098 - The Peace Unravels

In this episode, we discuss the years 421-418 BC of the Peloponnesian War, including the breakdowns of the Peace of Nikias; the rise of Alcibiades to prominence at Athens; the differences that arose between Sparta and some of their dissident allies; the diplomatic maneuverings that resulted in the quadruple alliance between Athens, Argos, Mantinea, and Elis; and the decisive Spartan victory at the Battle of Mantinea

Primary Sources: 
Thucydides' The History of the Peloponnesian War (Book 5)
Plutarch's Life of Nikias
Plutarch's Life of Alcibiades
Diodorus Siculus' The Library of History (Book 12)

Supplementary Resources (Videos, Photos, Other Podcasts)

Video/The Peloponnesian War (Khan Academy)



Video/The Peloponnesian War (Epimetheus)

Video/Who Fought the Peloponnesian War? (Ancient History Guy)

Video/How did the Peloponnesian War Happen? - Athens Faces Sparta (Knowledgia)

Map/The Athenian Empire

Map/The Peloponnesian War

Video/Part 6 of the Peloponnesian War (History Den)



Video/Part 7 of the Peloponnesian War (History Den)




Recommended Podcast Episodes:
***Antiquity in Question - The Peloponnesian War, the End of an Independent Greece?
***History in the Making - That Leviathan
***History of Modern Greece - Peloponnesian War: Sparta Rises

***History of the World - Ancient Greece: Peloponnesian War, Part Two

***New Thinkery - Plutarch on Alcibiades

***Plutarch - Nicias – Superstitious but Noble

***Plutarch - Alcibiades – The Athenian Chameleon