After the Archidamian War, the Peace of Nicias provided much-needed breathing space for a weakened and disgraced Sparta and a war-weary as well as plague-ridden Athens. However, in the Peloponnesus the absence of effective statesmanship and political competence made the period following the making of the Peace one of confusion and ill-channeled ambition. While Athens sought to undo the damage done by Brasidas in Thrace, Argos mounted a challenge to Lacedaemonian hegemony in the Peleponneus. Nevertheless Sparta, through innovation, resilience, and warfare successfully pursued a policy of restoration and reconsolidation in the Peloponnesus and thus emerged after the Peace in a formidable position to once again take up arms against the Athenians in the last decade of the Peloponnesian War.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- The Collapse of the Peace of Nicias – Spartan Goals and Policy
- The Extent of the Crisis
- The More Immediate Problem
- When Elis, Corinth, and the Thracian Chalcidians Joined the Argive Alliance
- After This, Deception, Diplomatic Blunders, and Political Incompetence Carried the Day
- Hence, Despite the Fact that the Oligarchy that the Spartans Imposed on Argos Was Quickly Overthrown
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte
This paper examines the political and military strategies employed by Sparta in the years following the Peace of Nicias, focusing on their efforts to restore their hegemonic position in the Peloponnesus. The paper analyzes the challenges Sparta faced, including the demographic crisis, the rise of Argive influence, and the shifting alliances within the Peloponnesian League.
- Sparta's demographic crisis and its impact on their military and political strategies
- The rise of Argive influence and the challenge to Spartan hegemony in the Peloponnesus
- The shifting alliances within the Peloponnesian League and the role of deception and political incompetence
- Sparta's successful reassertion of control in the Peloponnesus and its impact on the course of the Peloponnesian War
- The role of Athenian involvement in the Peloponnesus and its impact on the balance of power
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel
The paper begins by examining the extent of the crisis Sparta faced at the time of the Peace of Nicias. The author argues that Sparta's demographic situation, exacerbated by the earthquake and Helot revolt of 465/4, forced them to adopt novel strategies, including the use of Helots in Brasidas' campaign in Thrace and the restoration of the full rights of the Spartiates captured on Sphacteria. The paper then explores the emergence of a new coalition in the Peloponnesus centered around Argos, which challenged Sparta's hegemonic position. The author analyzes the factors that contributed to the formation of this coalition, including the resentment of Sparta's allies towards the Peace of Nicias and the ambitions of Argos. The paper then examines Sparta's efforts to counter the Argive challenge, including their attempts to secure alliances with Boeotia and their eventual victory at the Battle of Mantinea in 418. The author concludes by arguing that Sparta's success in reasserting control in the Peloponnesus was crucial to their ultimate victory in the Peloponnesian War.
Schlüsselwörter
The keywords and focus themes of the text include the Peace of Nicias, Spartan goals and policy, Spartan hegemony, the Peloponnesian War, the Argive challenge, the Battle of Mantinea, and the demographic crisis in Sparta. The text examines the political and military strategies employed by Sparta in the years following the Peace of Nicias, focusing on their efforts to restore their hegemonic position in the Peloponnesus. The paper analyzes the challenges Sparta faced, including the demographic crisis, the rise of Argive influence, and the shifting alliances within the Peloponnesian League.
- Citar trabajo
- Moritz Mücke (Autor), 2014, The Peloponnesian War. Spartan Goals and Policy after the Peace of Nicias, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/286181
