Geostrategy of the Peloponnesian War 5: Politics and Strategy

Did the institutions of Athenian democracy and Spartan monarchy affect the way these states fought war? This is Part 5/5 in a re-examination of the strategies used in the 2nd Peloponnesian War. This video focuses on how Greek/Athenian/Spartan politics affected their strategy throughout the Peloponnesian War. We look at Thucydides' own opinions regarding strategy, the impact of the Athenian democracy on the city's strategymaking, and how Spartan strategy went so awry between the Ionian and Corinthian Wars.

Video 1 on CaspianReport's channel

All errors are my own - especially the pronunciation! "Thucydides" is probably common enough that I resorted to the English way of saying it.

▬ CHAPTERS ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

▬ SOURCES ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Thucydides, History of The Peloponnesian War

Xenophon, Hellenica

Plutarch, Parallel Lives [Lysander]

Kagan D. New History of the Peloponnesian War, Cornell University Press 2013.

Luginbill R. Thucydides on War and National Character. B&B 2015.

Lazenby J. The Spartan Army. Stackpole Books 2012.

Rusch S. Sparta at War. Frontline 2011.

Thorley J. Athenian Democracy. Routledge 2012.

Walling K. "Thucydides on Democratic Politics and Civil-Military Relations", in Strategic Logic and Political Rationality (Lee B.; Walling K eds.). Routledge 2004.

Hanson V. A War Like No Other. Random House 2006.

Henderson B. The Great War Between Athens and Sparta. Hauraki 2015.

▬ ATTRIBUTIONS ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Google Maps for the maps and the placement of the towns. Locations corroborated with Wikipedia (i.e. Corinth today is not where ancient Corinth was). Roads follow the route of modern highways, but they seem to match ancient routes well enough.

Wikipedia (Basic facts)

(Greece during PW)

(Spartan Govt Structure)

(Athenian Govt Structure)

(Battle of Sybota)

Made using Powerpoint 2013, Audacity, WavePad and VideoPad.