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Explain Why Athens Could Not Effectively Handle The Peloponnesian War

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Athens could not effectively handle the Peloponnesian War, do you agree? Why/why not?
Yes, I agree that Athens could not effectively handle the Peloponnesian War. The Peloponnesian War, a long and gruelling conflict between Athens and Sparta, lasted from 431 BCE to 404 BCE. While Athens was a formidable naval power and possessed a strong economy, it ultimately lost the war due to a combination of factors. This essay argues that Athens could not effectively handle the Peloponnesian War because of its over-reliance on its navy, poor management of its allies, and ineffective leadership.
Athens had a powerful navy, which made it a formidable force on the seas. However, its reliance on its navy proved to be a significant disadvantage in the Peloponnesian War. Athens lacked a strong land army, which meant it struggled to defend its territory against Spartan attacks. Furthermore, maintaining a large fleet of ships and paying for the upkeep of its sailors drained …show more content…

In 411 BCE, a group of oligarchs known as the Four Hundred overthrew the democratic government in Athens and established an oligarchy. This was done with the support of the Spartan army, which had been occupying parts of Attica, the region around Athens. The oligarchs established a new government that was heavily influenced by Sparta. They reduced the power of the assembly, which was the main democratic institution in Athens, and established a council of 500 citizens to govern the city. This council was heavily weighted towards the wealthy and excluded many of the poorer citizens of Athens. According to Kagan (2003), “The oligarchy was short-lived, as it faced resistance from the democratic forces in Athens” (p. 238). In 410 BCE, the democratic government was restored largely due to the efforts of a general named Thrasybulus, who had led a rebellion against the oligarchy and had gained the support of the democratic forces in

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