2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

Tannenbaum writes that the “insult to Corinth at Potidaea … [was part of a] series [of] Athenian

provocations against Sparta’s allies” (1975, 538,). Blatantly insulting Corinth through the treatment

of Potidaea by the Athenians, further escalated tensions between the two powers which eventually

caused the Peloponnesian War to occur.

Additionally, Professor of Ancient History – Lazenby argues that the Athenians were strengthening

their hold on Potidaea as they were preparing for an imminent war with Sparta and, did not want to

lose Potidaea as it would have been a possible base of operations for the Peloponnesians in the

region of Thrace. Lazenby writes that the “Athenians were preparing for war since the [Corcyreans]

could have provided the Peloponnesians with their largest naval force and Potidaea could have been

a good base of operations in Thrace” (2004, 28,). Consequently, Athens had a clear strategic mindset

before engaging in Potidaea which reflects the militaristic foundations of Athenian foreign policy.

Furthermore, Lendon claims that Athens was actively trying to weaken Corinth and the

Peloponnesian League, through sieging Potidaea which contained both Corinthian and

Peloponnesians inside of it. Lendon writes that the “Potidaean affair further stroke the enmity

between Athens and Corinth, offering more grounds for complaint. Athens’ attack on a colony of

Corinth, and her siege of the Corinthians and Peloponnesians inside of it, understandably angered

the Corinthians” (2012, 190,). Athens saw an opportunity to strengthen her grasp on Potidaea and

weaken Corinth and the Peloponnesians simultaneously by targeting Potidaea.

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