The Athenians and the Peloponnesians

Athens had a great deal more money than the Peloponnesians and their navy was incomparably superior. The numbers needed to equip 300 ships were too large to be supplied from the citizen body alone. A considerable proportion of their rowers had been recruited from the islands Or men who had few chances to earn a livelihood at home. But it was on the ground both infantry and cavalry where the PelopOnnesians had the more significant advantage. And so they lacked the essential financial basis necessary for naval warfare. It wouldn't be until much later in the war after quite a significant amount of Persian subsidies were secured that this would change.