jan 1, 415 BC - Causes of Peloponnesian War

Description:

§ Athens and Sparta fought before
§ Sometimes called First Peloponnesian War
§ Agreed to a truce, Thirty Years’ Treaty in 445 BCE
§ Uneasy peace follows
§ Athenians join forces w/Corcyra
§ Have a major navy
§ Sparta sees this as an act of provocation
§ Cancels peace treaty with Athens
§ Accuse Athens of aggression, threaten war
§ Athens refuses to back down (under advisement of
Pericles)
§ Diplomatic efforts fail
§ Spartan ally – Thebes – attacks Athenian ally Plataea
§ Open war begins (431 BCE)

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