After the Archidamian War, the Peace of Nicias provided much-needed breathing space for a weakened and disgraced Sparta and a war-weary as well as plague-ridden Athens. However, in the Peloponnesus the absence of effective statesmanship and political competence made the period following the making of the Peace one of confusion and ill-channeled ambition. While Athens sought to undo the damage done by Brasidas in Thrace, Argos mounted a challenge to Lacedaemonian hegemony in the Peleponneus. Nevertheless Sparta, through innovation, resilience, and warfare successfully pursued a policy of restoration and reconsolidation in the Peloponnesus and thus emerged after the Peace in a formidable position to once again take up arms against the Athenians in the last decade of the Peloponnesian War.
Table of Contents
- The Collapse of the Peace of Nicias – Spartan Goals and Policy
- Sparta's Demographic Crisis and Innovation
- The Argive Challenge to Spartan Hegemony
- Sparta's Response to the Argive Alliance
- The Battle of Mantinea and the Restoration of Spartan Hegemony
- The Consequences of the Peace of Nicias for the Peloponnesian War
Objectives and Key Themes
This text examines the period following the Peace of Nicias (421 BCE) and its impact on the Peloponnesian War. It focuses specifically on Sparta's political and military strategies, highlighting the challenges faced by the city-state in the wake of the Archidamian War and the subsequent peace treaty. The analysis explores how Sparta, despite experiencing a period of crisis, successfully regained its hegemonic position in the Peloponnesus and eventually emerged victorious in the Peloponnesian War.
- Sparta's demographic crisis and its impact on policy
- The Argive challenge to Spartan hegemony in the Peloponnesus
- Sparta's strategies for consolidating control and restoring its power
- The role of diplomacy and alliances in shaping the course of the war
- The importance of military victories in determining the outcome of the conflict
Chapter Summaries
- The Collapse of the Peace of Nicias – Spartan Goals and Policy: This chapter introduces the context of the Peace of Nicias, highlighting Sparta's weakened state and the challenges it faced following the Archidamian War. It outlines Sparta's innovative strategies, including the use of Helots in warfare, and its efforts to address the demographic crisis.
- Sparta's Demographic Crisis and Innovation: This chapter delves deeper into Sparta's demographic crisis, discussing the impact of the earthquake and Helot revolt of 465/4. It explores Sparta's decision to use Helots in Brasidas' campaign in Thrace and its significance in addressing the threat of Helot rebellion.
- The Argive Challenge to Spartan Hegemony: This chapter analyzes the emergence of a new coalition in the Peloponnesus centered around Argos, which sought to challenge Sparta's hegemony. It highlights the role of Corinth in instigating this alliance and the resentment felt by Sparta's allies towards the Peace of Nicias.
- Sparta's Response to the Argive Alliance: This chapter describes Sparta's efforts to counter the Argive alliance, including its attempts to secure Boeotian support and its violation of its agreement with Athens. It explores the use of deception and political incompetence that characterized the period following the Peace of Nicias.
- The Battle of Mantinea and the Restoration of Spartan Hegemony: This chapter focuses on the Battle of Mantinea (418 BCE), which proved to be a turning point in the conflict. It outlines Sparta's military preparations, the missed opportunity for a decisive victory, and the eventual defeat of Argos. The chapter also discusses the consequences of Mantinea, including the dissolution of the Argive alliance and the restoration of Spartan hegemony in the Peloponnesus.
Keywords
Key terms and concepts explored in the text include the Peace of Nicias, Spartan hegemony, the Peloponnesian War, the Argive alliance, the Battle of Mantinea, demographic crisis, Helot revolt, political competence, diplomacy, alliances, and military strategy.
- Quote paper
- Moritz Mücke (Author), 2014, The Peloponnesian War. Spartan Goals and Policy after the Peace of Nicias, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/286181
