Peloponnesian War Timeline

Battle of Plataea/End of the Persian War

479 BCE

The Battle of Plataea was the final land battle during the second Persian invasion of Greece. This effectively ended the threat of the Persians to Greece. After the end of the Persian War, Sparta withdrew from the Delian League and reformed the Peloponnesian League with their original allies. Following Sparta's departure from the Delian League, Athens was able to use the resources of the league to its own advantages causing conflict with the less powerful members of the league.

The Delian League is formed

477 BCE

The Delian League was a form of protection from the Persians to the Greeks and ensured safety. The Athenians started to abuse their power in the Delian League by taking advantage of the others in the league which caused the rest of the league to be mad at them. This eventually started the Peloponnesian War.

Athens sends soldiers to Sparta

465 BCE

Athens sent soldiers to Sparta to help keep their Helots from revolting. Although the Athenians were trying to help, the Spartans did not let them into their city. The Athenians thought that this was a sign of disrespect and made the hatred for Sparta even stronger than it was before. This was one of the events that caused the Peloponnesian War.

Battle of Tanagra

457 BCE

The Battle of Tanagra was a battle between the Spartans and Athenians at Tanagra. The Spartans were victorious even though both sides had great losses. After the battle, the Athenians regrouped and defeated Thebes and took control of Boeotia. They also tore down the wall the Spartans built.

Sparta declares war on Athens

432 BCE

Sparta declared war on Athens after many years of building tension between the two most important city-states of ancient Greece. This was the start of the Peloponnesian War.

Battle of Potidaea

432 BCE

The battle of Potidaea was fought between Athens and a combined army from Corinth and Potidaea. Potidaea was a member of the Delian League and payed tribute to Athens. This battle was a catalyst for the Peloponnesian War.

The Funeral Oration of Pericles

431 BCE

Pericles' funeral oration was a famous speech that was delivered by Pericles, an eminent politician at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War. The funeral oration is significant because it differed from the usual form of Athenian funeral speeches. The speech glorified Athens' achievements, designed to stir the spirits of a state till war.

picture for peloponnesian war timespan

431 BCE

not information only picture please refer to actual timespan

Peloponnesian War

Period: 431 BCE to 404 BCE

The Peloponnesian War impacted the wealth, prestige, policies, and power of Athens that caused resentment among other city-states. Sparta only temporarily benefited from their victory of the Peloponnesian War. Athenians had been peasants; after the war, trade and commerce became increasingly important. The war weakened all of the Greek city-states for 50 years.

Pericles dies

429 BCE

The golden age of Athenian culture flourished under the leadership of Pericles. He was a brilliant general and orator. Pericles transformed his city's alliances into an empire. His strategies also set the stage for the Peloponnesian War.

Revolt of Mitylene

428 BCE

The Revolt of Mitylene was an incident in the Peloponnesian War when the city of Mitylene tried to unify the island of Lesbos under its control and revolt from the Athenian Empire. This caused Athens to blockade Mitylene by sea. As a result of this, Athens pulled their walls down and confiscated their ships. This event showed others to not revolt against Athens because they were powerful.

Battle of Amphipolis

422 BCE

The Battle of Amphipolis, 422 BC, was an Athenian defeat in Thrace that was started by an army led by the Spartans. The Athenian commander, Cleon, and Brasidas were killed in the battle, and their deaths helped pave the way to the peace of Nicias. This was the most significant result of the battle, the death of two warlike leaders. With both men gone, the peace negotiations were successful. In the following year, the Peace of Nicias temporarily ended the fighting.

Seige of Melos

416 BCE

Athens attacks the island of Melos which was an ally of Sparta. This was caused by the negotiations between the Athenians and the Melians. Later, the Athenians offered the Melians surrender and pay tribute to the Athens, or be destroyed.

picture for Sicilian Expedition timespan

415 BCE

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Sicilian Expedition

Period: 415 BCE to 413 BCE

The Sicilian Expedition was an Athenian military expedition to Sicily. The expedition failed, and the entire expedition was captured or destroyed in Sicily. The impact was huge to the Athenians, and many of their allies revolted. This expedition was the beginning of the end of Athens and a turning point in the war because the Athens started falling.

Sparta Occupies Decelea

413 BCE

The Spartan king, Agis II, had occupied the village of Decelea and built a strong fort there- following the advice of Alcibiades. Decelea was now under constant threat and the Athenians no longer had access to silver mines of Laureion. This marks the beginning of the Decelean or Ionian War. The Decelean War is the last part of the Peloponnesian War.

Sparta allies with Persia

412 BCE

The Spartans needed Persian support, but they had little to offer, received nothing, and lost its reputation as liberator of Greece. Eventually Sparta needed Persia while Persia did not need Sparta, so they could demand anything they wanted from Sparta. In the end, both parties decided to ignore the treaty.

End of the Peloponnesian War

404 BCE

The Peloponnesian War ends with the victory of Sparta over Athens. The Long Walls are pulled down.

Thirty Tyrants

404 BCE

The Thirty Tyrants were a Spartan-imposed oligarchy that ruled Athens after the Peloponessian War. Thirty commissioners were appointed to the oligarchy that held an extremist, conservative point of view. The Thirty Tyrants' reign was marked by violence and corruption causing a revolt. After the the revolution that overthrew the Thirty Tyrants, Athens struggled with rebuilding and reconciling.

King Phillip II conquers Greece

338 BCE

King Phillip II was the youngest son of king Amyntas III. He reigned over Macedonia from 359 to 336 BC. He became the head of the empire which was later expanded by his son, Alexander the Great. King Phillip II conquered Greece by leading the Macedonians in the Battle of Chaeronea to conquer Greece.