The Peloponnesian War - PART II: Pericles' War Begins

War begins! In this episode, we take a look at the start of the great war and the Athenian statesman Pericles' strategy to keep Athens and it's empire safe from the attacks of the Spartan general Archidamos and the Peloponnesian forces. Find out in this episode of the Peloponnesian War Podcast.
Contents:
00:00 Introduction
01:11 War Begins!
04:40 Theban Ploy to Take Plataea
09:12 The Massacre
18:04 Archidamos Attacks Attica
25:35 Pericles' Strategy
29:54 Pericles' Funeral Oration
34:24 Reality Check & the Enemy Unseen
36:07 Problems for Pericles
45:34 Athens after Pericles
48:45 Thank You and Patrons
Related Videos:
Peloponnesian War Podcast Playlist
• Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War - PART II: Pericles' War Begins
• The Peloponnesian War ...
The Peloponnesian War - PART I: The Gathering Storm
• The Peloponnesian War ...
The History of Ancient Sparta and the Spartans
• The History of Ancient...
Ancient Athens: Highlights of Athenian History
• Ancient Athens: Highli...
Special thanks to Malay Archer for creating the astounding machinimas that really brought this program to life using Total War: Rome 2 Divide et Impera mod, Hellenika mod and Alexander submod
Sources and Suggested Reading ► bit.ly/38jSRHx
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#ancientgreece #greece #ancienthistory

[@waltonsmith7210]

Thebes didnt invade Plataea, it was a special military operation....

[@theinsanepumpkincarver]

Too soon

[@marioarcadia3611]

Life is a special operation

[@aidanmagill6769]

I'd characterise it more as a policing action.

[@dimitriradoux]

@@theinsanepumpkincarver😂

[@pebis5911]

Really appreciate the strategic lens you predominantly take in these videos. It’s great you take the time to delve into the political conditions and decision-making rather than just overfocus on tactics and a few specific battles.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, analyzing their strategies and motivations is probably my favorite part when researching these. Just to think what must have been in the minds of many of the major players and why they did what they did, who really gained, etc... I suppose that's also Thucydides goal as well. Anyway, thanks so much for watching and hoping to put out the next part next month, stay tuned!

[@downwithosama1]

This is perfect to sleep to and listen to when you just want to chill.

[@Izixster]

Been watching this as i read Thucydides and it was really great. Mind blown at how few decent videos there are on the Peloponnesian war when we have such a detailed account of it and it had such huge significance on the state of Greece after. Great job

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, I need to get back to completing this series!

[@Izixster]

@@HistorywithCy do it! Best account of peloponessian war so far on youtube

[@yuribrito1504]

Great Video! In my historical analysis, there is no better source for understanding the Peloponnesian War than Thucydides (Θουκυδίδης). According to Thucydides, the conflict was simply "inevitable" ("Αναπότρεπτη"). As Thucydides wrote in his book "History of the Peloponnesian War": "It was the increasing power of Athens that frightened Sparta and its allies, which made the war inevitable" ("Ήταν η ολοένα αυξανόμενη δύναμη της Αθήνας που προκάλεσε φόβο στους συμμάχους της Σπάρτης και κατέστησε τη σύρραξη ανάμεσα στις δύο πόλεις αναπότρεπτη"). After the beginning of Athens' military and economic hegemony throughout the 5th century BC, the rest of the Greek poleis felt extremely threatened. During the rule of Pericles, the so-called "first citizen of Athens" ("πρώτο πολίτη των Αθηνών"), as Thucydides used to call him; Athens' cultural, military and economic hegemony was absolute! Throughout the 5th century BC, Athens was, in my own words, the "city of cities" ("Η πόλη των πόλεων"). Virtually all the main poleis of mainland Greece, especially Corinth and Sparta, felt threatened not only militarily or economically by Athens' hegemony, but also culturally and ideologically. Athens and Sparta formed two COMPLETELY distinct worlds, whether economically, politically, and culturally. The Peloponnesian War, according to Thucydides himself, broke out not only due to political or economic reasons; but it was also motivated due to CULTURAL reasons. While Athens was a polis (city) that valued democracy and philosophy, Sparta, on the other hand, was an aristocratic and militaristic city. While Athens was the "land of democracy and philosophy" ("Η χώρα της δημοκρατίας και φιλοσοφίας"); Sparta, however, was a "land of warriors" ("Η χώρα των πολεμιστών"). Thucydides, therefore, was entirely correct with his observation. On the ideological perspective, peace was indeed impossible. Unfortunately for the Greeks, it took a major conflict for them to settle their differences. As Thucydides himself said: "War is a violent teacher" ("Πόλεμος Βίαιος Διδάσκαλος"). Despite the defeat in the Peloponnesian War, Athens managed to maintain its CULTURAL hegemony within the Greek world (Ελλάς); something that Sparta has NEVER managed to do! Among the six main poleis of Greece throughout the Archaic and Classical periods (Athens, Sparta, Megara, Corinth, Thebes and Argos), Athens is the ONLY one that stands today. Moreover, its cultural legacy still persists. Even after the Roman conquest/invasion of Greece in 146 BC, which was carried out by the consul Lucius Mummius Achaicus, Athens was able to maintain its cultural legacy intact! The Spartan hegemony, for example, lasted 33 years (404-371 BC). The Theban hegemony, which started after General (Στρατηγός) Epaminondas' brilliant victory over the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra (371 BC), meanwhile, lasted only 9 years (371-362 BC). However, the Athenian hegemony, on the other hand, lasted for almost an ENTIRE century! Furthermore, Athens was able to maintain its cultural legacy intact! The Spartans, in other words, defeated Athens militarily and economically, but NOT culturally.

[@drdiabeetus4419]

Sparta may have won the Peloponnesian war militarily, but they lost it culturally. Athens is the capital city of a united Greece. Not Sparta, not Megara, not Corinth, not Thebes, not Argos, hell, not even Pella. Meanwhile Sparta is a sleepy town in the middle of the greek countryside that'd be entirely forgotten were it not for the fact that some dudes that lived there a few thousand years ago did a thing that one time and it used to be a tourist trap a couple hundred years after that. Still, Sparta fared better than Thebes, which was literally 100% depopulated and razed at one point.

[@HistorywithCy]

Yeah, all great points and I agree with them, although I think that a larger war could have been prevented if Pericles had made at least some concessions, for example, rescinding the Megarian degree a bit earlier on. Just my thoughts...thanks for watching!

[@nancinyols8015]

Listening to this today (June 26, 2022) I'm wondering what you think as to: Parallels to today? Is there an analogy with USA and NATO- China (with Russia and India as potential allies)- Ukraine as spark point?

[@histguy101]

I feel like this ignores a large block of time...like a few thousand years. Would Athens be the capital if Constantinople was able to be acquired? Would the state even be called Hellas today?

[@panagiotis7946]

athena lost the war due to the pandemic where half the population died and the crews of the rafts as well as Pericles himself

[@nishensemble]

Honest to god Cy, history students should have your channel as required watching prior to their ancient history lessons.

[@HistorywithCy]

Haha thanks for the kinds words and glad that you enjoyed this! I've occasionally had teachers write to me saying that they've shown a video or two in their classes...makes my day! Thanks so much for watching, really appreciate it and lots more on the way, stay tuned!

[@rikiruru1076]

@@HistorywithCy I'm watching this prior to beginning a Masters degree in October in Classical Civilisation at Birkbeck College, University of London

[@henkstersmacro-world]

👍👍👍A true Masterpiece in the making, can't wait for the next part!!

[@HistorywithCy]

Hopefully out next month, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@inquisitorgarza312]

This probably one of the first conflicts that brought such an complexities of alliances into a great conflict, and their are parallels to modern day conflicts of WW1 and the Cold War.

[@andyrickert1]

Aren't there also cases of significant alliances in Sumerian, Egyptian, and Assyrian history?

[@ancientsitesgirl]

At last! Thank you and best regards✌

[@HistorywithCy]

Thank you for watching and hope you enjoy it! Next Egypt one will hopefully be out first week of May!

[@ancientsitesgirl]

@@HistorywithCy great ❣

[@Low-liife999]

Wow outstanding work! By far the best source on ancient history. Love your channel

[@jeffersonwright6249]

Minute 34: wars ALWAYS turn out to be more expensive than estimated!

[@piratemccall]

Cool! I've been waiting for this series to continue.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, hope you're enjoying it!

[@piratemccall]

Totally. The Peloponnesian War is my favorite subject of antiquity and you're doing a great job. Thanks!

[@HistorywithCy]

@@piratemccall Thanks, appreciate the kind words and looking forward to putting out the other episodes as soon as possible!

[@AngryDuck79]

I've been listening through Ryan Stitt's History of Ancient Greece podcast and he's put so much time and effort into the Peloponnesian War that I know every single detail of what happened (Up to Alcebiades' trip to Persia, at least), but I have no idea where any of the places being mentioned are so it's been hard to visualise exactly where these events are taking place. Means I appreciate the fact that you've animated a lot of the events so I can finally start putting some places to the names.

[@HistorywithCy]

Hi, thanks for watching and glad the maps were useful! I need to listen to his podcast, I've heard it's great. Thanks and more on the way, stay tuned!

[@anasevi9456]

this is an wodnerful documentary, and that you touch subjects such as the old kingdom egypt and Sumer meso makes you my mvp of youtube!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks! Yeah I have get back to the Egypt series; next one will be out early May, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@MichaelStevenConway]

Part 3? Really enjoy your content.

[@Artur_M.]

These videos of yours are immersing me in the narrative of the Peloponnesian War like no other source about this complicated conflict did before.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad you're enjoying these! Next one out hopefully in a month, stay tuned and as always, thanks for watching!

[@magnushorus5670]

these are soo fun to listen too, thank you!

[@irismaxwell5969]

I appreciate very much you taking the time to document such informative work. Thanks again.

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Great stuff Cy, I really enjoyed this episode!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my man, I'm so glad! Hope all is well on your end and thanks for watching!

[@alexanderborschel2135]

About dang ol time! XD great content!!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my friend, hope all is well on your end!

[@DaFroBroforeal]

Good stuff. I'm eager for part three.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks! Hope to have it out later on in May/early June. Stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@mrgimbab4294]

A great pleasure to watch! Looking forward to more.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, working on Part III, hope to have it out in a month or so. Stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@danielg3924]

I'm so hooked on this series...

[@RatzoMcFatso]

Another excellent video/podcast. Your channel is in my top 3 favourites. Great content and well researched.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed this... Part III hopefully out next month or early June, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@fractal_gate]

Great series!!!

[@MichaelStevenConway]

REALLY! Great. Can't wait for Part 3!!!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks! Working on it right now, it'll be a long one... lots to cover! Thanks for watching!

[@MichaelStevenConway]

Glad to hear it will be a long part 3. The more the better. Alcibiades and the end of the war is super complex and compelling!

[@march11stoneytony]

Yes!!! I've been waiting for this one!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, hope you enjoy it and more on the way!

[@march11stoneytony]

@@HistorywithCy treating myself to it tonight! Part 1 was in my top 5 so I'm sure I'll love it. How many parts in total?

[@HistorywithCy]

@@march11stoneytony Haha not sure, probably at least another 3. It all depends how much I end up putting into it. Sometimes when making each video I add or take things out so that will probably also happen here, affecting the length and number of episodes.

[@march11stoneytony]

@@HistorywithCy that's awesome. I'm looking forward to it. Thanks for all of the great content by the way!

[@joeshmoe8345]

Cool thanks for sharing boss

[@HistorywithCy]

My pleasure, hope you enjoy it and thanks for watching!

[@JCSuperstar777]

This is an excellent resource for all who crave knowledge of this time in ancient history. Thank you for your (unpaid!) service to your δῆμος!

[@johnnysmall]

Ah heck yea so excited for this

[@HistorywithCy]

My pleasure, enjoy and thanks for watching!

[@TheMerc399]

The account of massacre sounds really biased, which I guess shouldn't be a surprise given Thucydides background.

[@jameswilliams3399]

Great content.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thank you!

[@BobBob-eb4io]

Im three weeks late but this is really excellent high quality content and i learned my leasson and subed so i wont be late again

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks and no worries, glad you enjoyed it! Working on Part III and IV right now... will try to release them closer together so that you don't have to wait too long between episodes. Thanks for watching!

[@BobbJones]

I'm looking forward to part 3.

[@HistorywithCy]

Goal is to have it out by next month or early June, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@BobbJones]

@@HistorywithCy i am enjoying it. Love everything that has to do with our history.

[@Amadeus8484]

You'd think the Peloponnesian League would have gone after Argos first. Argos is surround by them and is a good port for the Delian League to supply their armies within Peloponnesian League holding. Plus the Delian Navy might have to scramble to support Argos and thus not be elsewhere...

[@bulletclub3320]

CY great work

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks!

[@juniorthomas6404]

When is part 3 coming out?

[@SobekLOTFC]

New video- let's goooo

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks for watching, hope you enjoy it!

[@HVLLOWS1999]

You're videos are worth more than purple died silk!

[@Pepius_Julius_Magnus_Maximu...]

Please do a whole series on Pericles

[@dhmossedios2194]

I hope you will continue this magnificent work ❤️

[@thespider1481]

Pericles ROCKS!

[@mithridatesi9981]

First. I am a history student and we talked exactly about this topic right now. What a coincidence

[@HistorywithCy]

Nice, hope this helps! Love the screen name... I hope to be doing a video this fall on Mithridates. Thanks for watching!

[@scottnunnemaker5209]

Ever thought of doing a video or two on the Messenian Wars? Seems like a fairly under covered subject.

[@HistorywithCy]

Actually did a video on it a few months back... here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2rMpmZqm5eGh68 Enjoy and thanks for watching!

[@scottnunnemaker5209]

@@HistorywithCy how did I miss this one! Thanks bud!

[@charlessoukup1111]

Wonder if it was GO GREEN!! Back in the Poloponnesia?

[@worldofcrowe]

What video game do you incorporate graphics from? Cut scenes from hoplite battles?

[@HistorywithCy]

Total War II. See vid description for specific mods. Thanks!

[@LagunaShirogane]

Should add AC Odyssey and Origins scenes from this as well. Including when you start goin further into Ancient Egypt Dynasty by Dynasty series. Sure AC Origins takes place during Cleopatra's reign as Queen of Egypt and Caesar's time as Dictator of Rome...but there's enough there to use for your videos, Cy. Perhaps it will gives insight and visual of what you are talking about other than using scenes from Total War.

[@marnosmarket695]

Wow the Thebans being attacked in the plataean city is such a crazy story

[@tsdocholiday8965]

Do a documentary on the wars of the diadochi

[@HistorywithCy]

Coming up later this year, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@tequilamockingbird758]

Thank god, I can't sleep

[@HistorywithCy]

Enjoy and thanks for watching!

[@shaolindreams]

πολύ καλά

[@HistorywithCy]

Ευχαριστώ!

[@jeromebarry1741]

One cannot help but see that humans have not changed in 3000 years. Various present-day events can be seen as parallel to those of Thucydides' day.

[@HistorywithCy]

Agreed. Thanks for watching, appreciate it!

[@MCorpReview]

Pericles, Lincoln, Churchill…who’s most eloquent? Go!

[@HistorywithCy]

Hmm, interesting question... hard to say, some say that Pericles was the best orator of all time, of the three, I think Lincoln was best, not because he was as eloquent, but the way he presented his arguments I think made whatever he was trying to saw more impactful and thought provoking. Just my opinion from what I know of all three, though I'll admit I'm sure there is a lot lost in translation for English speakers not familiar with the classical Greek of Pericles' day. Thanks for watching, appreciate it!

[@dirremoire]

Thucydides.

[@CClark-cn7mh]

Where's part 3, 4, 5...?

[@Bulgarian021]

CY, you really should try Assassin's Creed ODYSSEY, this war was well represented in there, even if it is lets say a story for gamers full of fantasy stuff, Pericle himself is a NPC and so it Socrates , the script of this RPG was really cool , as far as I remember

[@HistorywithCy]

Yeah I've seen others play it and it looks incredible. I've been tempted to play it myself but know that if I do, with my addictive personality, you'll get very few videos on the channel! But yeah, the graphics and story line from what I've seen are really well done. Thanks so much for watching, really appreciate it and more on the way, stay tuned!

[@Bulgarian021]

@@HistorywithCy no, it is different: you might love the game but leave it after 2 walk-throughs, it is all about the story imho

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

purrrrrrrrrrrrrr😺

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks!

[@decimusausoniusmagnus5719]

First to this masterpiece.

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, hope you enjoy it! Sorry it took me so long to put it out, hope to have the next few out much sooner!

[@decimusausoniusmagnus5719]

Nonsense brother. Quality doesn't know time.

[@kingnothing5678]

The Eyes of Kosmos sees all

[@viorelpiscanu9425]

For me it is too difficult to understand such never ending feuds among all these hellenic polis.(City states)... This unpractical & suicidal policy is used even today :Divide et Impera../

[@user-eg9bi4wx9j]

Where were the turks at the time?

[@derfret1365]

22:12

[@MCorpReview]

Could it b that Athens is more crowded? Plagues like crowd. Sparta w no walls is better aired n cleaner.

[@HistorywithCy]

Yes, being crowded within the walls of Athens definitely contributed to it, but I think also the disease spread via the sea - being within the interior Sparta also didn't have a large navy so its men would have been less likely to have come in contact with infected people arriving from foreign destinations... many believe that the plague came from Egypt and then spread through the eastern Mediterranean via ship. Thanks for watching!

[@beepboop204]

👍

[@HistorywithCy]

Thank you!

[@beepboop204]

@@HistorywithCy 🙏

[@didierdenice7456]

WW1 in Europe (1914) started the same way ! 🤔 Just a big mess... WW3 now will go the same way ! And just like Athenes, the USA will lose... History doesn't exactly repeat itself ... but it has a strange rime !

[@dirremoire]

The parallels between now and the Peloponnesian war are really eerie. The only thing we're missing is a big plague

[@histguy101]

@@dirremoire Yeah, we're also missing the big war part. Maybe we should say "This is like the Peloponnesian thing...the thing that isn't the Peloponnesian war."

[@drbuckley1]

"[A]nd where overweening self-confidence has despised preparation, a wise apprehension has often been able to make head against superior numbers..." Sounds just like Russia's "despised preparation" and Ukraine's "wise apprehension."

[@bistokidsfan]

Automatic click watch on new History with Cy! 💜😉👍🏻

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks for watching, hope you enjoy it!

[@LucVNO]

@38:45 You telling me the crap Dems try to pull on Trump is that old? lol, no doubt.

[@mt_baldwin]

19:41 Replace the worlds "Hellas" and "cities" with "Europe" and "countries" and it fits exactly the days leading up to the start of WW1. We like to think ourselves wiser than our ancient ancestors, and with the gift of hindsight we should be, but we are not, there's no difference between us and them. They say those that don't learn history are doomed to repeat it, maybe we are just doomed to repeat it anyway.

[@stronkveak5917]

what? no pro ukrainian propaganda today on a history themed channel? wow, that's a first, how did you do it? didn't get the memo?

[@dirremoire]

I seriously see some spooky parallels between the Peloponnesian war and what's going on now in Ukraine.