The First Peloponnesian War

By Jade.Cots
  • 578 BCE

    Athens Takes Control of the Delian League

    The aim of the league was to provide independent city-states with protection, if the Persians or other foreigners were to attack
  • 480 BCE

    Battle at Salamis

    A battle in which Greece defeated the Persians, it marked the beginning of the end of the Greco-Persian war, as afterwards there were only a series of smaller conflicts for five or so years.
  • 479 BCE

    Athenian Power Grows, the Construction of the Long Walls begins

    As taxes began flowing in to Athens from the other city-states, they were able to rebuild areas damaged during the Persian invasion and strengthen their defenses. This meant that they were protected by both land and sea, and hence made it other for other city-states to challenge their power
  • 461 BCE

    Athens breaks Alliance with Sparta, Due to Sparta's Alliance with Corinth

    Previously Athens had encroached upon Corinth's territory, causing tensions between the two states. It also gave Athens a reason and way to distance themselves from Sparta, as their growth in power had begun to unsettle the Spartans.
  • 460 BCE

    Outbreak of the first Peloponnesian war

    Growing tensions result in battles breaking out
  • 460 BCE

    Sparta and Athens become Openly Hostile

    Sparta raids and burns the countryside around Athens, however cannot breach the walls constructed around the city-state. Athens on the other hand attacks Spartan allies by sea, but does not engage in conflict on land.
  • 460 BCE

    Megara joins the Delian League

    A crucial moment, ad previously Megara was allied with Sparta. This shift in sides increased tensions between the two main city-states, but also gave Athens a buffer zone between them and Corinth, a Spartan ally.
  • 454 BCE

    Athens moves treasury from the island of Delos to Athens

    A marker of Athens becoming more tyrannical in its rule, the independence of city-states apart of the Delian league is lessened and those which attempt to leave were attacked. In some cases destroyed and its people enslaved (see the island of Melos)
  • 451 BCE

    Five Years Peace between Sparta and Athens

    Concluding that neither side could reach a clean victory, at least not without heavy losses, peace is agreed upon. It does not last and both prepare for conflict while the peace is still in place.
  • 446 BCE

    Athens and Sparta agree to 30 Years Peace

    Lasts less than half of the agreed time, both begin planning and making underhanded attacks, which are not strictly prohibited by the agreement, in an attempt to gain the upper hand.
  • Period: 446 BCE to 416 BCE

    How long the '30 Years Peace' was meant to last

  • 445 BCE

    End of the First Peloponnesian War

  • Period: 440 BCE to 430 BCE

    Athenian Golden Age

    Athens experiences a cultural boom, the arts. philosophy and other such practices develop and become more refined. Trade and tax continually flows in, and the city-state itself experiences the building of large temples etc.