Peloponnesian War

10 Pages 2575 Words

rea of military expertise), as Athens’ culture, military and economy all revolved around its supreme maritime strength. The Peloponnesian general Phormio expressed this sentiment in his statement to the Spartan troops:
The reason why they have equipped this great number of ships and are not meeting us on even terms… is that they imagine themselves to have a kind of monopoly in being brave… they think that this experience of theirs will be equally valuable on the sea (The Peloponnesian War, pp. 182-183).

Thus, Phormio showed his proficiency in the first element of net assessment (analysis of the nature of the conflict) by his astute determination of the type of war which would be fought.
Archidamus also understood that there were huge disparities in the wealth and resources of the two polises (Athens being the financially stronger state), and thus the conflict with Athens (if carried on according to the traditional Greek method of battle) would not result in success, but instead in a long and protracted war: He readily acknowledged Sparta’s own weaknesses: “Our navy? It is inferior to [the Athenians’], and if we are to give proper attention to it and build it up to their strength, that will take time” (The Peloponnesian War, p. 83) and Athens’ strengths, as “people who have the widest experience of the sea and who are… very wealthy both as individuals and as a state, with ships and cavalry and hoplites” (The Peloponnesian War, p. 82).
Archidamus’ understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the two polises (the second element of net assessment) in the economic realm helped him to avoid the possibility of a drawn-out battle. A prolonged battle would be detrimental to all Peloponnesian interests, and consequently it was Archidamus’ primary concern: "I fear that it is more likely that we shall be leaving [this war] to our children after us" (The Peloponnesian War, p. 83). As victory is the main object...