The Peloponnesian War: How Greece Destroyed Itself
Fexingo History · Mediterranean
The Peloponnesian War: How Greece Destroyed Itself
The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE) was the ancient Greek world’s own civil war, a devastating conflict between the Athenian Empire and the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Hosts Lucas and Luna guide listeners through the rise of Athenian democracy under Pericles, the construction of the Long Walls, and the fatal plague that ravaged the city. They explore the brutal Sicilian Expedition, the cunning leadership of Alcibiades, and the final Spartan victory that dismantled Athenian hegemony. The show examines key battles—Pylos, Syracuse, Aegospotami—and the roles of figures like Cleon, Brasidas, and Lysander. Beyond military history, the podcast delves into the cultural and intellectual impact: the tragedies of Euripides, the history of Thucydides, and the political philosophy that emerged from Athens’ collapse. The war reshaped the Greek city-states, paving the way for Macedonian conquest. This series asks: How does a civilization at its peak tear itself apart? And what lessons does that hold for our own polarized world? With detailed analysis of primary sources and modern scholarship, Lucas and Luna unpack the hubris, fear, and miscalculations that turned allies into enemies and brought the Golden Age of Greece to a bloody end.
