Relationship of Peloponnesian league throughout the period Flashcards
(17 cards)
What was the requirement for the members of the Peloponnesian League regarding Spartan leadership?
Always have to obey Spartans
This reflects the hierarchical structure of the league with Sparta as the dominant power.
What does the leadership of the Hellenic League indicate about Sparta? [Herodotus]
Evidence of their good leadership as “the other members of the confederacy had stipulated for a Lacedaemonian commander”
What action did Leotychides and the Peloponnesians take upon seeing the bridge across Hellespont was down? [Herodotus]
They went home
Athenians under Xanthippus wanted to continue fighting and besiege Sestos.
What did Agis order the Peloponnesians to do despite having a large force? [Thuc]
Retreat from attacking Argos, “the Lacedaemonians and their allies followed his lead, as their law required”
What was the Corinthians’ stance regarding the Samos revolt? [Thuc]
“We prevented the Peloponnesian states from helping Samos”
Important as suggests they thought about breaking the treaty
What was the outcome of the Peace of Nicias for Sparta’s allies? [Thuc]
Refused to sign the treaty as they didn’t find the terms fair
This reflects the growing dissatisfaction among Sparta’s allies as recorded by Thucydides.
What did the Corinthians express regarding alliances?
“Do not force the rest of us in despair to join a different alliance”
Threat of Argos to motivate Spartan action
According to Thuc why do relations deteriorate?
Sparta was “slow to go to war” + “when one is deprived of one’s liberty one is right in blaming not so much the man who puts the fetters on as who had the power to prevent him, but did not use it”
What led Sparta to make an alliance with Athens? [Thuc]
Fear of war with Argos
Argos refused to make a new peace treaty, prompting this alliance as noted by Thucydides.
What accusations did Pleistoanax face regarding peace negotiations? [Thuc]
Accused of bribing the Delphic priestess
so he could be king again so he wanted peace in order to divert attention away from him.
What factors contributed to the “Spartan opinion, was in fact, in favour of peace” during this time? [Thuc]
- Spachteria
- Threat of helot revolt
- 30-year peace with Argos running out
These factors influenced Spartan leadership decisions as noted by Thucydides.
What prompted Megara to join the Delian League?
Border war with Corinth and “it was chiefly because of this that the Corinthians began to conceive a bitter hatred for Athens.”.
What concern did Spartan allies express regarding Athenian sea-power?
“Alarmed both by the sudden growth of Athenian sea-power”
The Spartans sent an embassy regarding the building of walls, according to Thucydides.
What did the Athenians cite as reasons for the Megarian Decree? [Thuc]
- Megarians farmed on sacred land
- Provided shelter to escaped slaves
This decree was a significant point of contention in the conflict.
What does Aristophanes’ The Archanians suggest about the megarian decree?
Imposed due to some of Aspasia’s (Perikles’ mistress) prostitutes being stolen by Megarians.
What does Thucydides suggest about the importance of the Megarian decree?
“war could be avoided if Athens would revoke the Megarian Decree”
