The Peloponnesian War

Date: 435 - 404 BC
Location: Greece, Sicily, Asia Minor

The city-states of Athens and Sparta were major powers of the Greek world in the classical times. Like most nation pairs with equivalent power, the city-states were on a continuous competition throughout history. However, in 431 BC, the alliances formed on both sides declared war on each other. The alliances formed, which each one of Athens and Sparta led, where known as the Delian League (Athens) and the Peloponnesian League (Sparta). During the first period of the war, which we call the Archidamian Period; Athens, its army, and its navy were governed and ruled by Pericles. On the other hand, Sparta had Archidamus II as its king and commander-in-chief. The raging war has led to a resemblence to World War II, with two hostile sides fighting for world domination. Instead, the world here was the mainland of Greece, the shores of Sicily, and most colonies in northwestern Anatolia. The main difference of both city-states that resulted with the war was the disagreement on its oligarchic government. Every city-state developed strategies that mostly suite its militaristic conditions and 'talents'. For instance, Sparta preferred attacking on land, whereas the Athenians defended on land and raided at sea, maintaining their continuous foreign trading.
The second period of the war came along with the Treaty of Nicias, when the war in Peloponnesus resumed right after. During that period, Athens launched an enormous fleet to invade Syracuse, followed by the devastated Spartan invasion of Attica. Both invasions did not succeed, allowing the partial weakening of the two city-states. With the dawn of the Ionian War, which was the last period of the war, came the gradual fall of the Athenian Empire. In 405 BC, the Athenian fleet was crushed by one of Sparta, which ended the Athenian naval power. in 404 BC, Athens surrendered... the city-state's glories now stand as shadows of the now meagre Athens.