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Causes

Identity & Geography

  • 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

Ideology

  • Athens represented:
    • trade
    • wealth
    • democracy
    • philosophy
    • discourse
    • dissent
  • Sparta represented
    • oligarchy
    • militarism
    • order / discipline
    • conformity
    • not trade
    • not democracy

Delian League

  • = 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)

Peloponnesian League

Events

Corcyraean civil war

Battle of Potidaea

  • 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


Aftermath

  • 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

Macedonian empire