The First Peloponnesian War

By lenwoons
  • 578 BCE

    Delian League

    Athens controlled the Delian League - basically an empire with subject city states
  • 550 BCE

    Peloponnesian League

    Sparta and their allies had left the Delian league due to the rising power of Athens and formed the Peloponnesian League (550 BCE) long before the war with the Persians.
  • 480 BCE

    Battle of Salamis

  • 479 BCE

    Athens power gains (Athens lead by strong leader in Pericles)

    Athens gains tremendous power after the was with Persia and begins to make decisions that led to power growth over city states who were not as economically and militarily strong. This does not sit well with Sparta. Building of the "Long Walls" connecting Athens to Piraeus (an valuable harbor city) made it almost impossible for a land army to attach the city of Athens from the Peloponnese Penisula - demonstrating a lack of trust between the Athenians and the Spartans.
  • 460 BCE

    Hostility between Athens and Sparta

    Athens and Sparta become publicly hostile towards each other and begin manoeuvring allies in preparation for imminent war
  • 460 BCE

    Beginning of the first First Peloponnesian War (460–445 BCE)

    • Athens broke long term alliance with Sparta
    • Athens and Argos (Sparta's enemy) form an alliance
    • Athens pull Megara (a city state on the Peloponnese) into the Delian League
    • Athens continues building long walls
  • 456 BCE

    First major land battle

    • Sparta wins the Battle of Oenoe – first major land battle also
    • Athens defeats Aegina (Spartan ally); forces them into Delian League.
    • The Athenians would then score crushing victories over several Peloponnese city-states and ravaged the Peloponnese peninsula by sea, taking control of several city-states in the process.
  • 454 BCE

    Athens moves the Delian League treasury

    • Athens moves the Delian League treasury from Delos to Athens, with all finances now being controlled by the Athenians (big deal)
    • Athens is defeated attempting to support the Greek colonists in Egypt who are fighting the Persians.
    • Athens and Sparta sign a 5-year peace treaty, whilst the Persians are taken care of.
  • 448 BCE

    Athens take more power over Delian states

    Athenian power over Delian states is more pronounced:
    - City-states must swear loyalty.
    - Athenian garrisons of soldiers stationed in member states.
    - Compliant or democratic governments installed.
    - Use of Athenian coinage as common currency.
    - Use of Athenian law courts to hear all major cases.
    Persians finally expelled forever after defeats at Cyprus & Cilicia and peace of Callias is signed; leads to consolidation of Athens’ empire
  • 445

    Thirty Years' Peace

    The First Peloponnesian War ended in an arrangement between Sparta and Athens, which was ratified by the Thirty Years' Peace.
  • 447

    Revolts against Athens control

    After the war flared up again, several defeated Peloponnese city-states (Boeotia, Phocis & Locris) revolted and defeating the Athenians to regain their independence.
    Megara & Euboea revolted, with Athens losing Megara, but crushing Euboea to maintain control.