Unit 1 Assignment Greece was divided by the dominance of Sparta and Athens during the Peloponnesian War. “The Peloponnesian War pitted against each other two Greek states that were antithetical in nearly every respect.”(Hanson) Sparta was made of small settlements of and allies and became a military state. Athens had more citizens than Sparta whom had an army of about only 10,000 men. Both Athens and Sparta believed they had advantages over each other in the war between the two, which broke out in 431 B.C. Athenians planned to remain behind the walls of Athens for protection while their overseas and navy empire kept them protected. Sparta and its allies wanted the advantage of having pitched battles against Athens to beat the Athenians. However,
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Power is a dominant force through the ages. Athens was the most powerful in Greece and wanted to extend and maintain its empire and its civilization. .“In his classic History of the Peloponnesian War, the great Greek historian Thucydides pointed out that the basic long range cause of the Peloponnesian War was the fear that Sparta and its allies had of the growing Athenian Empire.” (Spielvogel, 55) For example, the attempted submission of the Melos island was Athenians asserting their power to become more powerful than their rivals. Both Sparta and Athens knew that power was the key to protection and stability of each other’s empire. These two dominant forces regulated their society to fit the standards of war and to maintain the power they had. “Spartans chose to introduce fundamental reforms that turned their city forever into a military academy and camp.” (Christiansen, Lecture) Athens civilization became an aristocratic polis, after being a monarchy, and had the benefits of aristocrats having dominating religion and politics. Although, the war between the two was a great one and lasted a long time, every great power in history has eventually came to an end with the future of a more greater and more powerful one. In comparison, Thomas Paine once said, “What Athens was in miniature, America will be in
Power is a dominant force through the ages. Athens was the most powerful in Greece and wanted to extend and maintain its empire and its civilization. .“In his classic History of the Peloponnesian War, the great Greek historian Thucydides pointed out that the basic long range cause of the Peloponnesian War was the fear that Sparta and its allies had of the growing Athenian Empire.” (Spielvogel, 55) For example, the attempted submission of the Melos island was Athenians asserting their power to become more powerful than their rivals. Both Sparta and Athens knew that power was the key to protection and stability of each other’s empire. These two dominant forces regulated their society to fit the standards of war and to maintain the power they had. “Spartans chose to introduce fundamental reforms that turned their city forever into a military academy and camp.” (Christiansen, Lecture) Athens civilization became an aristocratic polis, after being a monarchy, and had the benefits of aristocrats having dominating religion and politics. Although, the war between the two was a great one and lasted a long time, every great power in history has eventually came to an end with the future of a more greater and more powerful one. In comparison, Thomas Paine once said, “What Athens was in miniature, America will be in