The years between 431BC and 404BC proved a turbulent time for the City-States of the Peloponnese, especially Sparta, and also Athens of mainland Greece. The euphoria following the defeat of the Persian armies signalling the end of their expansionism had passed. Borne from the fires of this war were two powerful City-States or Poleis: Athens and Sparta. Sparta had already gained a reputation for its powerful, well trained armies and had enjoyed somewhat of a celebrity status throughout Greece and Asia Minor. However, Athens was a new power on the rise, threatening Spartan leadership and ego. As history has shown us, when two rising powers come into dispute, there is inevitably war. This would prove to be the case for Athens and Sparta.
Athenian Mistakes
Athenian Democratic ideals came up against the Oligarchic government of Sparta. The Athenians had built up quite a sizeable Empire in the wake of the Persian wars, with many of the City-States of Asia Minor under her rule. Dissatisfaction amongst these new "allies" would, however, contribute to her downfall in the war against Sparta. Athenian reliance on her powerful and large Navy would also be a problem as, without any major waters between Sparta and Athens, the war would inevitably be decided on land. This was a blacklash from the war against Persia, where the Athenian Navy had been hugely important in the allied Greek success.
Sparta Victorious, Domination Achieved
For Sparta, her land armies proved decisive enough, as did the financial support of the Persians, to defeat Athens in the Peloponnesian War. The inclusion of the massive Persian funding of the Spartan war effort augments the bitterness felt between Athens and Sparta. An enemy that had united Greece now allied with Sparta to split her apart. With Athens defeated, there was no other power in Greece to challenge Sparta, leading to an Empire of sorts. Sparta now controlled all of Greece and Greek Asia Minor and re-made it in her image. Oligarchic governments now ruled the City-States and Spartan Garrisons were found throughout the Aegean.
Cracks In The System; An "Empire" Under Stress
Whilst militarily, the Spartans were seen as untouchable, their Oligarchical system of government was far from faultless. Under the stresses of supporting a new, much larger population of subjects, the cracks began to show and rebellions and revolution soon followed. The constant rebellions of the people of Messenia were manageable when Sparta controlled only the Peloponnese, now, having to control a much larger empire, she began to suffer. Athens was the first to effectively overthrow Spartan rule in a City-State. After successfully re-gaining control, the Athenians re-established their Democracy. The lack of a Spartan rebuttal through lack of confidence caused the seemingly invincible Spartans to look very weak.
The Downfall Of Sparta
This apparent weakness in turn gave confidence to other City-States who were dissatisfied and caused the Corinthian War to occur in 395BC. Sparta barely managed to keep control after the war finished in 386BC, which ended in a peace treaty, even having to give up Asia Minor to the Persians in return for more assistance. Eventually Spartan Hegemony was destroyed at the Battle of Leuctra in 371BC when a Spartan land army was decisively defeated by a Theban army. Sparta never fully recovered after this defeat and was no longer the powerful military force it had once been.
Sources:
Thucydides, 'The History of the Peloponnesian War' - Penguin Classics, 1972
Powell, A, 'Athens and Sparta' - London: Routledge, 1988
Burstein, Donlan, Pomeroy, Roberts, 'Ancient Greece - A Political, Social and Cultural History' - Oxford University Press, 1999
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