Which sequence best describes the major events and outcomes of the Peloponnesian War?

• A. Prolonged conflict between Athens and Sparta, plague in Athens, Syracuse expedition, Spartan victory at Aegospotami, decline of Athenian power, and Macedonian ascendancy
• B. A brief war with quick peace and no major consequences
• C. The war ended with Greek unity and lasting peace
• D. Naval battles at Salamis and Plataea secured a Greek victory early

Answer: (B)

The event sequence that best matches the Peloponnesian War shows a long, grinding conflict between Athens and Sparta, followed by turning points that had lasting consequences for the Greek world. It wasn't a short clash with minimal fallout. The war dragged on for most of the 5th century BCE, punctuated by Athens being hit by a devastating plague that weakened its leadership and morale. Athens then undertook the risky Sicilian Expedition to strike a decisive blow against Syracuse, which ended in a disastrous defeat and further hollowed its power. Eventually Sparta, with Persian support, defeated Athens at the decisive naval battle of Aegospotami, leading to Athens’s surrender in 404 BCE. The aftermath brought a significant decline of Athenian power, a temporary Spartan hegemony, and a much-weakened Greek world that set the stage for Macedonian ascendancy under Philip II and later Alexander. This sequence captures both the major events and the enduring outcomes, unlike descriptions that portray the war as brief or with no major consequences.