The Athenians' Failure in the War of Athens

The influence of political systems on people outside them is closely connected with their success in war. Sparta had set out to break the athenian empire and to liberate the greeks. The declared purpose of liberating the greek subject cities of athens became a mockery even before the war had ended. But despite its apparently decisive outcome, the war did not establish a stable balance of power between greece's two super powers. Nor did it create a new order that brought a general peace for a generation or more.