431–404 BC
Athens and Sparta — the two great powers of the Greek world — tore their civilization apart in a generation-long war of attrition. Thucydides, who lived through it, called it 'the greatest disturbance in the history of the Hellenes.' It ended in the total defeat of Athens and a democracy that never fully recovered, leaving Greece weakened for the Macedonian conquest to come.
Chapter-by-chapter narrative with maps, primary sources, and key events.
Explore battles on a live map with a timeline slider and territory overlays.
Deep-dive into every major engagement — commanders, casualties, significance.
Biographical flip cards with real portraits, facts, and full biography pages.
Trace each figure's full life journey — birth, education, battles, and death — on a live map.
Scroll-driven visualization of casualties — each dot a thousand lives.
Weapons, war machines, and the military innovations that defined how this conflict was fought.
Cause-and-effect chains tracing the war's long shadow on history.
War crimes, massacres, and the darkest chapters of this conflict — documented for history.
Athens and Sparta — the two great powers of the Greek world — tore their civilization apart in a generation-long war of attrition. Thucydides, who lived through it, called it 'the greatest disturbance in the history of the Hellenes.' It ended in the total defeat of Athens and a democracy that never fully recovered, leaving Greece weakened for the Macedonian conquest to come.
The Peloponnesian War was fought from 431 to 404 BC.
The Peloponnesian War was fought between Athenian League and Spartan League.
An estimated 255,000 people died in The Peloponnesian War, including roughly 180,000 military and 75,000 civilian deaths. Figures are scholarly estimates and vary by source.
Major engagements included Sicilian Expedition — Siege of Syracuse, Battle of Aegospotami, Battle of Cyzicus, and Battle of Sybota.