Detailed Revision notes on the Peloponnesian War and Punic Wars.

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Big Wars: Module One- Peloponnesian War and Punic Wars________________________________________________

  • What are Big Wars?
  • Big wars involve all or almost all of the great power of the era and the powers themselves consider the stakes high (hegemony/dominance or survival)
  • They mobilize lots of resources for large-scale or protracted fighting

Explaining War                                                                                  __________________________________________

  • Definition of war must have these components (4): armed conflict/organized violence, waged deliberately, by two or more independent political units against each other, exceeding some casualty threshold (ex. 1,000 deaths)
  • 3 types of war: inter-state, extra-state, intra-states
  • MIDS: Militarized interstate disputes involve: small wars with  < than 1,000 battle deaths or deliberate disputes between states where military force is threatened, displayed or used MIDS refer to 3 types of state actions: explicit over threats to use armed forces, mobilizing/displaying armed force, using armed force barely
  • Power polarity: unipolar, bipolar and multipolar
  • Balance of power: opposing alliances tend to develop equal power so that they balance
  •  Alliances: can be during war/peace time, can mutate (adding/dropping members)
  • 2 explanations: Realist- collect resources against common threat, Constructivist-strengthen and protect common characteristic of member states
  • Problems with alliances: collective actions problems, ambiguity of alliance clauses/promises, sub-game theory imperfection, moral hazard, costly obligations
  • Deterrence: coercive persuasion based on threats not to attack you, make them think expected costs is higher than rewards
  • Preemption is strike first and Prevention is prevent other side from getting weapons and objections
  • Security dilemma: by one state increasing its security, other states feel threatened and sets off chain of defensive reactions
  • Collective security: goal is punish aggressor but hard to define one
  • Origins of war include man's evilness, the state (relationships between governments), the system of international relations
  • Why don't states always avoid war? --> systematic misperception (overestimate/underestimate chances/costs of winning/fighting), inability to divided wanted issue/territory, commitment issues, information problems with incentives to lie

First Peloponnesian  War    ___                                              ________________________________________________                                                              

  • Long-standing tensions between Sparta and Athens revive after Greeks repel second Persian invasion, 480-479 BC
  • First Peloponnesian War (460 – 445 BC)
  • Ends with “Thirty Years' Peace” (winter of 446-445)
  • Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC)
  • Breakdown of peace settlement
  • Archidamian War (431 – 421 BC)
  • Peace of Nicias (421 BC)
  • Meant to last 50 years Actually lasted 6
  • Athens’ Fateful Expedition to Sicily (415 – 413 BC)
  • Second War (413 BC until fall of Athens in 404)                 
  • Trireme (boat): 121 ft long/18 ft wide, 170 oarsmen, fast/maneuverable, 184 mile range
  • Hoplite Phalanx: heavy infantry formation: shield, armor, spears, march close in rows
  • Hoplites were middle class, depends on cohesion, battles were one day,
  • Greek System of Colonies: when one place got too crowded they would found new colonies
  • Colonies were independent: governed themselves, bonds between motherland and colony close b/c worship same gods
  • Colony owed metropolis respect and offerings
  • Colonies could establish their own colonies but had to consult w/ metropolis
  • Corinth and Corcyra is case of colony failed to pay due respect and colony surpass power of metropoles's power and become truly independent
  • Athens was a direct democracy where citizens met regularly and voted
  •  Key positions were lottery while ten generals were elected
  • Sparta was a mixed constitution but mostly oligarchical (had 2 Kings, gerousia the old, over 18 age is the apella, five leading citizens oversaw king and all policy
  • Sparta was a equal society and continually trained for war and although highly capable/cohesive fighting they were reluctant to undertake foreign ventures or expand
  • Sparta's food raised by slaves called Helots (ritually humiliated/killed) Sparta feared Helot rebellion
  • Sparta and Athens had a bipolar system: Sparta a land power w/out navy and Athens was a naval power w/ small army
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  • Neutrals: Argos, Epirus, Aetolia, Achaia
  • Athenian allies (Voluntary Delian League: Aegean islands and Ionian cities): Corcyra, Thessaly, Epidamnus, Illum (Troy), Delos, Melos  contributed money
  • became the Athenian empire, moved the treasury to polis, spending went to public works, allies who tried to withdraw were suppressed
  • Spartan allies (The Peloponnesian League): Corinth, Thebes Macedonia, Leucas
  • Argos was an ancient enemy of Sparta, Corinth was Sparta’s richest alliance w/ a great navy
  • Athen's other rival was Thebes b/c Thebes trying to dominate Boeotia and Athens prevented them by supporting Thebe's rival thus Thebes alliance with Sparta
  • ...

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