Destruction of the Athenian Golden Age

Road to self-destruction

Many circumstances led to the end of the Athenian golden age. Ironically, the formation of the Delian league marked the beginning stages of the end of the Athenian golden age. The same league that would prove instrumental in pulling up Athens from state to empire, eventually played a role in its destruction.

Athens harsh treatment towards other weaker states served as an instigator for hatred and resentment. No one state was strong enough to defend themselves against Athens’ pressures, as it had a very fortified navy. As Athens grew stronger, it also grew harsher and unintentionally isolated itself from all other Greek states. I say unintentionally because they did it for their own benefit and because of their power,

I imagine in their first meeting-the Peloponnesian league- , there would be an uproar of resentment, hatred and fire for revenge against Athens.

Consider that Athens, even after resigning member states from the Delian league from member status to subject status, was still charging them yearly tributes. States were contributing part of their economic output to Athens and this was in no way benefitting them. We could say that by strengthening Athens (and its navy) they were buying protection for themselves from invasion of foreign potential threats, but it must have been hard for them to just see it that way, when Athens was building expensive temples and architectural wonders using the leagues treasury. Athens was taking advantage of these states and they all had that feeling of resentment In common. It must have been very easy for Sparta to persuade other Greek states to join them in forming the Peloponnesian league. So now, think of the first meeting of the Peloponnesian league. What do you see? I see anger, hatred, a will for revenge and lots and lots of energy to uproot the Athenians from their

Let’s delve deeper into some details of the war.

Athens had the gold, they had the ships, and they had it all. To their disadvantage however, the Spartans and the Peloponnesian league would win the favor of a new rival to Athens; the plague.

When Sparta launched their attack, there was a huge migration of people deeper into Athens. Due to the congestion that must have caused, a massive plague spread killing almost a quarter of its army, sailors, thirty thousand citizens and its military leader Pericles. The chaos and loss of proper direction to lead the military in my opinion was most likely the factor that led to the Athenian defeat. Spartans were known for being great warriors, and I don’t doubt they used that opportunity to their full advantage. A disease-struck city with a leaderless army would have been a training exercise for the Spartans.

At the end of it all… Empire to