The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE) was a defining conflict between Athens and Sparta, the two leading Greek city-states of the classical era. Sparked by Athens' growing power and rivalry with Sparta, the war unfolded in three major phases. Athens initially relied on its naval strength and fortified walls, while Sparta launched annual invasions. A brief peace was shattered by Athens' disastrous Sicilian Expedition, leaving it vulnerable. In the final phase, Sparta, with Persian support, built a formidable navy and decisively defeated Athens at the Battle of Aegospotami.

The war ended with Athens' surrender and the rise of Spartan dominance, though both city-states emerged weakened. The conflict devastated Greece, leading to the decline of the classical Greek world and setting the stage for Macedonia's rise under Philip II and Alexander the Great.

The Peloponnesian War: Athens vs. Sparta

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