History Of Western Civilization

Explain the formation of the Peloponnesian League. What it is, and what city- states are involved in it?

The Peloponnesian League was formed circa 51-500 BC. Sparta was an oligarchy dominating the southern Peloponnese region, a peninsula in southern Greece which, despite being in a position to dominate the Ionian Sea and with allies in position on the Aegean Sea, preferred building a large and well-trained army to assure its place in the world at the time.

The major city-states in the League were Corinth, which controlled the Isthmus of Corinth, linking the Peloponnesian Peninsula to the mainland above Athens, Thebes and Plataea. The league was formed because Sparta wanted to protect itself against Athens, which was a sea power, and because the city-states in the league mistrusted the city-state of Argos. The philosophy of governing was also part of the reason; Sparta and its allies...
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