On the Spartan War Path

On the Spartan War Path: The Peloponnesian War

Unit 7: Ancient Greece

The Lead-Up

• Athens was becoming rich & powerful.

• Other city-states became suspicious.

• Sparta organized an alliance with other city-states against Athens.

• After many spats, war broke out in 431 BCE and lasted until 404 BCE.

Open Ended

How were Sparta & Athens different from each other? Be specific.

The Pelo-Puh-What?!

Observe the map to the right. Then answer the question on the next slide: Why was this war called the Peloponnesian War?

Multiple Choice

Why was this war called the Peloponnesian War?

• Athenian soldiers were called Peloponnesians.

• It was near the Peloponnesus Sea.

• It was named after a great Spartan war hero.

• It was named after the Peloponnesus region where Sparta was located.

Pericles' Funeral Oration

In the first winter of the war, the Athenians held a public funeral to honor those that had died in battle. The great Athenian politician & general Pericles gave a speech to the people of Athens. Read the excerpt to the right then answer the question on the next slide: How would this speech have made citizens of Athens feel during the war? What emotions? Why?

Open Ended

How would Pericles' speech have made the citizens of Athens feel? What emotions? Why?

War, Terrible War

At the beginning of the war, the Spartans surrounded Athens hoping they would send out an army to fight. Pericles knew that the Athenians could not beat the Spartans in open battle though. Instead, the Athenians sheltered behind the city walls & relied on their navy to deliver supplies from allies & colonies. After all, Sparta did not have a navy so they could not attack the ships.

Multiple Choice

The Spartans had an advantage in...

• open battle

• war machinery

• naval battles

• war supplies

Multiple Choice

The Athenians had an advantage in...

• open battle

• war machinery

• naval battles

• foreign allies

An Internal Threat

Sheltering within the city kept Athenians safe for some time. Then, in the second year of the war, disease spread within the overcrowded city. It killed more than 1/3 of the people, including Pericles who died in 429 BCE. Despite these terrible losses, Athenians fought on & the war lasted another 25 years.

The Historian Thucydides

Read the excerpt from Greek historian Thucydides. Then answer the question on the next slide: What event/circumstance was Thucydides describing? Give evidence from the text to support your answer.

Open Ended

What event/circumstance was Thucydides describing? Give evidence from the text to support your answer.

A Spartan Victory

Desperate to win, the Spartans made a deal with the Persian Empire. In exchange for enough money to build a navy, the Spartans gave the Persians some Greek territory in Asia Minor. In 405 BCE, the new & strong Spartan navy destroyed the Athenian fleet. After losing more land battles the next year, the Athenians surrendered. The Spartans tore down the city walls of Athens. War was over.

Multiple Choice

This deal would appeal to the Persians because they could acquire...

• more land

• control of valuable trade routes

• more natural resources

• all of the above

Map Analysis

Use this map to answer the questions on the next slide:

Which major city-states were allied with Sparta?

How do you think having those allies helped Sparta win the war?

Open Ended

Which major city-states were allied with Sparta?

How do you think having those allies helped Sparta win the war?

Aftermath

The Peloponnesian War weakened ALL of the Greek city-states, both the winners & the losers. There were many deaths. Cities & farms were destroyed. Thousands of people were left without jobs. In addition, the war made it impossible for the Greeks to unite & work together again.

A Dwindling Sparta

After the war, Sparta attempted to rule over all of Greece. Within 30 years, though, the city-states rebelled. The Spartan alliance with Persia did not last either. They battled each other for control. While they were fighting amongst themselves, the Greeks didn't notice that the kingdom of Macedonia to their north was growing in power...this would eventually cost the Greeks their freedom.

Open Ended

Describe the effects of the Peloponnesian War on the Greeks. Be specific & use evidence.