The Greek World Before the War
Before the Peloponnesian War began, Greece was not a united country. Instead, it was made up of dozens of independent city-states called poleis, each with its own government, culture, and alliances. Two of these cities—Athens and Sparta—stood out as the most powerful and influential.
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Athens’ allies contributed funds and ships to the Delian League; Sparta led the Peloponnesian League in opposition.
Rising Tensions: Athens’ Empire and Sparta’s Fear
After the Persian Wars, Athens used its naval strength to build the Delian League, a group of city-states that paid tribute for “protection.” Over time, Athens treated the League like an empire, and many member states felt forced to stay. Sparta led the Peloponnesian League and feared Athenian dominance. Tension between the two alliances steadily grew.
Hoplites were heavily armed soldiers central to Greek warfare