Greek History

Ancient Greek History

As the leader of Athens during the Peloponnesian War, it was Pericles' responsibility to develop an overall strategy for the waging of the war. The strategy he developed played on Athens' strengths and the weaknesses of the Spartans. Thucydides, in The Peloponnesian War, praised Pericles' strategic ability stating "when war broke out, he also he seems to have rightly gauged the power of his country."

(Strassler 1996, 127) Athens was primarily a sea power, and so Pericles placed his faith in the Athenian fleet. Instead of confronting the Spartans on land, Pericles called for all Athenians to enter the city and wait. He knew that the Spartans could never undertake a successful siege of Athens because of the "long walls" which connected the city to the sea. As long as the fleet kept the city supplied, they could outlast the Spartans.

While Thucydides was clearly...
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