Literature
Peloponnesian War: name of the conflict between Athens and Sparta that broke out in 431 and continued, with an interruption, until 404. Athens was forced to dismantle its empire. The war however, was not decisive, because within a decade, the defeated city had regained its strength. The significance of the conflict is that the divided Greeks could not prevent the Persian Empire from recovering their Asian possessions. Besides, this violent quarter of a century had important social, economic, and cultural consequences.
Modern Literature
- There are many books on this war. As a first introduction, read Thucydides' History and continue with Xenophon's Hellenica.
- Donald Kagan, The Peloponnesian War. Athens and Sparta in Savage Conflict, 431-404 BC (2003) is an excellent and accessible narrative. If you want to read only one book, this is your best choice. From the same author:
- The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War (1969),
- The Archidamian War (1974),
- The Peace of Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition (1981),
- The Fall of the Athenian Empire (1987).
- Simon Hornblower, The Greek World, 479-323 BC (2002³) contains three chapters with highly condensed information: "The run-up to the war" (103-110), "The Peloponnesian War" (150-183), and "The effects of the Peloponnesian War" (184-209). The second of these offers a religious interpretation of the war that would have horrified Thucydides but is probably correct.
- More specialized literature can be found in the bibliography of Hornblower's book. Five titles are especially important:
- G.L. Cawkwell, Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War (1997)
- H. Heftner, Der oligarchische Umsturz des Jahres 411 v.Chr. und die Herrschaft der Vierhundert in Athen (2001)
- Simon Hornblower, Thucydides (1994²)
- L. Kallet, Money and the Corrosion of Power in Thucydides. The Sicilian Expedition and its Aftermath (2001)
- P. Krentz, The Thirty at Athens, (1982)
Translated Ancient Sources
- The Megarian Decree (Aristophanes)
- Outbreak of war (Thucydides)
- Aneristus and Nicolaus (Thucydides)
- The plague (Thucydides)
- Naval warfare: Phormio's first victory (Thucydides)
- Siege warfare: Plataea (Thucydides)
- The Sphacteria Campaign (Diodorus)
- The fall of Amphipolis (Thucydides)
- The Peace (Aristophanes)
- The Peace of Nicias
- Hoplite battle: Mantinea (Thucydides)
- The end of the Sicilian expedition (Thucydides)
- Treaties between Sparta and Persia
- Assessment of Amorges (Andocides)
- The oligarchic coup of 411 (Ps.-Aristotle)
- The battle of Aigospotamoi (Xenophon)
- The surrender of Athens (Xenophon)
- The regime of the Thirty (Ps.-Aristotle)
- Rewards for the liberators of Athens (Inscription)