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The Peloponnesian War - Page 6 of 17

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Pericles' Strategy

Now all Pericles' careful work was to pay off. The people of Attica withdrew from their farms and villages, and retired to the protection of the city walls. The Spartan army invaded Attica, ravaged the countryside, but was quite unable to lay effective siege to the city, for supplies flowed freely under the protection of the Long Walls and the fleet.

 In turn, Athenian ships raided all along the Peloponnesian coast. The aristocrats didn't much like seeing their estates burn, but everyone had to admit that Pericles' strategy looked to be effective.

 There were flaws in Percles' plan, however. For one thing, his strategy protected Athens well, but it proved less effective in attacking Sparta. More immediately, though, it soon appeared that Pericles had not reckoned the effect of stuffing thousands more people inside the city.

 Within two years, plague broke out in Athens and revisited regularly. One of its early victims was Pericles himself.

  

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History of Western Civilization
Dr.Ellis L. Knox
Boise State University
Last Revised 22 June 1995