THUCYDIDES ESSAY

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Thucydides:
Examining Alliance Conflicts between the Peloponnesian War and the Great War
Vincent Nguyen
Political Science 540, Seminar in Political Philosophy
Dr. Matthewson
February 18, 2015

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Once allies in the Greco-Persian wars (499 B.C.), Athens and Sparta soon faced off
against each other in a largely political and diplomatic battle known as the Peloponnesian War
(From 431 B.C. to 404 B.C.). Before both major powers reconciled in a “Thirty Years Treaty,”
Athens and Sparta sparred off what was known as the First Peloponnesian War during 460 B.C.
before calling for a truce. The treaty lasted only fifteen years before the second, and more
significant war ensued.1 The Peloponnesian War plays a significant role into today’s politics and
wars over two thousand later. More specifically the Great War in 1914, because the political
struggle leading to the outbreak of World War I compared very similarly to the Peloponnesian
war. World War I started off with as an act of terror between two countries (Austria-Hungary
and Serbia). As a result, larger allied powers joined the battle like a domino effect. One ally
(Russia) would support Serbia, and then the allies (France and Great Britain) of the ally
supporting Serbia would take part in the war. Much similar to the events of the Peloponnesian
War, the conflict initially began with the Corinthians from Corinth and Corcyraeans from
Corcyra over the city of Epidamnus. As disagreements continued between the two cities, other
allies began to join in on the fight. In addition, the larger powers (Russia and Germany) that
joined the war in World War I had a much larger influence on the outbreak than the two
countries that originated the conflict. Similarly, Athens and Sparta a more significant role in
initiating the Peloponnesian War, which was initially sparked by two smaller cities. As more and
more allies participate on the battlefield, the reasons and excuses to declare war added on. The
Peloponnesian War which began with a disagreement over the city of Epidamnus, became much
more than Epidamnus as allies from the Peloponnesian League and Delian League jumped in.
1 Zagorin, Perez. Thucydidesan Introduction for the Common Reader. Princeton, NJ:Princeton University Press,
2009. P.14

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Comparably, World War I proceeded to become greater than an act of terror (By Serbian
Nationalists) when the Allied Powers and Central Powers came into play. When the dust settled,
both wars had a victor and an underdog. The results of World War I and the Peloponnesian war
had a detrimental casualty rate and a negative effect on the economy for all nations involved.
The events leading to and the end result of the Peloponnesian war aligned almost identically to
the events of World War I. By learning the political events that occurred between World War I
and the Peloponnesian war, history does not have to repeat itself and lead to another eruption of
another Great War. More importantly, examining both wars illustrates the diplomatic and
international issues that arise when large powers align with lesser powers.
Thucydides documentation on “The History of the Peloponnesian War,” provides
immense details of diplomatic and international issues when large powers align with smaller
powers. Thucydides account of the Peloponnesian War demonstrates to us that larger nations
who are allied with smaller nations are compelled and dragged into a battle that a smaller nations
started. Similar to a big brother being forced to support and fight his little brother’s battles. The
Peloponnesian war initially started when the Corinthians and the Corcyraeans engaged in
disputes over the city of Epidamnus.2 Due to Epidamnus’ declining power, the colony was
handed over to the Corinthians to take over. Cocyra was furious with the Corinthians newly
acquired colony, sparking the feud.3 The feud created a domino effect, which brought Athens
and Sparta into the war. The Athenians decided to join an alliance with Corcyra to prevent the
Corinthians from defeating the Corcyraeans and obtaining their naval power.4 On the other side
of the battlefield, Athens involvement influenced the Lacedamonians from Sparta to join Corinth
2 Zagorin, Perez. Thucydidesan Introduction for the Common Reader. Princeton, NJ:Princeton University Press,
2009. P.41
3 Warner, Rex. History of the Peloponnesian War. Rev. ed. Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin Books, 1972. P.50-53
4 Warner, Rex. History of the Peloponnesian War. Rev. ed. Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin Books, 1972. P.62

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hoping to halt Athens imperialistic motives and prevent Athenian power from growing stronger.5
Sparta and Athens as the larger powers would soon find themselves engaged in the majority of
the Peloponnesian war.
In diplomatic and international affairs, alliances between nations are necessary in order to
maintain world peace, but when peace is disrupted between two nations, allied nations are
pressured to become involved. The circumstances that precipitated to the outbreak of the
Peloponnesian War were nearly identical to the events that led to the outbreak of World War I,
the initial dispute was between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. The Serbian Nationalist Secret
Society (The Black Hand) was becoming a threat to Austria-Hungary, and after the assassination
of Austria’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand, a war was imminent.6 The incident created a chain
reaction as allies of Serbia and Austria-Hungary slowly participated in the war. Russia was
Serbia’s ally, and would intervene on the war. Germany would only go to war if Russia
intervened, and as a result of Russia’s participation General Kaiser Wilhelm II supported
Austria-Hungary’s war efforts by granting a blank check. Similar to the Peloponnesian War,
Athens’ provided unconditional support to Corcyra by sending them a naval fleet. Germany’s
involvement pushed Russia’s allies: France, Great Britain, and Belgium to partake in the war as
well.7 The accounts of the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War explain how a dispute between
two small nations could drag in their allies and start a larger war than was intended. As examined
from the Great War, a conflict between two nations evolved into an extensive war between thirty
two countries.
As the larger powers support their allies during war time, the larger power begins to play
a much more significant role in the war than their smaller allies. Corinh and Sparta were allied
6 Levinson, Martin. "Ten Cautionary GS Lessons from World War I." ETC: General Semantics, Inc. 2014, 42.

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in what was known as the Peloponnesian League. The league was created to provide homeland
security in the Peloponnese.8 When Athens became allies with Corcyra and agreed to defend the
Corcyraeans, Sparta would take part in the war to defend their ally. As the larger powers, Athens
and Sparta took charge of the war. Sparta became heavily involved in the Peloponnesian War
when Athens started to strengthen their city’s power through imperialism. Fearing that Athens
will become too powerful, Sparta was forced to intervene and take a progressive approach
towards the war. Athens had a huge impact because of their naval power and because they were
in the state of imperialism ambition, even applying tyrannical control over their allies for wealth
and military power. Athenian continual aggression provoked the allied congress at Sparta to
agree that the “Thirty Years Truce” between Sparta and Athens have been broken, and the two
larger powers took control of the Peloponnesian War.9 Sparta was highly influential by giving
Athens an opportunity to call an end to the war by accepting Sparta’s ultimatum: abandon
Potidaea, restore autonomy to Aegina, and Rescind the Megarian Decree.10 Corinth and Corcyra
seemed as though they did not have a voice as Sparta and Athens were in a deadlock.
Coincidently, identical to the events of World War I, the dispute between Austria-
Hungary and Serbia slowly became minuscule as their larger allied nations began to influence
war efforts. On Austria-Hungary’s side, Germany advanced the war by providing Austria-
Hungary with unconditional support. Comparable to the Thirty Years Truce of Athens and
Sparta, Germany had imperialism on their mind, and broke their neutrality with Belgium by
invading Luxembourg. As a result of Germany’s broken promise, Great Britain sent troops to
support Belgium. The chain reaction of power alignment continues as the United States entered
8 Zagorin, Perez. Thucydidesan Introduction for the Common Reader. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press,
2009. P.12
10 Woodruff, Paul. On Justice, Power, and Human Nature: The Essence of Thucydides'History of the
Peloponnesian War. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1993. P.32

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the battlefield when Germany attacked United States vessels near Britain.11 The chain reaction
we see with power alignment in the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War nearly mirrors the
eruption of World War I. Small nations trigger a dispute, commencing to larger allied powers
becoming significantly involved in a war that they had not initiated. The smaller nations
(Austria-Hungary and Serbia) start to fade to the background and become less influential as their
larger comrades enter the battlefield. Not only does the chain reaction cause other allies to
become significantly involved and more influential, but new causes and reasons for war pile up.
When allies from both sides of the battlefield decide to join the battlefield, new reasons to
justify war arises, resulting in a larger war than what was intended. The Peloponnesian War
initiated with a dispute over the city of Epidamnus, but became much more than Epidamnus
when Sparta and Athens were involved. The same could be said during World War I, the initial
dispute was between Austria-Hungary and the Serbian Nationalists who executed Archduke
Franz Ferdinand. However, as major allied powers such as Russia, France, Great Britain, The
United States, and Germany became involved, the war became much more than an act of terror.
The alliance system constrains actions and decision making of lesser powers, giving leaving
powers more control12. When comparing the alignment of larger powers with lesser powers
during the Peloponnesian War and World War I, it seems as though the larger powers will go to
war for their own reasons. Due to family ties in Epidamnus, the Corcyraeans demanded that
Epidamnus should return the exiled party back and remove the Corinthian settlers. Refusal led to
Corcyra operations, initiating war.13 The major allied power of Corcyra, Athens, inserted
themselves in the war not for the dispute over Epidamnus, but for their own incentives. The
Athenians did not go to war just to support Corcyra’s efforts to retain Epidamnus, but to ensure
12 Colucci, Lamont. "Great Power Conflict: Will It Return?" World Affairs. 2015. P.46
13 Warner, Rex. History of the Peloponnesian War. Rev. ed. Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin Books, 1972. P.50-52

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Athens will be the most dominating empire in the world. Athens was becoming power hungry
and desired to build an empire before the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War. When their allies
(E.g. Naxos) abandoned the League or alliance, Athens would siege the city and force them back
to the allegiance. The Athenians would force their allies to pay tribute, or they would be extorted
for ships.14 Athens reasons to enter the war and to support the Corcyraeans was to safeguard their
power, and ensure the Corinthians do not become a threat to them by obtaining Corcyra’s fleet.15
Immediately upon Athens reasoning to enter the war and reinforce Corcyra, the Corinthians
pleaded to Sparta for assistance.16 Sparta entered the Peloponnesian War and agreed to fight
alongside Corinth, but not because Sparta desired Corinth to hold onto possession of Epidamnus,
but for Sparta’s own reasons. Sparta was noticing that Greece was slowly being absorbed by the
Athenian empire. As a result of Athens imperialism, Sparta reasoned that the Athenians had
broken the Thirty Years treaty. To prevent Sparta from being overtaken by Athens powerful
empire, going to war was their justification.17 The effects of alliances in the Peloponnesian War
displays for a fact a chain reaction of new justifications for war pile up as other nations enter the
war. What started off as a small battle between Corcyra and Corinth over the city of Epidamnus,
slowly transitioned to a large war over power.
Nearly identical circumstances arise in World War I when the larger powers began to
support Austria-Hungary and Serbia; different assertions for war begin to arise. Austria-Hungary
responded to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by issuing an ultimatum to Serbia.
Waiting for Serbia’s assumed rejection of the ultimatum, Austria-Hungary prepared to use
15 Woodruff, Paul. On Justice,Power, and Human Nature: The Essence of Thucydides'History of the

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Serbia’s response as an excuse to launch a limited war.18 What began as an excuse to suppress
the Serbian Nationalists and for Austria-Hungary to flaunt their authority, escalated into a global
conflict with multiple reasons for war. Russia’s involvement was not only bound by a treaty to
mobilize and support Serbia, but because Russia had been struggling to hold back an internal
revolution and saw a limited battle with Austria-Hungary as a means to restore social order.
Germany viewed Russia’s mobilization as a threat, leading to Germany declaring war on Russia.
Germany had also been dealing with internal issues with socialist deputies being elected to
Reichstage in 1912, making Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg’s task of negotiating difficult. Kaiser
Wilhelm II Schlieffen Plan saw a quick decisive war as a strategy of averting civil unrest, and an
opportunity to increase Germany’s world power by obtaining additional colonies.19 France
reacted to Germany’s declaration of war on Russia by declaring war on both Austria-Hungary
and Germany. France’s declaration of war induced Germany to invade Belgium in order to
strategically mobilize troops closer to Paris. Acknowledging Germany’s actions against Belgium,
Great Britain was bound by treaty to enter the war and defend Belgium.20 By examining World
War 1 and The Peloponnesian War, as larger aligned powers become more involved, a
hodgepodge of different excuses to declare war occurs. The reasons for World War I start to
transition from an act of terror by the Black Hand to Russia and Germany’s internal issues, to
allies reacting to aggression towards their allies. Multiple nations entering the war for different
reasons portray the complications with large powers aligning with lesser powers. We start to
notice how the initial reason for war becomes blurred out when each allied power is throwing
different justifications for war.

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The circumstances that led to the outbreak of war in the Peloponnesian War, plays a
significant role in international affairs and diplomacy today. The accounts between both wars
were drastically similar, and if The Peloponnesian War were taken into account World War I
may have been averted. Alliances between larger powers and lesser powers in both wars imposed
large diplomatic issues that created a larger war from what was a meager conflict. Unfortunately,
a meager conflict between Corinth and Corcyra stemmed into a large battle between the
Peloponnesian League and the Delian League. Fast-forwarding to the early 20th century, a
conflict between two countries (Austria-Hungary and Serbia) over an act of terror quickly
escalated into The Great War; involved thirty two different countries, deteriorated the economy,
and claimed more than eight million military and six million civilian lives.21 The benefit and
costs of larger alliance with smaller powers plays into full effect in the Peloponnesian War and
World War I. The benefit of alliance acts as a strategy to preserve world peace and prevent harm
towards other nations. The drawback is the larger nations are forced to enter a battle they had
nothing to do with. In addition, the larger allied powers begin to have a larger influence on the
war. Corinth and Corcyra started the conflict, but their larger allies had the final say whether to
cease battle or move forward. Athens’ General Pericles was in favor for war, because they
believed a victory would be easy with their maritime power, and Germany was in favor for war
because they believed they will easily become victors as well. Sparta was highly influential
proclaiming The Peloponnesian War may have been averted if Athens would have accepted
Sparta’s ultimatum to release Potidea and remove the Megarian Decree.22 Another drawback of
the alliance system is the initial or real reason for war becomes hazy as larger powers enter the
war. The initial reason for Corcyra starting the war was over Epidamnus, and Austria-Hungary’s
22 Warner, Rex. History of the Peloponnesian War. Rev. ed. Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin Books, 1972.

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justification was to bring Serbia to justice for their act of terror. However, as larger allied powers
participated and declared war for their own reasons the initial reason becomes almost forgotten,
leading to a larger war than what was intended. The accounts of the Peloponnesian War and
World War I clearly depict the diplomatic issues that occur when larger powers are aligned with
lesser powers. Examining both The Peloponnesian War and the Great War, explains to us that
history can unfortunately repeat, and repeat with similar results if we do not acknowledge and
analyze the diplomatic issues that transpired in the Peloponnesian War.

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Bibliography
Colucci, Lamont. "Great Power Conflict: Will It Return?" World Affairs. 2015, 46.
Levinson, Martin. "Ten Cautionary GS Lessons from World War I." ETC: General Semantics,
Inc. 2014, 41-47.
Warner, Rex. History of the Peloponnesian War. Rev. ed. Harmondsworth, Eng.: Penguin
Books, 1972.
Woodruff, Paul. On Justice, Power, and Human Nature: The Essence of Thucydides' History of
the Peloponnesian War. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1993.
Zagorin, Perez. Thucydides an Introduction for the Common Reader. Princeton, NJ:
Princeton University Press, 2009.

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