Book One: Historical Commentary

460-431: A ‘short’ military history During this period Athens as leader of the Delian league and Sparta (with its allies such as Thebes – known as the Peloponnesian League) quarrelled over several diplomatic issues, breaking out into several wars across the Greece mainland and the Aegean. The growing tensions between Athens and Sparta and member states of the Delian league at the increasingly autocratic behaviour of Athens in its leadership – culminating in the removal of the treasury from Delos. This, along with the building of the long walls around Athens, lead to significant unrest within the League, but particular concern from Sparta who feared a lost of its dominance over land in the Peloponnese. These fears were realised with the defection of Megara to Athens, which gave Athens unparalleled control of central Greece. After various conflicts both on land and sea which eventually saw neither power gain total dominance, and the signing of a thirty year peace that was to end dramatically in 431 BC. The middle of the conflict marked the high point in Athenian power, dominant on land in central Greece and unrivalled at sea, but from the peace down to 431 BC Pericles remained in power, but Athens’ position at the head of a wealthy and powerful conglomerate of states increased Sparta’s concerns. In no more than 4 key points describe the events of 460-431…..

Historical Contents of Book One: - The Archaeology – a history of Greece up until the start of the Wars. 1.1-1.19. - Explanation of his method and aims 1.20-1.23. - Causes of the war (433-432 BC) 1.24-1.66 including: The Affair of Epidamnus. 1.24-1.55. The Affair of Potidaea. 1.56-1.66 Congress of the Peloponnesian League at Lacedaemon. 1.67-1.88 The Speech of the Corinthians 1.68-1.71 The Speech of the Athenian envoys 1.73-1.78 The Speech of Archidamus 1.80-1.85 The Speech of Sthenelaidas 1.86 - From the end of the Persian War to the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, also known as the Pentecontaetia. 1.89-1.117 – shows the progress from supremacy to empire - Second congress at Lacedaemon and the Corinthian Speech. 1.119-1.125. Diplomatic manoeuvring. 1.126-1.139. Excursus on Cylon 1.126-127 Excursus on Pausanias and Themistocles 1.128-139 - Pericles' first speech. 1.140-1.145.

Causes of the War: 1. What causes of the war are suggested by the Affair of Epidamnus? 2. What causes can you identify from the Affair of Potidaea? 3. Why do you think that Thucydides included these events in his History?

The Affair of Epidamnus. 1.24-1.55 A city founded by colonists of Corcyra, which in turn was a colony of the city-state of Corinth, Epidamnus found itself the victim of barbarian invasions. The people of Epidamnus appealed to Corcyra for assistance, and after receiving none, took their pleas to Corinth which answered the call by dispatching troops and settlers to the city. Corcyra responded to Corinth’s action by sending their own fleets to the city. The eventual result was a naval war between Corinth and Corcyra, with Corcyra, superior in terms of naval strength, winning a decisive victory. Corinth would spend the following year augmenting its navy in order to exact revenge from Corcyra. Both city-states petition Athens for assistance. To woo the Athenians, the Corcyraeans argue that alliance with Corcyra would be an important step for Athens given the likelihood of war in the near future with jealous Sparta.

The Affair of Epidamnus. 1.24-1.55 - continued Besides helping Corcyra to counter the injustices committed against it by its mother colony, an alliance would be in Athens’ own interest, argue the Corcyraens, due to the power of Corcyra’s navy, as well as the strategic location of Corcyra within the passage between Italy/Sicily and Athens. Corinth counters by asserting that it possesses the right to punish its own dependencies, including Corcyra. Moreover, the Corinthians claim that for Athens to pursue a great naval alliance with Corcyra would be tantamount to chasing short-term gain at the price of long-term instability. In the end, Corcyra’s arguments carry the day, and Athens dispatches 10 ships to aid Corcyra. Corinth initiates its campaign against Corcyra, as planned, and sails on Corcyra with a large fleet. Corinth and its allies fight an epic naval battle against the Athenian/Corcyraean alliance near Corcyra. The battle has an ambiguous result; while the Corinthian fleet does more damage than the Corcyraeans, it also flees the area upon encountering Athenian forces.

The Affair of Potidaea Thucydides proceeds to discuss the second key event leading up to the Peloponnesian war: the affair of Potidaea. A Corinthian colony that is also a tributary ally of Athens, Poitdaea finds itself caught in the middle of the Athens-Corinth conflict. Potidaea decides to revolt against Athens after receiving assurance from Sparta that Sparta would invade Athens if Athens should take measures against Potidaea. While Potidaea was deciding to revolt, Athens had already dispatched a fleet of thirty ships and 1000 heavy infantry to the city with orders to take the Potidaeans captive.

Congress of the Peloponnesian League at Lacedaemon We have covered this in detail when looking at the key evidence for Thucydides’ generalisations. However, here is a brief summary of events….. Angered at the invasion of her colony by Athens, Corinth calls a conference of her allies at Sparta. Corinth attempts to spur Sparta to take action against Athens, arguing that Sparta’s conservative, plodding strategy has allowed the Athenians to gain too much strength. Several Athenian citizens respond to Corinth’s efforts to incite Sparta by reminding the Greeks of the paramount role Athens played in the recent Median war against the barbarians. They also appeal to the principle of "might makes right" in justifying Athens’ recent military adventures. The Spartan king Archidamus follows the Athenians and suggests that the Spartans take the prudent course of delaying action until they have at least sufficient monetary resources to engage wealthy Athens. The king’s advice is ignored, however, as the Spartan assembly decides effectively to declare war against Athens (so long as Sparta’s allies consent). Your task – create a flow diagram of events, from the affair of Epidamnus to the declaration of war