Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- CHAPTER XLVII From the Thirty Years' Truce, fourteen years before the Peloponnesian War, down to the Blockade of Potidæa, in the year before the Peloponnesian War
- CHAPTER XLVIII From the Blockade of Potidæa down to the end of the First Year of the Peloponnesian War
- CHAPTER XLIX From the beginning of the Second Year down to the end of the Third Year of the Peloponnesian War
- CHAPTER L From the Commencement of the Fourth Year of the Peloponnesian War down to the Revolutionary Commotions at Korkyra
- CHAPTER LI From the Troubles in Korkyra, in the Fifth Year of the Peloponnesian War, down to the end of the Sixth Year
- CHAPTER LII Seventh Year of the War.—Capture of Sphakteria
- CHAPTER LIII Eighth Year of the War
- CHAPTER LIV Truce for one year.—Renewal of War and Battle of Amphipolis.—Peace of Nikias
CHAPTER XLVIII - From the Blockade of Potidæa down to the end of the First Year of the Peloponnesian War
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- CHAPTER XLVII From the Thirty Years' Truce, fourteen years before the Peloponnesian War, down to the Blockade of Potidæa, in the year before the Peloponnesian War
- CHAPTER XLVIII From the Blockade of Potidæa down to the end of the First Year of the Peloponnesian War
- CHAPTER XLIX From the beginning of the Second Year down to the end of the Third Year of the Peloponnesian War
- CHAPTER L From the Commencement of the Fourth Year of the Peloponnesian War down to the Revolutionary Commotions at Korkyra
- CHAPTER LI From the Troubles in Korkyra, in the Fifth Year of the Peloponnesian War, down to the end of the Sixth Year
- CHAPTER LII Seventh Year of the War.—Capture of Sphakteria
- CHAPTER LIII Eighth Year of the War
- CHAPTER LIV Truce for one year.—Renewal of War and Battle of Amphipolis.—Peace of Nikias
Summary
State of feeling in Greece between the Thirty years' truce and the Peloponnesian war—recognised probability of war—Athens at that time not encroaching—decree interdicting trade with the Megarians
Even before the recent hostilities at Korkyra and Potidæa, it had been evident to reflecting Greeks that the continued observance of the Thirty years' truce was very uncertain, and that the mingled hatred, fear, and admiration, which Athens inspired throughout Greece would prompt Sparta and the Spartan confederacy to seize the first favourable opening for breaking down the Athenian power. That such was the disposition of Sparta, was well understood among the Athenian allies, however considerations of prudence and general slowness in resolving might postpone the moment of carrying it into effect. Accordingly not only; the Samians when they revolted had applied to the Spartan confederacy for aid, which they appear to have been prevented from obtaining chiefly by the pacific interests then animating the Corinthians—but also the Lesbians had endeavoured to open negotiations with Sparta for a similar purpose, though the authorities—to whom alone the proposition could have been communicated, since it remained secret and was never executed—had given them no encouragement. The affairs of Athens had been administered under the ascendency of Periklês without any view to extension of empire or encroachment upon others, though with constant view to the probabilities of war, and with anxiety to keep the city in a condition to meet it: but even the splendid internal ornaments, which Athens at that time acquired, were probably not without their effect in provoking jealousy on the part of other Greeks as to her ultimate views.
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- A History of Greece , pp. 101 - 205Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010