Peloponnesian War

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Causes

Sparta & allies principally Peloponnesian or allied with a Peloponnesian state or a colony of it
- Thebes and Megara were important Spartan allies that were located in mainland Greece, northwest of Athens
- Macedonia allied with the Spartans
Spartan & allies identity = Dorian

Athens & allies = Aegean
- Corcyra was important Athenian ally on west coast of Greece
Athens & allies identity = Ionian
Athenian trade & food supply
- dependence on grain routes to/from Black Sea breadbasket

= name given by historians
- original name was "The Athenians and their Allies"
- "Delian" for the island of Delos where the League funds were kept (collected and guarded by Athens)
Athenian tribute
- managed the fund at Delos
- later moved to Athens and kept at the Acropolis

>> confirm

- after Syracuse invasion, Athens changed from tribute to a 5% tax on seaborn commerce, which yeilded more revenue than did the tribute system (Lords of the Sea p. 106)
- afte the Battle of Cyzicus (410 BC) at the entrance to the Sea of Marmara, the Athenians imposed a 10% tax on all goods passing through the Bosporus Strait ("Lords of the Sea" p. 219)

Potidaea
- = Greek city state along northern coast of Aegean Sea, south of Macedonia
- = the sole Corinthian colony in the Aegean Sea
after the Athenian intervention between Corinth and Corcyraea on the western coast of Greece, Athens feared Corinthian intervention in the Aegean Sea region
- Athens demanded that Potidaea expel Corinthian leaders, lower some defensive walls, and send hostages to Athens
- Potideans asked Sparta for help and revolted againts Athens on the assumption that Sparta would intervene on their behalf
- Sparta did not get direclty involved
Sparta response
- declined direct intervention on behalf of Potidaea or Coringh
- sent demands to Athens to:
  - end seige of Potidaea
  - restore autonomy of Aegina (island state south of Athens)
  - rescind the Athenian "Megarian Decree" which had barred Megerian citizens from the Agora at Athens (market and meeting place) and from ports of all Athenian allies
- Athenian response

>> todo >> see Lords of the Sea p. 145

Persian peace >> King Ataxerxes declaration
second Delian League ("Athenians and their Allies"), known as "Second Maritime League"
- for common protection against Sparta (1st league was intended to protect against Persia)
- no tribute,
- with restrictions on Athenian actions such as sending colonists or interfering with local governments
- funded by 1/40th tax on goods entering Athens through the Pareaus
- source: "Lords of the Sea" p. 255-256
rebuilding of Athenian navy
- Athenian hoplite and aristocratic elements argued against navy
- forests of Attica now depleted
  - soil erosion
  - dependence on importing wood
Athenian diaspora
- colonialism, hegemony, ostracism and opportunism had led to a spread of Athenians across Greece, Persian empire, Italy and elsewhere
- when Alexander the Great invaded Asia Minor, he encountered and fought against many Athenians who had given service to Persia and other city-states as mercenaries and advisors
  - see "Lords of the Sea" p. 299