily to be in jeopardy.

Corinth appealed to Sparta to take up Corinth appealed to Sparta to take up arms.arms.

Spartan WarriorsSpartan Warriors

•The Peloponnesian army lead by Lysander, captured or destroyed almost the entire Athens navy.

•With the grain supply now cut Lysander could proceed to Athens itself to blockade it from the sea while the Spartan army under King Pausanius held the land side.

•After six months of starvation and no prospect for relief, Athens surrendered on generous terms offered by Sparta.

•Corinth and Thebes protested, demanding total destruction, but Sparta did not want to create too great a power vacuum.

•The city walls and those connecting Athens to Piraeus were torn down and the empire dissolved.

The walls that eventually were The walls that eventually were removed.removed.

PeloponnesianPeloponnesian War War

The Peloponnesian War The Peloponnesian War began April 4, 431 began April 4, 431 BC.BC.

The Peloponnesian War The Peloponnesian War ended April 25, 404 ended April 25, 404 BC.BC.

The EndThe End

Or is it?Or is it?