. European history : an outline of its development. g forceon the sea, and Sparta on the land. It was thus difficult foreither to strike a decisive blow. This fact gives its characterto the first period of the war, which lasted ten years. Athensduring the most of this time suffered more than Sparta. Anarmy laid waste Attica every spring, and though it could notsuccessfully attack Athens, the city, crowded with refugees,suffered severely from pestilence. In turn Athenian fleetsravaged the coasts of the Peloponnesus and inflicted whatdamage they could on Sparta and her allies. The death of Peric
. European history : an outline of its development. g forceon the sea, and Sparta on the land. It was thus difficult foreither to strike a decisive blow. This fact gives its characterto the first period of the war, which lasted ten years. Athensduring the most of this time suffered more than Sparta. Anarmy laid waste Attica every spring, and though it could notsuccessfully attack Athens, the city, crowded with refugees,suffered severely from pestilence. In turn Athenian fleetsravaged the coasts of the Peloponnesus and inflicted whatdamage they could on Sparta and her allies. The death of Pericles was a great loss to Athens. No realstatesman rose to take his place, and the democracy, growingconstantly more selfish and passionate, began to listen withmore favor to the demagogues who flattered its prejudicesbut could not lead in the adoption of any far-sighted policy. 28. The Close of the First Period. — In the seventh yearof the war, the Athenians gained a decided , a point on the north side of the bay now called Nav- 34. §29] The Sicilian Expedition 35 arino, was seized and fortified. A force of Spartans, whohad landed on the island which closes the mouth of thebay, were then first blockaded, and finally defeated andforced to surrender. This act, so contrary to the Spartanreputation, made a profound impression throughout Greece. Athens could now have made peace on very favorableconditions had she been willing. It was a serious mistakethat she did not do so. She was defeated the next year inthe great battle of Delium in Breotia, and rebellion, sup-ported by the Spartans, destroyed her empire in she was ready to end the war. In the spring of 421,the Peace of Nicias was concluded for fifty years. By itsterms conquests were to be restored by both sides, as ifthings could be put where they were before the war. 29. The Sicilian Expedition. — As this peace settlednothing, it was not likely to last out its fifty years. Thesecond period of the
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