The Rise of the Athenian Empire/Peloponnesian War

Generalization: The story of Athens in the days between the end of the Persian War and the end of the Peloponnesia war is not merely tragic, but a real tragedy.

I. Introduction: tragedy as a pattern in history
II. Background: Aftermath of Persian War
III. Spartan hegemony
IV. Rebuilding of Athens
V. Formation of Delian League
VI. Eurymedon and its Results
VII. Fall of Cimon
VIII. Rise of Pericles
IX. Imperialist Athens

THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR

I. Requirements for tragedy
    A. Protagonist of sufficient nobility
    B. Conflict of great magnitude/significance
    C. Resolution

II. The Peloponnesian War as tragedy
    A. Protagonists
        1. Pericles? Alcibiades? Nicias? Archidamus?
        2. Athens and Sparta?
    B. Conflicts
        1. Two opposing ideas of freedom
        2. Choice of freedom/order
        3. Choice of justice/safety
    C. Resolution ????

III. Three phases of War\
    A. 460-445 Wars of Pericles (Athenian success/stalemate)
    B. 431-421 Archidamian War (Athenian success/stalemate)
    C. 420-404 Decelean War (Athenian success/disaster?)

IV. Causes of Peloponnesian War proper (431-404)
    A. Underlying (fear/jealousy/economic rivalry)
    B. Immediate
        1. Epidamnus/Corcyra
        2. Potidaea
        3. Megarian decrees
    C. Conference at Sparta/ Archidamus' advice

V. The Archidamian War: 431-421
    A. Spartan/Athenian strategy
    B. Attack on Plataea
    C. Plague in Athens
    D. War against Mytilene
    E. Conflicts between Democrats/Aristocrats
    F. Rise of Cleon
    G. Death of Cleon/Brasidas
    H. Peace of Nicias

VI. The Decelean War (420-404)
     A. Rise of Alcibiades
     B. Breakdown of morality
     C. Destruction of Melos
     D. Attack on Syracuse
     E. Oligarchic Revolution (Theramenes/ 400)
     F. Restoration of Democracy
     G. Arginusae
     H. Aegeospotamoi
     I.    End of War