What was the turning point for Sparta in the peloponnesian war against athens?
To attribute Pericles’ death as the main and sole reason for the Athenian defeat in the Peloponnesian War would be a grave misconception, as the conflict itself continued for nearly ten years after his death. Instead, it lead to a critical change in Athenian military tactics; Pericles had championed and carried out the defensive policy of hiding behind the tall walls of Athens, safe from the superior infantry forces of Sparta and her allies. The city and her inhabitants would be supplied via the port, which was protected from naval blockade by the impressive Athenian fleet of triremes. With the death of its greatest supporter, this policy was replaced with a more agressive, militaristic form of warfare; Athens and her allies form the Delian League would begin invasions of the Peloponnese. The Athenian people dreamed for impereal greatness and wished to spread democracy (or demokratia in ancient Greek) throughout the known world. With this in mind the Athenian strategists planned to inv
