Spartan Strategy

1. Spartan Strategy
This topic discusses what Spartan strategy was in the beginning of Peloponnesian war in 431 BC.
I. Goal
1. Destruction of Athenian power, which threaten Spartan Security
i. Wallà protect
ii. Fleetà command of the sea
iii. Empireà provide the money that support her navy
2. avoid Spartan allies disaffect
3. to liberate Greece
II. Strategy
1. background
i. alliance
(1). all Peloponnese states, except Argos and Archea (Pellene)
(2). Megarians, Boeotians, northern Locrians, and Phocians
(3). Corinthian colonies of Ambracia, Leucas and Anactorium
(4). Sicily: Syracuse and all the Dorian cities except Camarian
(5). Italy: Locri, Taras
ii. Splendid, heavily armed infantry: 30, 000 hoplites (Athenian 13,000)
iii. Immature marine capability
iv. Experience: 446 Spartan invade Attic, Athens made a truce
v. After the Assembly in Sparta which deciding to fight, Sparta still delayed 1 year to start
2. offensive policy
i. Short Term: Invasion of Attic
(1). to enforce Athenian to have a pitched battle
(2). more systematic and persistent devastations might result in Athens’ surrender
ß the Athenians hide behind their walls
ii. Long Term:
(1). incite rebellion among the allies of Athens
(2). Sparta plan to build its own fleet, 500 ships
A. so she attacked Athens only less than 120 days in seven years.
B. Sparta sent more that six times her fleets to engage duties.
C. Sparta failed in Pylos, losing their 60 fleets, which made they tended to term with Athens
è Sparta did not focus his attack by invasion on lands, but tried to trained its naval

iii. Wanted help from abroad
(1) Sicily to provide a fleet and money ß no intervened from the past
(2) Great King of Persia ß at odds

III. Evaluation: a better strategy
1. wait
i. by arbitration rather than go to war immediately
ii. repair their naval and financial deficiencies
2. Permanent fort: the strategy of devastation became immensely more damaging to Athens once the Spartans established a permanent fort in Attica in 413.
※Why not build fort in 413?
i. need a large margin of military superiority over the Athenian
ii. not easy to sustain when Sparta military come back
(a) Why not support by Boeotia? Not big enough

40 topics within the T-P-War:

Attending Donald Kagan's class, I will write down 40 topics discussing in the class.
It is a class of History and Classics and hence its point of view is much concerned on the history, strategy, military, and so on. It is very interesting to pay attention to the history in detail. I believe it will be the first step to have a whole view and historical training and then develop my main interest- political rhetoric and political philosophy.