Peloponnesian War Outline

Peloponnesian War Outline (431-404 BCE)

Archidamian War: 431-421 BCE. Annual Spartan Invasions of Attica, Athenians shelter within the Long Walls, and Athenian Naval Expeditions. [Includes revolt of Mytilene (428/7 BCE) and battle of Sphacteria/Pylos (425 BCE).

Peace of Nikias: 421-415 BCE. “Cold” Peace after deaths of Brasidas and Kleon. [Thucydides book 5].

Melian Massacre: 416 BCE. Athens kills Melians who insist on neutrality.

Sicilian Expedition: 415-413 BCE. Ill-fated Athenian attempt to conquer Syracuse.

Rule of the Four Hundred: 411 BCE. A short-lived oligarchic coup overthrows the Athenian Democracy.

Dekeleian War: 413-404 BCE. Spartan occupation of part of Attica (Dekeleia) that became a refuge for 20.000 Athenian runaway slaves (Thucydides 7.27). War ends with the loss of the Athenian Fleet and the destruction of the Long Walls.

The Thirty Tyrants: 404-403 BCE. The Spartans dismantle the Athenian Democracy and install a cadre of thirty anti-democrats to rule Athens. After their bloody rule, the democrats rally and staged a counter-coup in 403 BCE, restoring the Democracy.