Sparta's Second Attic War: The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta, 446-418 B.C.

Paul Rahe's latest volume in his multivolume series on ancient Sparta narrates the second stage of the six-decades-long struggle between Sparta and Athens, exploring how and why open warfare broke out after a truce. The book examines the strategy each community pursued and the tactics adopted, and how mutual exhaustion forced another truce, which doomed to fail. The survival of each people's political regime and way of life was at stake.

Format: Hardback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 04 September 2020
Publisher: Yale University Press

Paul Rahe, a renowned scholar of the Peloponnesian War, has released a new volume in his extensive exploration of Spartas response to the challenges posed to its grand strategy. This latest installment provides valuable insights into enduring problems of politics and strategy in wartime, shedding light on why and how people engage in conflict, both in the ancient world and in our contemporary times.

In his multivolume series on ancient Sparta, Paul Rahe delves into the second stage of the epic conflict between Sparta and Athens, which erupted seventeen years after their joint victory in the Persian Wars. Rahe examines the circumstances that led to the outbreak of open warfare between these two erstwhile allies, despite their previous negotiation of an extended truce. He traces the course of the war, analyzing the strategies employed by both communities and the tactics adopted. Rahe also explores how and why mutual exhaustion ultimately forced another truce, which proved unsuccessful.

At the heart of this enduring strategic rivalry, as Rahe demonstrates, was the survival of each peoples political regime and the unique way of life that it had fostered. The war between Sparta and Athens was not merely a clash of military forces but a battle for the very essence of their respective societies. The outcome of this conflict had far-reaching consequences, shaping the political landscape of the ancient world and leaving a lasting impact on the history of civilization.

Paul Rahes latest volume on Spartas protracted struggle with Athens is a testament to his exceptional expertise and dedication to the study of ancient history. It offers valuable insights into the complexities of political and strategic decision-making in times of war and provides a deeper understanding of the enduring challenges faced by societies throughout history. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in ancient history, military strategy, or the study of human behavior in conflict.

Weight: 730g
Dimension: 243 x 164 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300242621