The Peloponnesian War, Part 1: Plague, Attrition, and a Decade of Bloodshed
Tides of History
Leadership Faces Adversity in Crisis
In July of 429 BC, Athens faced significant challenges as its military campaigns faltered, exemplified by a disastrous clash at Spartolis leading to the loss of 430 hoplites and several generals. Despite defeating a Spartan fleet and thwarting a surprise attack on their port, the city remained under threat. Amid these struggles, Pericles, the long-standing leader and strategist of Athens, succumbed to plague, marking a pivotal loss for the Athenian Empire and leaving the city without its foundational leadership during a time of crisis.
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