1st Peloponnesian War (460-445 BCE)

Defeat of the Persians (end of the 2nd Persian War)

479 BCE

The last great fight between the Greeks and the Persians was The Battle of Plataea. The Persians were once again defeated due to superior battle techniques and lack of knowledge of the terrain. It is believed that around the same time the Greek fleet caught up with the retreating Persian fleet and defeated them.

Establishment of the Delian League

478 BCE

After the Persian invasions the Greeks understood their power as an alliance. Athens took leadership of the league to them losing the most during the invasions and their battle strategies winning the Persian War.

Rise of the Athenians

470 BCE

Athens leadership of the Delian League granted them great power and wealth. Each city-state payed Athens money to oversee the navy. Athens would begin to use the money given to them for the navy to improve their city. Athens would not allow a city-state to leave the league. Athens would send a military force to occupy the capital city of any city-state that tried to leave to force them to stay.

Tension

465 BCE

Sparta watched Athens growing power is alarm as the Athenians quickly rose to rival Sparta as the strongest city state. The differing ideologies and Sparta's disapproval of Athens using the Delian League to build an empire caused tensions but it was ultimately Sparta's ally Corinth who caused the war.

Outbreak of War

461 BCE

Athens broke the alliance between themselves and Sparta due to Sparta's alliance with Corinth. An enemy of Athens due to the Athenians taking over trade and the sea along with some of Corinth's territory.

Athens Allied with Megara

460 BCE

Corinth encroached on the territory of Megara- causing the city state to leave the Spartan Peloponnesian League and join the Athenian Delian League. Corinth later attacked Megara but with the aid of Athens the city defended themselves.

Athens Erects Long Walls

459 BCE

Athens erected two walls connecting them to their two main ports Piraeus and Phaleron. These walls would make the city impenetrable and provide Athens with supplies from the sea should their fields and farmland be razed.

Athens vs Sparta

458 BCE

Athens and Sparta finally fight when the two armies meet on land at Asopus and the Athenians are initially defeated, but regroup and defeat the Spartans. They would control the region for 10 years during the first Peloponnesian War, but would eventually lose control of the region.

War

455 BCE

The war raged for 15 years (460-445 BCE) following a similar pattern. Athens would attack Peloponnesian city-states by sea (raiding and pillaging) and jump back on their boats before the Spartans and their allies could do anything about it. Sparta would plunder the countryside around Athens, destroying Delian city-states not protected by long walls. Each city played to their strengths: Sparta the land and Athens the sea, this resulted in a stalemate.

The '30' Years Peace

445 BCE

The 1st Peloponnesian War ended in an arrangement between Sparta and Athens, the Thirty Years' Peace. Both sides had to give up any new territories they had conquered and return city-states to their respective leagues and nobody could switch sides again. The actual peace only lasted around 14 years with both sides breaching the agreement.

Pericles Prepares

443 BCE

After the agreement Pericles immediately took measures to ensure Athens power and safety; he did not want another war with Sparta but he knew it was inevitable. He continued to expand Athenian power and wealth ensuring that the city was built up, strong and ready for attacks.