Changes

Military success breeds abuse of power and jealousy, which leads to war.  The rivals Athens and Sparta began fighting each other in a lengthy series of battles known as the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.).  The war began in 431 B.C., when fighting erupted between Athens and Sparta and its allies.  Athens controlled the sea but Sparta had a strong army.  The Spartan military is famous for its tremendous discipline; boys were trained to be great soldiers beginning at age seven and serving the army from ages 20 to 60.  After 27 years of fighting between Athens and Sparta, the Athenian leader Nicias negotiated the Peace of Nicias (421 B.C.).

Military success breeds abuse of power and jealousy, which leads to war.  The rivals Athens and Sparta began fighting each other in a lengthy series of battles known as the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.).  The war began in 431 B.C., when fighting erupted between Athens and Sparta and its allies.  Athens controlled the sea but Sparta had a strong army.  The Spartan military is famous for its tremendous discipline; boys were trained to be great soldiers beginning at age seven and serving the army from ages 20 to 60.  After 27 years of fighting between Athens and Sparta, the Athenian leader Nicias negotiated the Peace of Nicias (421 B.C.).

But the peace lasted only a few years.  Fighting resumed, and Sparta defeated the combined armies of Athens and her allies at Mantinea.  In 415 B.C. a radical new leader of Athens, Alcibiades, convinced the Athenian Assembly to invade Syracuse, a large city in Sicily that was attacking allies of Athens.  Alcibiades had dreams of conquering Sicily entirely in order to form a massive new empire.  But his plan was a total disaster.  The end was near for Athens, which was weakened further by a plague that killed much of her population.  Sparta then had a fleet to challenge Athens on the seas, and benefited from an extraordinary military leader named Lysander.  He seized Hellespont to cut off Athens' grain imports and threaten Athens with starvation.  Athens sent all the men and resources it had left to confront and fight him, but failed at Aegospotami in 405 B.C.

But the peace lasted only a few years.  Fighting resumed, and Sparta defeated the combined armies of Athens and her allies at Mantinea.  In 415 B.C. a radical new leader of Athens, Alcibiades, convinced the Athenian Assembly to invade Syracuse, a large city in Sicily that was attacking allies of Athens.  Alcibiades had dreams of conquering Sicily entirely in order to form a massive new empire.  '''But Alcibiades' plan was a total disaster.  The end was near for Athens, which was weakened further by a plague that killed much of her population'''.  Sparta then had a fleet to challenge Athens on the seas, and benefited from an extraordinary military leader named Lysander.  He seized Hellespont to cut off Athens' grain imports and threaten Athens with starvation.  Athens sent all the men and resources it had left to confront and fight him, but failed at Aegospotami in 405 B.C.

Faced with bankruptcy, Athens gave up nearly everything just to attain peace.  Athens lost her city walls and all of her possessions overseas.  She also lost democracy as Sparta's anti-democratic party took control.  '''Sparta had won the Peloponnesian War.'''

Faced with bankruptcy, Athens gave up nearly everything just to attain peace.  Athens lost her city walls and all of her possessions overseas.  She also lost democracy as Sparta's anti-democratic party took control.  '''Sparta had won the Peloponnesian War.'''