The Peloponnesian War

Outbreak of the War

Despite the treaty, Corinth and Athens continued to fight indirectly, through their colonies and allies, each unwilling to have their respective forces face one another, for the Athenians feared Sparta on land every bit as much as the Spartans feared Athens at sea. At Corcyra and Potidaea in 433, Corinthian and Athenian ships fought one another, though only in the role of protectors of their colonies. Nevertheless, these conflicts involved large expenditures of money and resources, and each further cemented the enmity between the two cities.

In 432, land forces engaged over Megara, which is on the isthmus of Corinth. Then, in 431, Thebes attacked Plataea in an attempt to force that city to join its own Boeotian League. Plataea, you should recall, was the one city to fight alongside Athens at Marathon. The Athenians still offered special thanks to the city every five years in remembrance. There was no way Athens would tolerate Theban domination of Plataea. Athens declared war on Thebes, Sparta sprang to the defense of its ally, Corinth rallied to Sparta, and everyone chose up sides.

The war was on.

History of Western Civilization

E.L. Skip Knox
Boise State University

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