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The '''Peloponnesian War''' (431 to 404 B.C.) was fought between the rival Greek [[city-states]] of [[Athens]] and [[Sparta]] for dominance in [[Greece]]. The lengthy series of battles was known as the Peloponnesian War in which Sparta and its allies eventually defeated Athens and its allies.  It was a crushing defeat for Athens.

The '''Peloponnesian War''' (431 to 404 B.C.) was fought between the rival Greek [[city-states]] of [[Athens]] and [[Sparta]] for dominance in [[Greece]]. The lengthy series of battles was known as the Peloponnesian War in which Sparta and its allies eventually defeated Athens and its allies.  It was a crushing defeat for Athens.

The seeds of the Second Peloponnesian War were sown in 434 BC when Epidamnus

The seeds of the Second Peloponnesian War were sown in 434 BC when [[Epidamnus]]

enlisted aid from Corinth (a Spartan ally) after being denied by her colonial power, Corcyra.

enlisted aid from [[Corinth]] (a Spartan ally) after being denied by her colonial power, Corcyra.

Corcyraean outrage over the Corinthian aid led to war, prompting the Corcyraeans to petition

Corcyraean outrage over the Corinthian aid led to war, prompting the Corcyraeans to petition

Athens’ help.

Athens’ help.

In 431 B.C. a war erupted between Athens and Sparta and its allies.  Athens controlled the sea but Sparta had a strong army, and the irresistible force had met the immovable object.  The Spartan military is famous for its tremendous discipline to this day; 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.).

In 431 B.C. a war erupted between Athens and Sparta and its allies.  Athens controlled the sea but Sparta had a strong army, and the irresistible force had met the immovable object.  The Spartan military is famous for its tremendous discipline to this day; boys were trained to be great soldiers beginning at age seven and serving the army from ages 20 to 60.  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 a radical new leader of Athens, [[Alcibiades]], convinced the Athenian Assembly to invade [[Syracuse]], a Peloponnesian ally in Sicily.  It 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 the Hellespont to cut off Athens' grain imports and threaten the city-state with starvation.  Athens sent all it had let to confront 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 a radical new leader of Athens, [[Alcibiades]], convinced the Athenian Assembly to invade [[Syracuse]], a Peloponnesian ally in Sicily.  It 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 the Hellespont to cut off Athens' grain imports and threaten the city-state with starvation.  Athens sent all it had let to confront him, but failed at Aegospotami in 405 B.C.