1. The Peloponnesian War Sparta v. Athens 431 BC

2. Lead-Up to the War Tensions between Sparta and Athens grow
Had been growing for years due to alliances
Athens becomes a massive naval power
Money from alliance helped to create this
Both sides begin pressing for attacks
People want to get the upper hand on the other
Eventually tension boils over into war

3. The War Begins (431 BCE) Sparta declares war 431 BC – attacks Athens
Sparta known to be tough on land
Athens known to be tough at sea
Athens planned to avoid land battles and find a way to attack by sea
Sparta not easily accessible by sea – major problem
Sparta marches on Athens; burns farmland
Planned to eliminate Athenian food supply
Hoped they would eventually surrender

4. Athenian Respond to Attacks
Pericles pulls citizens inside the city walls for protection; trying to avoid land battle w/ Sparta
Good plan except for two major problems
Major plague hits – kills 1/3 to 2/3 of Athenian population including Pericles
Athenian attack fails – Athens sends soldiers to attack Syracuse to have Sparta retreat and help
Athenian army is completely destroyed
Athens surrenders after holding off Sparta for 9 years

6. Philosophers Arise w/ Answers
Following the time of crisis, people in Athens searching for answers
Philosophers try to provide answers
Philosopher- lovers of wisdom
Believed in two major principles
The world was put together in a logical way
People could understand the world with logic and reason
3 major philosophers to know about
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

7. The Philosophers Socrates – 1st major philosopher of Greece
Encouraged Greeks to question themselves and their moral character
He was later put on trial and condemned to death for corrupting Athens’ youth; drank poison to die
Plato – student of Socrates
Most famous for writing The Republic
Said that there were 3 social classes
Smartest of the upper class would become philosopher-king
Aristotle – student of Plato and questioned the world
His research provided the basis for the scientific method
Also tutored Alexander the Great; later takes over Greece