Peace of Nicias
The Peace of Nicias was a cessation of the Peloponnesian War precipitated by the confidence and aggressive politics of both Sparta and Athens waning; by 422, both states had much to lose by continuing the war and neither had much to gain. But neither side adhered to the terms of the peace and the agreement could not be sustained. Athens' defensive strategy meant that it could not enforce the terms of the truce and the fact that Sparta's allies were unwilling to abide by the peace meant that it collapsed within a few years.
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The Peace of Nicias
Thuc. 5.13ff.
The Peace of Nicias was precipitated by the confidence and aggressive politics of both Sparta
and Athens waning; by 422, both states had much to lose by continuing the war and neither
had much to gain.
The Athenians had suffered a series of defeats that diminished their confidence. In 424,
Athens’s attempt to support Boeotian rebels became less promising when the Spartans learned
of their plan. To make matter worse, Demosthenes’s fleet arrived some time befo...
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