How do we know about this war?

Thucydides may be counted among the foremost historians of the West to utilize a rigorous chronological standard. He recorded events based on their year of occurrence, and every year was divided into two seasons: a campaign-filled summer and a relatively inactive winter. The historian documented the Peloponnesian War in great detail.

In spite of hailing from Athens and having taken part in the war, Thucydides is commonly believed to have provided an overall neutral narrative of it with regard to the parties involved.

The foremost volume in Thucydides 'History of the Peloponnesian War covers a summary of Greece's early history, a programmatic historiographical note, and an explanation for why the War was waged. With the exception of some brief excursuses (particularly 6.54-58 on Tyrant Slayers), its remaining volumes (2-8) concentrate strictly on the War and nothing else.

Though Thucydides' book focuses on the war's military facets, the events are employed as a channel to broach many other War-related subjects. A number of passages in the book describe, in particular, the war's culturally and socially degenerative impacts on mankind. Thucydides' book puts much emphasis on Greeks' lawlessness and atrocities perpetrated against one another in war's name. The Melian dialogue and other such events described in the book are early examples of power politics or real politik (Thucydides).

Causes of the War

Following the Athens-Corcyra pact of 433 BC and the siege over Potidaea, Corinth's position was in jeopardy. Further, while Sparta was anxious about Athens' growing might, it didn't wish for... According to the Spartans, they could have peace if Athens would agree to withdraw measures against Megara, a Spartan ally. Pericles, the leader of Athens did not agree to this, as the two states had, at one time, reached an agreement that an arbitration approach would be utilized to settle disagreements. Any decision, on Athens' part, to grant Sparta what it desired would be tantamount to accepting orders from Sparta, which was unthinkable, thus leading to the eruption of war. The Delian League and Athens faced attacks by the Peloponnesian League and Sparta. In Diodorus's words, Sparta didn't simply wage war, but also sought Persia's aid.

Athenian Strategy

The simple though sound plan adopted by Athens during this ancient war with Sparta was formulated by Pericles. Athens' ground troops wouldn't engage Sparta's comparatively better infantry, even were the former's dominion to be ravaged. Large Athenian attacks on the town of Phalerum, occupied by Sparta, would be carried out using warships dispatched from the Piraeus port. In the event the Spartans laid waste to Athens' farms and killed its livestock for the purpose of heavily damaging its supplies, Piraeus would ensure they received supplies by sea. This plan aimed at maintaining pressure on Sparta's occupation to ultimately invade it whilst ensuring minimum friendly casualties. It was predicted by Pericles that the greater quantity of supplies, funds and warriors on Athens' hand would ensure its victory over Sparta.

Spartan Strategy

Sparta's strategy proved to be a lot more uncomplicated as compared to Athens' plan. They planned on attacking the…