The relationship between Athens and Sparta and Pericles’ Foreign Policy

Welcome to the Age of Pericles!

In this section, we are going to explore how the two "superpowers" of Ancient Greece—Athens and Sparta—went from being allies who fought off the Persians to bitter rivals. We will also look at how Pericles, the famous leader of Athens, managed his city's power and what happened when tensions finally boiled over into war. Don't worry if the names and dates seem like a lot at first; we will break it all down step-by-step!

1. The "Awkward Breakup": Rising Tensions

After the Persian Wars, Athens and Sparta were like teammates who realized they didn't actually like each other. Sparta was a land-based power with a scary army, while Athens was a sea-based power with a massive navy.

The Turning Point: The Helot Revolt (464 BC)
A massive earthquake hit Sparta, and the Helots (the people the Spartans had enslaved) took the chance to revolt. Sparta was in trouble and asked Athens for help. Athens sent 4,000 soldiers, but when they arrived, the Spartans got nervous. They worried the Athenians might actually side with the Helots because Athens loved "democracy" and "freedom."

Sparta told the Athenian army to "go home," which was a massive public insult. Athens was so angry they ended their alliance with Sparta immediately.

The Long Walls
To protect themselves, Athens built the Long Walls. These were two massive stone walls connecting the city of Athens to its port, Piraeus.

Analogy: Imagine your house is a fortress, but your fridge is in the garage. The Long Walls were like a covered tunnel from your house to the garage so you could get food without ever being attacked by a bully in the driveway.

Sparta hated these walls because they meant they couldn't starve Athens out during a siege.

Quick Review: Why did they argue?
1. Sparta insulted Athens during the Helot revolt.
2. Athens built the Long Walls (making them look "untouchable").
3. Athens was getting richer and more powerful every day.

2. From a "Club" to an "Empire": The Delian League

To keep Greece safe from Persia, many city-states joined a group called the Delian League. At first, it was a fair "club" where everyone contributed ships or money to a Treasury (a big pile of cash) kept on the island of Delos.

The Big Move (454 BC)
Pericles decided to move the Treasury from the island of Delos directly to Athens. He claimed it was for "safety," but it really meant Athens now had total control over the money. Athens started using this money to build beautiful buildings like the Parthenon and pay for their own navy.

If a city-state tried to leave the "club," Athens used its navy to force them to stay and keep paying. The Delian League had officially become the Athenian Empire.

Key Takeaway: Athens wasn't just a city anymore; it was the boss of an empire, and Sparta was getting very jealous and worried about this "growing power."

3. Pericles’ Foreign Policy and the "Megarian Decree"

Pericles had a very specific way of dealing with other cities. He wanted to make Athens the most powerful city in Greece without starting a full-scale land war with Sparta (because he knew Sparta's army was better).

The Megarian Decree
One of the most famous examples of Pericles' "tough" policy was the Megarian Decree. Megara was a small city-state allied with Sparta. Pericles banned Megara from using any ports in the Athenian Empire.

Real-world example: This is like a modern "economic sanction." It's like a big company telling a small shop they aren't allowed to use any of the roads or malls in the country. It ruined Megara's economy.

Did you know?
The famous comic playwright Aristophanes later joked in his plays that the entire Peloponnesian War started just because of the Megarian Decree! He suggested Pericles was just being stubborn.

4. The Archidamian War and Pericles’ Strategy

Eventually, the tension snapped, and the Peloponnesian War began in 431 BC. The first part of this war is called the Archidamian War (named after the Spartan King, Archidamus).

Pericles’ "Island Strategy"
Pericles knew Athens couldn't win a traditional battle on land. So, he told everyone living in the countryside to move inside the Long Walls.

• The Plan: Let the Spartans burn the crops outside. Don't fight them. Use the Athenian Navy to sail around and attack Spartan allies by sea. Use the money from the Empire to buy food and bring it in through the port.

Don't worry if this seems risky! Pericles believed that if Athens just stayed patient and didn't take any big risks, Sparta would eventually get tired and go home.

The Disaster: The Plague
The plan had one huge flaw: Overcrowding. Because everyone was packed inside the city walls in dusty, cramped conditions, a terrible Plague broke out.

• It killed about 1/3 of the population.
• It even killed Pericles himself in 429 BC.
• It caused total chaos and lowered the morale (the "spirit") of the Athenian people.

Common Mistake to Avoid:
Students often think Athens lost the war immediately when the plague hit. Actually, the war lasted for many more years, but the plague was a massive blow that changed everything and took away their greatest leader.

Summary: Key Points to Remember

• Tensions: Started with the Spartan insult during the Helot revolt.
• Power: Athens turned the Delian League into an Empire by moving the Treasury to Athens.
• Defensive: The Long Walls allowed Athens to survive without farming their own land.
• Diplomacy: The Megarian Decree showed Pericles' willingness to use economic pressure.
• Strategy: Pericles' war plan was to stay inside the walls and use the navy, but the Plague ruined the plan and led to his death.

Memory Aid: The "Three P's" of Athens' Problems:
1. Power (Growing too fast and scaring Sparta).
2. Policy (The Megarian Decree making enemies).
3. Plague (The unexpected disaster that killed Pericles).