P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I

History of War
2nd MEETING – PELOPONESIAN WAR:
LAND & NAVAL WARFARE
Defense Diplomacy Study Program
Faculty of Defense Strategy

2024
 REFERENCES

• E. D. Francis dan Michael Vickers, Oenoe Painting in the Stoa Poikile, and Herodotus'
Account of Marathon. The Annual of the British School at Athens Vol. 80, (1985).
• LibriVox: The History of the Peloponnesian War.
• Pausanias, dan Frazer, J. G. (1898). Pausanias's Description of Greece. London:
Macmillan.
• Richard Crawley: The History of the Peloponnesian War (Translation of Thukydides‘
books - in Project Gutenberg).
• Sejarah Dunia a short article on Perang Peloponnesia
• Thucydides & In Jowett, B. (1900). Thucydides. Oxford: Clarendon Press.07 -

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 LEARNING SCOPE

1. The causes of the Peloponnesian War

2. A brief history of the Peloponnesian War
3. Land warfare in the Peloponnesian War
4. Naval warfare in the Peloponnesian War

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 The Causes of the Peloponnesian War

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 CONTEMPORARY GREECE MAP

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 ANCIENT GREEK MAP

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 PELOPONNESIAN AREA

• Peloponnese or Peloponnesos (in Greek, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnisos) is a wide

peninsula located in south of Greece.
• In the closing period of middle age and Ottoman Empire, this peninsula was
known as Morea (Μωρέας), which was used in daily conversations. This
peninsula became an island since the development of Corinth Canal in 1893.
• This peninsula was divided into three parts during the modern Greece:
Peloponnese, parts of Attika, and parts of West Greek.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 PELOPONNESIAN WAR

• The Peloponnesian war was a civil war between city states, the alliance of Athens
against Sparta. It took place in 431 BC.
• The Greek was divided into two alliances, Sparta (covering Peloponnese, Corinth, and
Megara) and Greater Athens (covering islands in Aegean Sea such as Amepolis,
Thessaly, Delium, Atica, and the Coastal regions of Asia Minor such as Ionia, Miletus,
and Rhodes).
• The war was prolonged and bloody, and there was a brief period of peace. In total, this
war took place for approximately 27 years.

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 INTRODUCTION

• The origins of the Peloponnesian War can be traced to Sparta's long-held

suspicion of Athens. During Pericles' reign, Athens reached its pinnacle of
glory.
• The city-state was busy to increase its commercial and political clout.
Athens gained recognition as a sea power and developed an interest in its
mainland neighbors.
• Sparta believed that Athens was growing at an uncontrollable rate. Athens,
on the other hand, immediately assumed control of their alliance. Indeed,
the Peloponnesian War was defined by a shared source of hostility:
hegemony over power.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 INTRODUCTION

• Another factor to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War was the conflict
that pitted Corinth, a Spartan ally, against Athens, a Spartan rival for trade
and colonies.
• Athens formed an alliance with Corinth's Corkira colony in 434 BC, but the
two remained at odds for a time. Around the same time, Athens meddled
in the affairs of a Corinthian settlement in Postidaia.
• Corinth takes the opposite position and warns Athens to desist from
interfering. Pericles felt that war was going to erupt, and retaliated by
imposing trade restrictions on Megara, a country bordering Atica but
allied with the Spartans.

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 INTRODUCTION

• Megara, he believed, was strategically located in the Land of Corinth and

posed a serious threat to Greater Athens. The increasing concentration of
Greek trade in Athens' hands instilled fear in some Greek city-states that
they would be absorbed by the Athenian Empire.
• Athens' envy sparked Sparta's resistance. Weak city-states led by Sparta
united against Athens to quell the latter's expansionist tendencies and
reestablish a balance of power.
• Corinth pushed for this timeline, Sparta declared war on Athens and
Pericles.

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 INTRODUCTION

• Athens developed into an Imperialist state as a result of the Confederation

of Delos. Athens' various actions, which included warnings, threats, and
punishments directed at League members, directly contradicted Athens'
secession, which was interpreted as an act of disloyalty or a breach of a
promise.
• Naturally, Athens benefited significantly from the Delos confederation.
Athens' satellite states possessed autonomy over a range of truly local
matters. Additionally, they developed an appreciation for Athens'
prosperity and gained a more effective protection against possible foreign
aggressions.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 INTRODUCTION

• Athens' imperialist status is evident when the country insists that all allies
use the currency, system, and unit of currency fallow in their commerce as
what has been used in Athens.
• Indeed, from an economic standpoint at that time, an alliance would
benefit from relying on a single currency in its economic system. The
Athenian pennies, depicting an Athenian head on one side and an owl on
the other, are among the most valuable coins in the entire Eastern
Mediterranean region.

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 QUESTION 1

• In your opinion, what are the lessons that can be drawn from the
causes of Peloponnesian War?
• Please explain your answer!

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 A Brief History of the Peloponnesian War

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The Acropolis of Athens, with the Areopagus in the
foreground
 THE HISTORY OF PELOPPONESIAN WAR BY
THUCYDIDES

• Thucydides (470-396 BC), an Athenian citizen, told the story of the

Peloponnesian War based on facts and attempted to write it objectively.
• He wrote an outstanding book about the Peloponnesian War. He then
gathered eyewitnesses’ testimony and conducted research on documents
and battlegrounds. All of this has been written with precision and
objectivity.
• Additionally, his book fully exposes the individuals who provide a lucid
and incisive interpretation of the contentious issues.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 THUCYDIDES

• Thucydides depicts the essence of the war,

“… as a contest arising on the one hand from desire for power and on the
other from fear of that same power.”
• Donald Kagan (Ohio University) identifies the war in three different
periods:
• Period I (431-421 BC)
• Peaceful Period (421-413 BC)
• Period II (413-404 BC)

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 • Herodotus is credited with being the first historian to employ sources in
writing his history. He is sometimes referred to as the "Father of World
Historians." He amassed sources (heuristics) over the years as he wrote
the war's narrative.
• Thucydides, a Greek historian, wrote the Peloponnesian War. There are
some distinctions between Herodotus and Thucydides' approaches to
history writing. The following table illustrates these distinctions.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 Herodotus
Wrote Persian War
Used oral source
Collect stories without criticizing the source
Wrote systematically about past investigation
The sources used are not accurate
Chauvinistic (Nationalist)
His work is very good for educating the Greeks
in order to foster the spirit of nationalism (the
truest Greek)
Called the Father of World History
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Tuchydides
Wrote the Peloponnesian War
An aristocrat and General participating the
Peloponnesian War
Used the method of source criticism
Interviewed both sides between the Greater
Athens and the Peloponnese
Used more complete sources
It is objective for both sides of the war
The content is objective, meaning the
weaknesses and strengths of the Greater
Athens and Peloponnesian Leagues are written
as is
Called the Father of Critical History
 • The real conflict in the Peloponnesian War was between Athens and
Sparta. Thucydides left an enduring historical work on the
Peloponnesian War; it benefits historians to research and rewrite the
work.

• The Peloponnesian War and subsequent minor wars exacerbated the

Greek polis' social and political instability. The Greeks were
constrained by their failure to unite the numerous polis under the
banner of "One Greece”.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 • For Greece, the Peloponnesian War forced the Greeks to begin resolving
their economic crisis. War spending depleted the state coffers, and the
populace could no longer rely on the Delos League for financial support as
they had previously.
• Since Sparta's defeat in 371 BC, foreign domination has ruled the
government.
• Macedonian people appeared from the north of Greece, at the end of the
Aega Sea, which is a meeting place for people from different racial and
cultural groups.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 THE GREECE EMPIRE

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 QUESTION 2

• In your opinion, what are the lessons learned from the

brief history of the Peloponnesian War that has been
explained?
• Please explain your answer!

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 LAND WARFARE THAT OCCURRED

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 BATTLE OF POTIDAEA, ATHENIANS AGAINST CORINTHIANS 431
BC; SOCRATES SAVES ALCIBIADES

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 STAGES OF PELOPONNESE WAR

1. 459-431 BC, won by the Greater Athens League

2. 431-421 BC, won by the Greater Athens League
3. 421-404 BC, won by the Peloponnese League

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 Parties involved

Delos
League Peloponnese
League

The Delos League led The Peloponnese

by Athena’s Argos. League which led by
Sparta’sThebes.
Figures:
- Pericles Figures:
- Kimon - Pleistoanax
- Leosthenes - Nicodemes
- Tolmides
- Myronides

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 THE FIRST PERIOD (431-421 BC)

• Donald Kagan mentions the period I of war as "The Archidamian

War" to appreciate the intelligence of the Spartan (Archidamus
II).
• Archidamus II thought that a frontal war could not destroy
Athens. The strategy was to weaken the Athens economy through
controlling Attica areas that provide food ingredients for the
Athens. Spartans destroyed food plant they found along the way.

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 EPIDANMUS AFFAIR

• It is a civil war in Epidamnus in 436 BC, which dragged the

intervention of other polis.
• Year 436 BC: noblemen who were expelled from Epidamnus joined the
barbaric ethnic group to massively attack the city.
• Epidamnus asked for help to Corcyra, but was rejected.
• The people of Epidamnus finally asked the Oracle of Delphi.

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 THE SECOND PERIOD (413-404 BC)

• Sparta declared a new war against Athens while sending troops

to Syracuse under Gylippus leadership.
• Athens troops were helped by the Corinthian troops and other
polis under the flag of Peloponnese League.
• On the suggestion of Alkibiades (who defected to Sparta) the
Spartan troops should occupy Decelea, to hinder the supply of
food ingredients from outside Athens.
• This strategy weakened Athens politically and economically.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 Destruction of the Athenian
army at Syracuse

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 PERICLES STRATEGY

• Pericles also avoided an open war following the calculation that

Sparta has a strong army.
• Pericles gathered the Athens in the Pireus castle.
• Athens were suffered from disease outbreak due to the
concentrated population.
• Many were dead from the disease, including Pericles.
• The growing plague was heard by Archidamus II who removed
his forces from Attica.

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 THE THIRD PERIOD (421-404 BC)

• The war of this period was won by Sparta, thanks to the help of the
Persians as they themselves held a grudge against Athens.
• By an agreement that if the war is won, Persia will get a share in the
Aegia Sea. However, the Persian’s request to get their share in the
Aegia Sea as part of the agreement was terminated. Finally, these two
leagues were destroyed after being pitted against each other by the
Persians.
• In 338 BC, a weak Greece was attacked by the Macedonian from the
north.
• The leader of Macedonian is Phillipus who led the Greek in 338 BC.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I 4
 QUESTION 3

• In your opinion, what are the lessons learned from the land
warfare strategy exercised by the parties involved in the
Peloponnesian War?
• Please explain your answer!

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 NAVAL WARFARE THAT OCCURRED

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 BATTLE OF SYBOTA

• Oracle Delphi (Apollo): to save the

city, they must hand over the
power to the nation founding
father Epidamnus (Corinthia).
• Epidamnus hand the power to
Corinthia.
• Corinthia quickly sent a huge
number of troops to Epidamnus
under Xenoclides’ command.
• Corinthian troops were supported
by: Elis, Megara, Leucas, Ambracia,
and Anactorium.
P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
• Corcyra saw the presence of Corinthia
troops and their allies rallying to
Epidamnus, and prepared its troops to face
them.
• The Corcyran navy was led by Meikiades,
Aisimedes, and Eurybatus. They also sought
help to Athens.
• The Corcyran-Athens’ navy had a face-to-
face encounter with the Corinthian navy
and its allies.
• Corinthia removed its troops from Sybota
because Athens started to strengthen their
troops.
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 CLEON STRATEGY

• After the death of Pericles, Cleon was chosen to become the

archon (king). Whereas the strategoi (strategic affairs) were
under Demosthenes’ responsibility.
• Cleon thought that to maintain Athena, they should go out
offensively and control the region of Peloponnese sealines.
• In 425 BC, Demosthenes attacked Ambracia and beaches of
Peloponnese.
• In 425 BC Athens controlled Pylos.

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 • 8 years of peace was marked by each party’s attempts to
strengthen their respective force.
• In 415 BC, Athens forces under Alkibiades invaded Sicily
to help their colony in Apenine from Syracuse’s attack.
• Alkibiades then handed over the leadership to Nicias and
Demosthenes.
• Syracuse sought help from Sparta, which started a new
Athens-Sparta war.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 THE ATHENIAN FLEET ROUTE TO SICILY

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 BATTLE OF GREAT HARBORS: THE TURNING
POINT

• The battle of Sicily was won by Sparta. Athens’ defeat was caused
by mental fall of the troops.
• Gylippus pushed Syracuse to build his sea power to equally cope
with Athens troops.
• In this battle, Athens troops led by Nicias surrendered to the
Spartan under the leadership of Gylippus.
• Sparta pushed other polis, such as Lesbos, Chios, Eretria, and
Decelea, to conduct a rebellious actions against Athena.

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 THE LAST BATTLE
• Persian supported Sparta in the form of money, boats, and other war
equipment.
• The final decisive battle is Aegostomian battle in 405 BC.
• In that battle, the Spartan troops under Lysander destroyed the Athens.
• In 404 BC, the Athens surrendered to Sparta.
• The Peloponnese War ended after 27 years.

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I
 QUESTION 4

• In your opinion, what are the lessons learned from the naval
warfare strategy exercised by the parties involved in the
Peloponnesian War?
• Please explain your answer!

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I 21
 THANK YOU

P R A D I T YA – W I R ATA M A – N A G A R A B H A K T I