In ancient Greece, there was a huge rivalry between Athens and Sparta. This grew to become the Peloponnesian War in 431 BCE. In the beginning, both sides had their losses and victories, neither side was winning. However, ten years later, King Pleistoanax of Sparta and General Nicias of Athens were both tired of fighting and wished to institute a peace agreement between Sparta and Athens called the “Peace of Nicias.” Although the Peace of Nicias was established to end the Peloponnesian War, the treaty was unable to prevent further conflict and the war reopened.
A few years after the Peace of Nicias was instituted, General Alcibiades made false promises and convinced the men of Athens, who were already eager for a fight, that the expedition to Sicily would be a quick and easy victory over the Spartans. Alcibiades made very optimistic promises about the outcome of the expedition. According to Plutarch, a biographer of the time, “Alcibiades had...corrupted the multitude and got them into his power by means of his sanguine promises” (Plutarch 252). He made promise after promise to the people of Athens, lulling them into a sense of security and convincing them to have high hopes concerning the outcomes of the war. The older men were eager to feel the high of battle again. These hardened veterans were spirited and…show more content… The wealthy “feared accusations of trying to escape their contributions for the support of the navy, and so, despite their better judgement, held their peace” (Plutarch 253). They only continued their contributions in fear of accusations of being traitors. The atmosphere in Athens was very strongly pro-war. Everyone was enthusiastic about the prospect of becoming an empire and defeating their long time rival, Sparta. Their patriotism overwhelmed their logic and led them to believe in an easy victory with vast rewards. The immoderation of the Athenian people did not allow for anyone to stand in their
