Greek Relations and Sparta (492/478-404 BC) TIMELINE

☠ Ionian Rebellion

499 BCE

Generally regarded as the start of the Greco-Persian Wars

⚔ Battle of Marathon

490 BCE

The Persians had outnumbered Athenians about 3-1. Persians picked this spot because it was a good plane for cavalry, and since Hippias (the Persian general) was from this area, they were hoping they could inspire an uprising against Athens. Pheidippidies ran for two days to ask for Spartan aid, but they could not leave until after their religious festival (a week later). Amazing Athenian blockade strategy by Miltiades and managed to defend Athens. Major morale boost for the Greeks.

Miltiades dies one year after Marathon, Themistocles becomes Leading General

489 BCE

Miltiades advocates for rich hoplite warriors on land (hence Marathon victory), while Themistocles advocates for a poorer, stronger navy from the lower classes.

Athenian silver mines (mines of Laurion) discovered in Attica, invests it into their navy

483 BCE

At this point, Athens only had a small navy. It's only during the Persian Wars that they greatly expand their navy and become the future naval superpower. Before the Persians, Sparta was the most powerful city-state. Afterwards, it was Sparta and Athens, meaning Sparta had a new power to deal with.

Xerxes attempts to cross the Hellespont

483 BCE

Xerxes attempts to build a bridge to cross the Hellespont before it got wrecked in a storm. In a fit of rage, he whipped the Hellespont "god".

Athens begins to construct her navy. Xerxes asks for earth and water from all city states except Sparta and Athens

482 BCE

Using the silver they found in the mines, Athens build their navy that would go against the Persians. Persia doesn't even bother sending envoys to Sparta and Athens because they know they would not surrender. A lot of city-states join Persia out of fear or to remain neutral. Out of 1,000 polis, only 31 would join Sparta and Athens.

Hellenic League formed

481 BCE

An alliance was formed between the city-states that are resisting Persia, allowing them to ask e/o for assistance or to dispatch troops to help, but only after joint consultation. This is incredible, the first time Greeks actually allied together to fight a common enemy instead of each other

Persians begin march, and Hellenic League meets to defend Thessaly

480 BCE

Xerxes mustered the might from every corner of his empire to march against Greece. The discussion between the allied Greeks eventually led to the dual strategy (suggested by Themistocles) of Thermopylae and Artemisium

⭐⚔ Battle of Thermopylae

480 BCE

The Peloponnesians sent about 5,000 men, with only 300 elite Spartiates vs 300,000 Persians. Mountains on the left flank and sea on the right, led by Leonidas. There was a hidden mountain pass that he'd hoped it wouldn't be discovered but was betrayed by Epialtes

Battle of Plataea

479 BCE

Formation of the Delian League

478 BCE

The process of the Delian League into the Athenian Empire was gradual. 1) Athens became the leader of the Greeks (previously was Sparta) because Sparta decided to step down and retreat into the Peloponnese.
2) The original intent was to remove the threat of and to take revenge against Persia (that later changed).
3) No state was technically required to stay in the League (this later, also changed).
4) Booty and financial funds, keeps the Delian League going.

The regent Pausanias' behaviour offends Sparta

Period: 478 BCE to 469 BCE

Pausanias was behaving like a Persian (a foreigner) and had a dislikeable personality. After acts of hubris he was besieged and starved out by the ephors in a temple.

Debate in the gerousia and assembly about naval hegemony

475 BCE

Key figure: Hetoimaridas, who unexpectedly won over the gerousia and the people even though most were keen on going to war against Athens

☠ Revolt of Thasos. Cimon exiled.

465 BCE

Thasos asks Sparta for aid, Sparta agrees (even in 465, Sparta was willing to invade Attica). But since this was after Battle of Eurymedon, there was arguably no need for a Delian League. It also started because of a dispute with Athens over mines. Sparta was unable to help Thasos because of the earthquake and Helot Revolt. Sparta humiliating Athens by sending them home, Cimon exiled for his decision-making

⭐☠ Earthquake and Helot Revolt

Period: 464 BCE to 460 BCE

There were many accounts of this key event (e.g. Thuc, Plut, Xeno). Likely it lasted 4 years instead of 10. Failing the siege against the Helot's stronghold Ithome, Sparta had asked for Athens' aid along with its other allies. But after a "considerable force" arrived from Athens under the command of Cimon, Sparta, fearing the "unorthodox" politics of Athens and the possibility of her supporting the Helots rather than fighting them, sent the Athenians home.

☠ Corinth and Megara go to war. Megara allies with Athens

460 BCE

[THUC.] When Megara was starting to lose the war to Corinth, they asked Sparta for help. But Sparta, fearing the loss of one of their greatest ally, they stayed out of the conflict. Which by then Megara went to Athens for help, which they agree to and set up defences in and around the Isthmus. This act greatly increased the tension between Athens and Sparta. This also permanently damaged the relationship between Corinth and Athens.

FIRST PELOPONNESIAN WAR

Period: 460 BCE to 445 BCE

The First Peloponnesian War was fought between Sparta and their allies, most notably Thebes, and the Delian League led by Athens with support from Argos. This war consisted of a series of conflicts and minor wars. There were several causes for the war including the building of the Athenian long walls, Megara's defection and the envy and concern felt by Sparta at the growth of the Athenian Empire.

☠ Athens invades Egypt and loses. Moves the Delian League treasury to Athens.

Period: 460 BCE to 454 BCE

[THUC.] Egypt was a major source of wealth for the Persian Empire and would help Athens build an invincible empire. Athens dedicated a massive fleet and troops to fight the Persians for the control of Egypt. When they lost, they used the excuse of the Persian threat to move the Delian League treasury on Delos to the Parthenon in Athens.

⚔ Battle of Tanagra

457 BCE

[THUC.] When the Phocians made war on the cities of Doris, the Doric Sparta sent a relief force and entered Boeotia to compel the submission of Phocis. Athens, already contemptuous of Spartan treatment and now suspecting her of negotiating within the city to undermine democracy and prevent the construction of the Long Walls, manoeuvred to cut off the Spartan army in Boeotia. The two sides clashed at the town of Tanagra with Sparta victorious and "terrible losses" on both sides.

☠ Athens successfully invade Boeotia at Oenophyta. Finish building the Long Walls.

457 BCE

[THUC.] Athens invaded Boeotia as a response to their support of the Spartans at Tanagra. They also finish the long term project of their two long walls down to the sea (to Phalerum and to Piraeus)

❀ Return of Cimon (briefly) for Five Year Truce with Sparta, died on Cyprus campaign

451 BCE

[THUC.] After the loss in Egypt, Athens feared destabilisation within the empire. They recalled Cimon to sign the Five Year Truce with Sparta. Afterwards, they marched against Cyprus (Persia being the goal of the Delian League). Cimon dies, leaving Pericles in charge of Athens, which encouraged further rebellion in the empire.

☠ Rebellion against Athens in Boeotia, Euboea and Megara

447 BCE

[THUC.] All of Athens' neighbouring states were rebelling, including ones in the Delian League (Euboea + Megara), leaving no defence against a Spartan invasion. Sparta thus invades Attica (King Pleistoanax) with Pericles marching back from Boeotia to (supposedly) fight

⭐❀ 30 Year Peace

446 BCE

[THUC.] In an unexpected turn out, both sides agreed to a peace treaty, likely because a war did not serve either sides' purpose. Sparta wants to avoid costly wars of attrition, leaving the Peloponnese, and the Helots. And Athens was busy quashing rebellions.

⭐ Debate in Sparta

432 BCE

Key figures: Archidamus (cautious about war with Athens) and Sthenelaidas (go to war with Athens).

Vote in the Spartan assembly on declaring war

432 BCE

Sthenelaidas manipulated the voting system in order to get the majority to vote to go to war against Athens

THE GREAT PELOPONNESIAN WAR

Period: 431 BCE to 404 BCE

Thoudippos Decree tightens the Delian League tribute

425 BCE

Athens raise the League tribute from 460 talents to 1,460 talents. Shows the tightening of control from Athens

Oligarchic Revolution

411 BCE

Don't need to remember the details. An example of Athens' internal strife