peloponnesian war was the war between sparta and athens.
peloponnesian war was the war between sparta and athens.
what was the war between sparta and athens?
peloponnesian war
the aftermath of the earthquake contributed to a growing distrust between sparta and the increasingly powerful city-state of athens. according to thucydides, the ancient greek chronicler of the peloponnesian war, sparta had already decided to invade attica when the earthquake struck. in the aftermath of the earthquake, the helots and various messenian subjects of sparta revolted; sparta invoked the aid of other greek cities to put down the rebellion, which were obliged to help in accordance with the alliance. athens, whose aid the spartans sought because of their "reputed experience in siege operations," sent approximately 4,000 hoplites under the leadership of cimon, but this contingent was sent back to athens, while those from other cities were allowed to stay. by thucydides's account ("history of the peloponnesian war", i.101–102), the spartans were concerned that the athenians would switch sides and assist the helots; from the spartan perspective, the athenians had an "enterprising and revolutionary character," and by this fact alone posed a threat to the oligarchic regime of sparta. the athenians were insulted, and therefore repudiated their alliance with sparta. once the uprising was put down, some of the surviving rebels fled to athens, which settled them at naupactus on the strategically important corinthian gulf. the alliance would never be revived, as disagreements between sparta and athens would continue to intensify until the outbreak of war in 460 bc. given that the helot population seized upon the earthquake to rebel against the spartans, they reformed their society after the helots were gained control of again, becoming extremely austere.
464 bc sparta earthquake
461—the debate in athens over helping sparta: with a legion of helots rebelling against sparta, athens offered sparta their help by sending a force of 4,000 hoplites to suppress the rebels. according to thucydides, sparta decided to dismiss cimon's athenian army, because they felt that athens would convince the helots on ithome to form a coalition and besiege sparta. spartans did not feel comfortable with such a large athenian force inside their city. if the athenians were to turn their backs on sparta, the city would not be able to protect itself. at this point, sparta acknowledged that athens might be getting too powerful. according to thucydides, the athenians were deeply offended by their removal from ithome. they denounced their original treaty with sparta made during the greco-persian wars, then proceeded to make an alliance with argos, a major enemy of the spartans.
pentecontaetia