Syracusan expedition: Background Information

The Syracusan Expedition was launched against the Spartan colony of Syracuse on the island of Sicily about 415 BC. This was the second and much larger Athenian attempt to force Sparta and her colonies (known as the Peloponnesian League) to its knees. A successful attack and capture of the colony of Syracuse would have certainly meant the eventual loss of the Spartan colonies on Sicily as well as much of the military capability of Sparta. The following is a summary of the events of the battle which changed the coarse of the Peloponnesian Wars, the power struggle between Athens and Sparta and history as well. [Greece Ancient War Links]