2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

Additionally, American Military Historian - Hanson argues that the Athenians were successful in their

attempt to instil fear into the Spartans as their aggressive actions towards Potidaea was perceived

by Sparta as an alarming new threat to their power. Hanson writes, that “Sparta was convinced [that

Athens now, following their actions towards Potidaea] represented a systematic and dangerous new

aggression” (2011,31,). Thus, Athens succeeded in inculcating the Spartans with the fear of Athenian

dominance with drove the Spartans and the Peloponnesians to declare war on Athens. Therefore,

Athens’ belligerent behaviour and treatment of the Corinthian colony of Potidaea was part of an

aggressive Athenian foreign policy which was intended to instil fear into Sparta and the

Peloponnesians through expressing the might of Athens and weakening Corinth which then caused

the Peloponnesian War due to Sparta’s fear of Athenian supremacy.

Conclusion

The Peloponnesian War can be considered as the final nail in the coffin for the Athenian empire. The

cause of this of war can be attributed to an aggressive Athenian foreign policy. Moreover, this

foreign policy which angered and instilled the fear of Athenian supremacy in the Spartans and the

Peloponnesians can be separated into three components. The first component of this foreign policy

which caused the Peloponnesian War to occur was the passing of the Megarian Decree. The

Megarian Decree was an immediate cause for war as it was an open declaration of Athenian

supremacy and strength which resulted in an immense amount of Spartan fear. The second

component which caused the war to occur was Athens’ interference in the dispute between Corinth

and Corcyra over the city state of Epidamnus. Athens’ interference in this dispute contributed to the

outbreak of the war because her actions angered the Corinthians and scared the Peloponnesians

since she now had Corcyra’s navy at her disposal. The final component was Athens’ treatment of

Potidaea. Athens’ behaviour towards Potidaea further angered Corinth and inspired even more fear

of Athenian supremacy in Sparta since these Athenian actions were an obvious message of Athenian

defiance against the power of Sparta. All of these components raised tensions between Sparta and

13 | P a g e