The Great Persian War, the Struggle Against Tyranny

Athens and sparta led a coalition that united various greek city states to drive out the barbarians. But over time, in those hetty days, the athenians turned their position in the alliance from first among equals into lords of subjects. The current war broke out after blatant athenian imperial expansionism provoked so many greek citiesthat the ever cautious spartans could no longer ignore the insistent demands of their peloponnesian allies.