Monday, March 18, 2013

Peloponnesian War

Hellenistic- the leading international culture but their way of life was influenced by the peoples they ruled




In 359 BC, a new leader rose to power and took over Macedonia. This man was King Phillip 2. King Philip immediately wanted to take control of Greece because this would merge Greece and Macedonia into one united threat against Persia. Athens lost the Peloponnesian War in 431BC-404BC, during the time of Pericles reign, because Sparta decided to drop out of all the fighting after the second Persian War. Athens then turned to the Aegean coast for help. The Aegean coast was able to provide money for Athens to have triremes.  Triremes were the best and most advanced weapon.  Their alliance then broke when Anatolia got their independence from Persia and Athens still demanded that they pay money. This did not make them very happy and they decided to turn to Sparta to be an ally in their attack against Athens. Athens had a very strong navy. This meant that they were able to protect all their sea routes providing them with access to grain and attack Sparta and company. However, Athens held out as long as they could but eventually were defeated and forced to give up their possessions, defenses, and become allies with Sparta.



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