Peloponnesian War Practice Questions

Correct answer: The rise of Athenian power and Sparta's resulting fear

Thucydides argued that while immediate grievances existed, the fundamental shift in the balance of power made the conflict inevitable. This concept is often referred to in modern political science as the 'Thucydides Trap'.

Correct answer: Retreating behind the Long Walls and relying on naval supply

Pericles advised the Athenians to avoid a land battle against the superior Spartan infantry. Instead, the population retreated within the city walls while their navy ensured a continuous flow of food and supplies.

Correct answer: The Great Plague of Athens

The plague spread rapidly within the overcrowded conditions of Athens during the Spartan siege. It killed approximately one-third of the population, including many key political and military leaders.

Correct answer: Alcibiades

Alcibiades was a charismatic but controversial leader who advocated for the resumption of hostilities. He was the primary driver behind the disastrous Sicilian Expedition, which shattered the fragile peace.

Correct answer: The Sicilian Expedition

The attempt to conquer Syracuse in Sicily turned into a nightmare for Athens. They lost thousands of soldiers and hundreds of triremes, a blow from which their empire never fully recovered.

Correct answer: They financed Sparta's navy with gold to build a competitive fleet

Persia realized that supporting the weaker side (initially Sparta) would prolong the conflict. Their gold allowed Sparta to hire experienced rowers and build the fleet that eventually defeated Athens at sea.

Correct answer: The generals failed to rescue shipwrecked sailors after a storm

Despite the victory, a storm prevented the rescue of Athenian sailors. The emotional and erratic Assembly voted to execute the generals for negligence, depriving the city of its most capable commanders.

Correct answer: Lysander

Lysander caught the Athenian fleet off guard while they were beached at the Hellespont. He captured almost the entire fleet, effectively cutting off the Athenian grain supply from the Black Sea.

Correct answer: Athens

After Athens surrendered in 404 BCE, Sparta dismantled the democracy and installed a group of thirty wealthy Athenians to rule. Their reign was marked by extreme violence and purges before democracy was restored a year later.

Correct answer: Corinth

Corinth was a major naval power and felt threatened by Athenian expansion into the western Mediterranean. Disputes involving Corinthian colonies like Corcyra and Potidaea were primary triggers for the war.

Correct answer: A debate between Athens and Melos over power and moral obligation

The dialogue illustrates the Athenian position of 'Realpolitik,' famously stating that 'the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.' When Melos refused to submit, Athens executed the men and enslaved the women and children.

Correct answer: Pylos

The Athenian capture of Pylos and the nearby island of Sphacteria was a major psychological blow to Sparta. It provided a base for helots to escape and demonstrated that Spartans could be forced to surrender.

Correct answer: It cut off the Athenians from the silver mines at Laurium

By occupying Decelea year-round, Sparta crippled the Athenian economy. They effectively cut off access to the countryside and the silver mines, forcing Athens to rely entirely on its increasingly strained maritime empire.

Correct answer: A bronze ram fitted at the bow

Naval warfare focused on maneuvering to ram the side of an enemy vessel. Speed and rowing precision were vital, making the Athenian professional rowers the elite of their military force.

Correct answer: Xenophon

Thucydides' history ends in 411 BCE, mid-sentence. Xenophon, an Athenian who later fought for Sparta, provides the account of the final years of the conflict and the fall of Athens.

Correct answer: It banned Megarians from all ports in the Athenian Empire

Athens imposed economic sanctions on Megara, a Spartan ally. This move was viewed by the Peloponnesian League as a violation of the Thirty Years' Peace and pushed the Greeks toward open conflict.

Correct answer: Corcyra

Thucydides describes the revolution in Corcyra as a case study in how the war polarized societies. Traditional morality collapsed as factions sought aid from either Athens or Sparta to destroy their local rivals.

Correct answer: The Four Hundred

The oligarchic coup of 411 BCE occurred during a period of extreme military pressure. The conspirators hoped that an oligarchy would better manage the war and secure Persian support, though democracy was restored shortly after.

Correct answer: They were demolished to the sound of flutes

One of the conditions of surrender was the total destruction of the fortifications that had made Athens an 'island' on land. The walls were torn down to signify the end of the Athenian Empire.

Correct answer: Exhaustion, poverty, and continued intermittent conflict

The war left the Greek world depleted. While Sparta briefly held hegemony, it faced immediate challenges from former allies like Thebes and Corinth, ultimately paving the way for the rise of Macedonia.