The End of the Peloponnesian War and its Aftermath, 419 - 404 BC

Question 1

Why were Corinth and the other Peloponnesian allies upset by the peace of Nicias?

Answer 1

They were upset by the clause that allowed Sparta and Athens to adjust the treaty by mutual consent, but without the allies’ agreement.

Question 2

What did Corinth do as a result of their disapproval of the peace of Nicias?

Answer 2

Sought to turn other Peloponnesian allies against Sparta, and wen to Argos who agreed to try arrange a new alliance in secret.

Question 3

Why did Argos want to prepare for war with Sparta?

Answer 3

They felt war was inevitable, and after Sphacteria, believed they could now gain the leadership of the Peloponnese.

Question 4

Who allied with Argos?

Answer 4

Mantinea and Elis.

Question 5

Why did Athens not return Pylos?

Answer 5

The Spartans were unable to get Amphipolis to return to Athenian control.

Question 6

What arangement did Sparta try to make with Boeotia?

Answer 6

Sparta attempted to receive Panactum from them, Boeotia agreed if Sparta agreed to sign a fresh alliance with them. Sparta had hoped to trade Panactum with Athens for Pylos. This fresh alliance was at odds with the peace of Nicias, but the Spartans still agreed.

Question 7

What did the Athenians do they found out about the Spartan-Boeotian arrangement?

Answer 7

Alcibiades, chief instigator after Cleon’s death, sought to make a new alliane with the Argives.

Question 8

What did the Spartans send to Athens? What was the result of this?

Answer 8

Immediately sent envoys to Athens in order to renew relations. The Spartans attempted to persuade the Athenian council of their good intentions, but Alcibiades tricked them into not revealing all their powers to the assembly, and so was able to turn support to the alliance with Argos, and away from the peace of Nicias.

Question 9

What was Alcibiades idea?

Answer 9

A four way alliance between Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis.

Question 10

Where did the Argives attack in 419BC and who did Alcibiades entice to the Athenian side? what were the results of these moves?

Answer 10

Epidaurus south of Corinth was attacked by Argos and Patrae in the north Peloponnese was swayed to the Athenian side. These moves would have isolated Corinth from the Peloponnese. Sparta came to the help of Epidaurus first in 419 BC.

Question 11

What happened in 418BC relating to the Spartans and Argives?

Answer 11

Sparta, fearful more northern Peloponnesian cities would fall, sent a large army, including allies from Boeotia and Megara, led by king Agis into the North Peloponnese. An Argive army marched against them, joined by 1000 Athenian hoplites and a Mantinean force, collectively they hoped to win over the city of Tegea, located to the south of Mantinea. With both Mantinea and Tegea, they could then control the route into and out of Laconia. This led to the battle of Mantinea.

Question 12

Who won the battle of Mantinea? and what did this answer?

Answer 12

The Spartans won a resounding victory and answered all the criticism levied at them after Sphacteria; they showed themselves to be an overwhelmingly military superior.

Question 13

As a result of their loss at the battle of Mantinea, what happened in Argos? what were the results of this leading in to 417 BC?

Answer 13

An oligarchic faction seized power and concluded a new fifty-year peace with Sparta. Without Argos, Mantinea could not remain allied to Athens and so made a new agreement with Sparta. As a result, by 417 BC Sparta had reaffirmed its alliance with all previous allies and Argos remained neutral.

Question 14

in 415 BC, who called for Athenian support (Thucydides considers this Athens’ greatest disaster)?

Answer 14

The Sicilian community of Egesta called for Athenian aid in a conflict with their neighbour Selinus, aided by a major power on the island.

Question 15

What did the Athenian assembly send in aid of Egesta? What was their mission statement?

Answer 15

Voted to send sixty ships to Sicily, under a tripartite general-ship of Alcibiades, Nicias, and Lamachus. Their aim being to help the Egestaeans, re-establish Leontini on the other side of the island which had also been attacked by Syracuse, and to do what they saw fit according to Athenian interests.

Question 16

What were Athenian interests in Sicily?

Answer 16

Thucydides twice claims they aimed to conquer Sicily.

Question 17

What was the difference in opinion between Alcibiades and Nicias?

Answer 17

The number of ships had proven insufficient, Nicias spoke against the expedition as they had so many problems at home. He attacked Alcibiades as a reckless adventurer who was advocating for expedition for his own personal aggrandisement. Alcibiades answered these criticisms and claimed that Sicily would fall easily to their superior naval power.

Question 18

What did Nicias try to do in order to get the expedition cancelled? What was the result of this plan?

Answer 18

He requested far greater forces in the hopes that the enormity of the undertaking would dissuade the Athenian assembly. This backfired and sent many more men. Nicias was now responsible for not just the setback of the 60 ships but now an additional two fleets. The first had 100 ships, 5000 hoplites, and the second had sixty ships, 1200 hoplites.

Question 19

How did Nicias remain the sole senior-commander?

Answer 19

Alcibiades was called home to face charges of religious impropriety. This led to Nicias being left as senior-commander and execution of the war as half-hearted.

Question 20

In 415/14, who requested for Peloponnesian aid in Sicily? and why did they decide to help?

Answer 20

Syracuse. Corinth was keen to help and the Spartans were inflamed by Alcibiades, who had gone to Sparta in exile. Alcibiades adviced sending out a Spartan commander. He claimed that the Athenian intention was to claim Sicily, Italy, and then Carthage, before using these resource to conquest against the Peloponnese.

Question 21

What success did Nicias have in the Spring of 414? what were the results of these successes?

Answer 21

Seized the height of Epipolae above the city of Syracuse and then began to build fortifications around the city to prepare for a siege. The Syracusans contemplated surrender, but Nicias reduced his efforts - perhaps due to his overtures of peace. Nicias decided to make the southern section a double wall rather than press on with the north wall surrounding the city.

Question 22

Who landed in Sicily in early 414 BC? How did Nicias respond to this?

Answer 22

Spartan commander Gylippus with only a skeleton force. Nicias, with the arrival of Gylippus, turned his focus to the sea and allowed the siege walls to be taken. Nicias sent a letter home requesting more force, or to be allowed to retreat. A belligerent Athens sent Demosthenes and an additional sixty ships and 1200 hoplites, the prior mentioned second fleet.

Question 23

How many troops did Athens commit to Sicily?

Answer 23

45000-50000 men, and more than 200 ships, probably about half of the empire’s assets.

Question 24

What happened before Demosthenes and the Athenian reinforcements could arrive? How did Demosthenes respond to this upon his arrival?

Answer 24

Gylippus had defeated the Athenian fleet in the harbour. When Demosthenes got to Sicily he decided upon immediate night attacks on the heights of Epipolae, this was inappropriate for the hoplites and they were soon defeated disastrously.

Question 25

What made Demosthenes aim for Athenian escape? Why didn’t they?

Answer 25

He saw sickness in their camp. Nicias didn’t want to depart, since he was still in contact with a dissident party in Syracuse and feared the Athenian assembly.

Question 26

How did the Athenian Sicilian expedition end?

Answer 26

They lost two more naval battles and then 40,000 troops decided to depart from Syracuse on foot. Harassed on the march, the Athenians eventually reached the river Assinarus. The men, here, were slaughtered by Syracusan troops as they fought each other to drink from the river. Nicias decided to surrender to Gylippus: 7,000 prisoners were put in the quarries, while Nicias and Demosthenes were executed.

Question 27

What was the Athenian response to Sicily?

Answer 27

In 413, they were shocked. The people turned against those who had advocated for the expedition, but also vowed to keep control of their allies and keep fighting on.

Question 28

What change happened to the Athenian government in 411 BC?

Answer 28

An oligarchic coup - after Sicily the oligarchs bore the brunt of re-equipping the fleet and prosecuting the war. As a result dissent arose first among Athenian ship captains at Samos. This oligarchy of 400 was short lived, there was infighting between the radical and moderate oligarchs. This and a naval defeat off Euboea soon brought an adjustment to a broader oligarchy of 5000. Then, when further unexpected naval victories occurred, full democracy was restored.

Question 29

What did the Spartans decide at the end of 414 BC?

Answer 29

That peace with Athens was impossible and decided to act decisively. Alcibiades advised the Spartans to fortify a strategic position in Attica to reproduce the tactic of Epiteichismos on Athenian soil, he suggested Decelea. Decelea sat on the main road from the port at Oropus, the Spartans followed his advice.

Question 30

What does Thucydides say of the occupation of Decelea?

Answer 30

That it was one of the chief reasons for Athens losing the war. Rather than the flawed annual invasions of the Archidamian war that deprived the Athenians of their field for four to six weeks, they were now deprived these for the whole year. The Athenians had to continually guard their city and send cavalry against the Peloponnesians.

Question 31

What were results of the Spartan occupation of Decelea?

Answer 31

Athens horses were going lame from the constant cavalry fighting, additionally 20,000 slaves deserted. Most critically, the main supply route from Euboea was interrupted, so that ships had to travel around the sounion peninsula to deliver food. Still the Athenians continued with the operations in Sicily.

Question 32

What did the news from Sicily inspire in Athens’ allies?

Answer 32

Inspired them to rebel.

Question 33

Who did King Agis receive representatives from? What were they looking from?

Answer 33

Euboea, Lesbos, and from Chios - all requested Spartan support if they were to revolt. Accompanying the Chians was a representative of Tissaphernes, Satrap of Caria in Asia minor.`

Question 34

Who convinced the Spartans to sail swiftly to Chios? what did this cause?

Answer 34

Alcibiades, this resulted in revolts in both Chios and Miletus

Question 35

Who made a formal agreement with the Persian King through Tissaphernes?

Answer 35

Spartan commander Chalcideus.

Question 36

What were the terms of the Persian-Spartan alliance?

Answer 36

1) All territories previously belonging to the King and his ancestors shall be his,
2) All money paid by subjects previously to Athens was to go to the Persian king,
3) The war will be carried on jointly,
4) Any people who revolt from Persia shall be enemies of Sparta,
5) Any who revolt from Sparta shall be enemies of Persia.

Question 37

What was the main problem with this agreement?

Answer 37

The clause laying claim to the former possessions of the king’s ancestors, this effectively conceded not only the Asiatic Greeks but Thessaly, Locris, and Boeotia, all states allied with Persia during the Persian wars.

Question 38

What happened as a result of this problem?

Answer 38

A third treaty with Sparta was agreed, whereby the King would only have control and the taxes of the Asiatic Greeks, but Tissaphernes was to pay for the Peloponnesian fleet until a Persian fleet arrived. Most likely this third alliance was the final draft compared to the other two.

Question 39

What did Tissaphernes pay for the Spartans?

Answer 39

Paying for the rowers of the Peloponnesian fleet, then after mustering a Phoenician fleet aid the Peloponnesians, failed to bring it fully into the Aegean, thus prolonging the naval war.

Question 40

What did Alcibiades do in 411 BC

Answer 40

Was recalled by the Athenian democrats at Samos, spoke persuasively against the regime of the Oligarchic 400 at Athens, this was very wise, as to do so would have abandoned the Aegean completely to the Peloponnesian and Persian fleets, in effect giving up their empire.

Question 41

What place was of serious importance to Athens, that Sparta had sent a fleet to?

Answer 41

Sparta sent a fleet to Oropos opposite Eretria in Euboea, which had long been ripe for revolt. Euboea was important as a major source of food for Athens, they had moved their flocks and herds there from Attica at the beginning of the war.

Question 42

What happened to the fleet Athens sent to intercept the Peloponnesians?

Answer 42

The poorly equipped fleet with inexperience rowers were forced into battle which they lost, they then retreated to Eretria, thinking it friendly, but were massacred by the locals.

Question 43

What did this defeat trigger in Athens?

Answer 43

Consternation; it caused the oligarchy of the 400 to be deposed in favour of the more moderate oligarchy of 5,000, to include all who could provide the hoplites arms.

Question 44

How did Tissaphernes miserliness in paying the crews backfire?

Answer 44

Spartans, under the command of Mindarus, moved their main operations to the Hellespont. As Hellespont was crucial for intercepting Athenian grain shipments from the Spartocid Bosporan kingdom, this led to the first major naval battle at Cynossema, the Athenians won a resounding victory. The Athenians soon after won another naval battle at Abydos.

Question 45

What had the Spartans decided upon by March 410?

Answer 45

To fight a war of attrition; Mindarus saw the possibilities of cutting of Athens’ remaining supply lines.

Question 46

What happened at the battle of Cyzicus?

Answer 46

Athenian commanders Alcibiades, Thrasybulus, and Theramenes forced Mindarus into battle, the Spartans were outmanouevred and faced considerable losses: sixty ships lost and around 10,000 dead including Mindarus.

Question 47

Who becomes the main source past the battle of Abydos in 411 BC?

Answer 47

Xenophon and his ‘History of my times’ a.k.a ‘the Hellenica’

Question 48

What did Pharnabazus do for the Spartans after their defeats? how long did this take?

Answer 48

Pharnabazus paid for the rebuilding of the Peloponnesian fleet, this required a three year gap in hostilities.

Question 49

What news did a Spartan embassy bring in 407 BC? What happened to an Athenian embassy in the same place?

Answer 49

Had returned from King Darius II court with news that the king had decided to act in the Spartan’s interest. An Athenian embassy seeking to negotiate with the Persians was detained in order to keep the news of Persian support from reaching Athens.

Question 50

What was the new supposed treaty between Persia and Sparta called?

Answer 50

The treaty of Boeotius, not universally supported by scholars.

Question 51

Which Persian prince was to have charge of Persian affairs with the Spartans? what did this mean?

Answer 51

Cyrus, the Spartan would now, at last, be fully funded.

Question 52

Who was appointed commander of Spartan forces at this time? What was he like?

Answer 52

Lysander - a tough and innovative soldier in the model of Brasidas and Gylippus.

Question 53

What were relations between Cyrus and Lysander like? What were the results of this?

Answer 53

There was mutual admiration from their first meeting. Payment for the ships’ crews was immediately increased in an attempt to entice rowers away from the Athenian fleet (Hellenica 1.5.1-3)

Question 54

Which Athenian commander returned to Athens? What did he receive there?

Answer 54

Alcibiades - warmly welcomed and voted to be given huge resources but expected instant results.

Question 55

What happened when Alcibiades was absent on a mission? What were the results of this?

Answer 55

Alcibiades had delegated command of the fleet to Antiochus with specific instructions to avoid any battle. Antiochus disobeyed this order and sailed to Notion close to the harbour of Ephesus - home to the Peloponnesian fleet. Lysander enjoyed an early success here; Antiochus was killed and fifteen Athenian ships were lost. Alcibiades was consequently exiled again; Athens lost their most innovative and determined commander at the most crucial point - when Sparta had an equally outstanding commander in Lysander.

Question 56

What was Lysander only allowed command for one year? Who replaced him? What were relations like between the two?

Answer 56

Spartan law dictated that Commanders would only be able to have command for one year. Callicratidas replaced Lysander in 406 BC. Lysander and Callicratidas didn’t get along well and the transfer was difficult; Lysander represented the party in favour of dealing with the Persians in order to defeat Athens whereas Callicratidas was supportive of appeasement with Athens and non-engagement with Persia.

Question 57

What initial success did Callicratidas have during his command? And how did this sour?

Answer 57

Managed to blockade the Athenian naval commander Cocon at Mytilene, the Athenians sent a fleet in response which met the Spartans at Arginusae; Athens was victorious, seventy-seven Peloponnesian ships were destroyed and Callicratidas was killed. The Athenians only lost 25 ships.

Question 58

Why were the Athenian assembly furious at the successful Naval Commanders? And what did they do to them?

Answer 58

Furious that they couldn’t retrieve the dead bodies of their dead sailors. The assembly put the successful generals on trial and condemned them to death.

Question 59

What happened between the Peloponnesian allies in the spring of 405 BC?

Answer 59

A conference of the Asiatic Greeks was held at Ephesus; they demanded that Lysander be re-established as Naval commander. The Spartans acquiesced and made him vice-admiral to another, but made it clear that decision-making was to rest with him (Hellenica, 2.1.7).

Question 60

Where did Lysander now turn his attention? and who held what here? Where did each side position themselves?

Answer 60

Towards the Hellespont. Sparta held Abydods and Lampsacus on the Asian side of the Hellespont and Athens held Sestos on the Chersones. Athens was positioned at Aegospotami opposite Lampsacus.

Question 61

What happened after 4 days? Why had the Spartans won?

Answer 61

Lysander attacked the Athenian fleet which was complacent and mostly beached, with crews gathering supplies. One hundred and seventy ships were taken, and the Athenian sailors were executed (Hellenica 2.1.20 - 32). Plutarch maintains that Lysander had within a single hour put an end to twenty-seven years of war, it was not the scale of this victory which brought an end to the war, rather the cumulative effect. The Athenians had lost the war of attrition and were now out of resources; the Peloponnesian fleet equipped with Persian money, had won.