4.20 Peloponnesian War Lesson for Kids: Summary & Facts

The two most powerful cities in Greek history, Athens and Sparta, fought one another in the Peloponnesian War 2,500 years ago. Learn about the origins and consequences of the war in this lesson.

Big City Rivalries

Imagine that Los Angeles and New York City decided that they had had enough of one another and were going to fight a war. Everyone in the United States would have to be on one side or the other since they’re the two biggest and most powerful cities around. It may sound silly today, but in ancient Greece the cities of Athens and Sparta went to war and dragged all of Greece in with them. They fought a war called the Peloponnesian War (Peloponnese means the southern part of Greece) for 27 years. The war changed ancient Greece and is remembered today as one of the most important conflicts in history.

1. Main points:

The text draws a parallel between a hypothetical modern conflict between Los Angeles and New York City and the historical Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, emphasizing its duration of 27 years and its significant impact on ancient Greece.

2. Questions:

• Comparative Analysis: How is the hypothetical conflict between Los Angeles and New York City used to illustrate the Peloponnesian War?
• Historical Analysis: What was the Peloponnesian War and how long did it last?
• Impact Analysis: What was the significance of the Peloponnesian War in ancient Greek history?

3. Further Discussion:

• How do you think a war between two powerful cities affects the smaller regions or cities that get involved?

4. Answers:

• Comparative Analysis: "Imagine that Los Angeles and New York City decided that they had had enough of one another and were going to fight a war… in ancient Greece the cities of Athens and Sparta went to war and dragged all of Greece in with them."
• Historical Analysis: "They fought a war called the Peloponnesian War… for 27 years."
• Impact Analysis: "The war changed ancient Greece and is remembered today as one of the most important conflicts in history."

With Us or Against Us

Athens and Sparta weren’t always enemies. They fought together against the Persian Empire and formed an alliance, or friendship, to defeat the invading Persians. However, after the Persian Wars the alliance broke down. Athens had become an empire, extending its power over many parts of Greece and modern-day Turkey, including the hundreds of islands in the Aegean Sea.

Map of Athens

Sparta and Athens didn’t want to fight one another, but neither wanted the other to become so strong that they controlled all of Greece. The Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 BC when Athens began to interfere with Sparta’s allies, provoking Sparta to fight.

1. Main points:

The text explains that Athens and Sparta, initially allies against the Persian Empire, became adversaries due to Athens’ expansion and power. Their reluctance to let the other dominate Greece led to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC, triggered by Athens interfering with Sparta’s allies.

2. Questions:

• Historical Analysis: What caused the alliance between Athens and Sparta to break down after the Persian Wars?
• Power Dynamics Analysis: Why were Athens and Sparta reluctant to fight each other initially?
• Causal Analysis: What specific action led to the start of the Peloponnesian War?

3. Further Discussion:

• How do alliances between countries change over time, especially when one becomes more powerful?

4. Answers:

• Historical Analysis: "After the Persian Wars the alliance broke down. Athens had become an empire, extending its power over many parts of Greece and modern-day Turkey."
• Power Dynamics Analysis: "Sparta and Athens didn’t want to fight one another, but neither wanted the other to become so strong that they controlled all of Greece."
• Causal Analysis: "The Peloponnesian War broke out in 431 BC when Athens began to interfere with Sparta’s allies, provoking Sparta to fight."

The War Begins

The Spartans were famous for their military skills. Sparta raised its boys to be warriors from a young age, and Spartans believed it a great honor to die for their country. But Athens had a very strong navy, or fleet of warships. This meant that Sparta had the advantage on land and Athens had the advantage at sea. Athens decided it was best to build a giant wall around their city so that Sparta’s soldiers could not attack, and fight with their ships. While this kept Athens from being attacked, it also resulted in a terrible plague because everyone was stuck close together. As many as a third of all Athenians might have died of sickness.

Acropolis of ancient Athens

1. Main points:

The text highlights the military prowess of Sparta and Athens, noting Sparta’s strength on land and Athens’ powerful navy. Athens built a wall to protect against Spartan attacks, leading to a plague that caused significant casualties due to the crowded conditions.

2. Questions:

• Military Strategy Analysis: What were the military strengths of Sparta and Athens during the Peloponnesian War?
• Defensive Strategy Analysis: Why did Athens build a wall around their city, and what was the consequence?
• Health and Warfare Analysis: How did the defensive strategy of Athens lead to a health crisis?

3. Further Discussion:

• What are some other examples in history where defensive strategies in war had unintended consequences?

4. Answers:

• Military Strategy Analysis: "Sparta raised its boys to be warriors… But Athens had a very strong navy."
• Defensive Strategy Analysis: "Athens decided it was best to build a giant wall around their city… While this kept Athens from being attacked, it also resulted in a terrible plague."
• Health and Warfare Analysis: "Because everyone was stuck close together… As many as a third of all Athenians might have died of sickness."

Turning Point

Athens and Sparta each had several victories in the early years of the war, including new allies on both sides as the war went back and forth. However, a major turning point came when Athens decided to invade Sicily, the island to the south of Italy. The Athenians couldn’t defeat Sicily, and with Sparta’s help Sicily managed to destroy the Athenian attackers. Worse, Sparta entered into an alliance with the Persians, giving them much more wealth and power. Athens had lost so much of their soldiers and warships that they could no longer prevent Sparta from taking over their allies throughout Greece.

Greek hoplite warrior

1. Main points:

The text describes a significant phase of the Peloponnesian War, where Athens’ failed invasion of Sicily and Sparta’s alliance with Persia turned the tide of the war, leading to Sparta’s dominance as Athens lost many soldiers and warships.

2. Questions:

• Strategic Analysis: What was the impact of Athens’ failed invasion of Sicily on the Peloponnesian War?
• Alliance Analysis: How did Sparta’s alliance with Persia change the dynamics of the war?
• Military Outcome Analysis: What were the consequences for Athens after losing a significant portion of their military forces?

3. Further Discussion:

• How do you think the outcome of the Peloponnesian War might have been different if Athens had succeeded in invading Sicily?

4. Answers:

• Strategic Analysis: "The Athenians couldn’t defeat Sicily, and with Sparta’s help Sicily managed to destroy the Athenian attackers."
• Alliance Analysis: "Worse, Sparta entered into an alliance with the Persians, giving them much more wealth and power."
• Military Outcome Analysis: "Athens had lost so much of their soldiers and warships that they could no longer prevent Sparta from taking over their allies throughout Greece."

The War’s End

After 27 years of war, Athens surrendered to Sparta in 404 BC. Athens had to give up its empire, join Sparta’s military alliance, and accept a group of thirty leaders instead of its democracy. Athens had been one of the most important cities in the entire world prior to the Peloponnesian War, but never again regained its power.

One of the great legacies of the war was the weakening of Greece. The Persian Empire came out as one of the big winners, because Greece could no longer challenge them. When Alexander the Great came to power 50 years later, he managed to take over Greece without much of a fight from Sparta or Athens.

1. Main points:

The text outlines the end of the Peloponnesian War with Athens’ surrender in 404 BC, leading to the loss of its empire and democracy. The war significantly weakened Greece, benefiting the Persian Empire and paving the way for Alexander the Great’s easy conquest of Greece.

2. Questions:

• Outcome Analysis: What were the terms of Athens’ surrender to Sparta?
• Long-term Impact Analysis: How did the Peloponnesian War affect the power dynamics in Greece and the wider region?
• Historical Consequence Analysis: What role did the outcome of the Peloponnesian War play in Alexander the Great’s conquest of Greece?

3. Further Discussion:

• How do you think history would have been different if Athens had won the Peloponnesian War?

4. Answers:

• Outcome Analysis: "Athens had to give up its empire, join Sparta’s military alliance, and accept a group of thirty leaders instead of its democracy."
• Long-term Impact Analysis: "One of the great legacies of the war was the weakening of Greece. The Persian Empire came out as one of the big winners."
• Historical Consequence Analysis: "When Alexander the Great came to power 50 years later, he managed to take over Greece without much of a fight from Sparta or Athens."

Lesson Summary

Athens and Sparta fought each other in the Peloponnesian War after they had created an alliance with other Greek cities. Sparta had the better army and Athens had the better navy. Athens lost the war, resulting in diminished power throughout Greece.