Table of Contents
- 1 Why was the Sicilian expedition a disaster?
- 2 What happened to the Sicilian expedition and why is this important?
- 3 Why did the Athenians go to Sicily?
- 4 What was the most important consequence of the Athenian defeat in Sicily?
- 5 Why did the Athenians execute their famous philosophers Socrates?
- 6 How did the Sicilian expedition affect Athens?
Why was the Sicilian expedition a disaster?
The evacuation failed, and nearly the entire expedition were captured or were destroyed in Sicily. The effects of the defeat were immense….
| Sicilian Expedition | |
|---|---|
| Nicias ( POW ) , Lamachus †, Demosthenes ( POW ) , Eurymedon † | Gylippus, Hermocrates |
| Strength |
What happened to the Sicilian expedition and why is this important?
Athens sent a massive expeditionary force to attack Syracuse, but it was eventually annihilated. Athens’s Sicilian expedition set off in 415 bce, inspired by the idea that capturing Syracuse might bring dominance over Sicily as a whole and supply the resources that Athens would need to win its long war with Sparta.
What waited for Athens when they attacked Syracuse in Sicily?
At first this work went well, and a wooden counter-wall soon began to take shape, but the Athenians waited until the Syracusans guard was down and launched a counter attack. A picked force of 300 hoplites and heavily armoured light troops captured the stockade protecting the counter wall.
What happened in Athens just before the great military expedition to Sicily in 415 BC?
In 415 BC, on a night shortly before the Athenian fleet was about to set sail for Syracuse during the Peloponnesian War, all of the Athenian hermai were vandalized. This was a horribly impious act and many people believed it threatened the success of the expedition.
Why did the Athenians go to Sicily?
The city-state of Segesta had promised huge financial aid in return for assistance against its enemy Selinus. With a foothold in Sicily the Athenians would also gain a tactically advantageous position from which to attack Sparta, if war broke out between the two great powers once more.
What was the most important consequence of the Athenian defeat in Sicily?
The Oligarchy in Athens The Athenian defeat in Sicily not only weakened the city militarily but also politically. Many of the traditional elite and aristocracy of Athens were never thrilled democracy. They wanted a return to the previous oligarchy which would return control of the city to their hands.
Why did Athens invade Sicily?
When did the Athenians invade Sicily?
415 BC
In 415 BC the Athenian assembly, led by Alcibiades, voted to invade Sicily.
Why did the Athenians execute their famous philosophers Socrates?
Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens and sentenced to death. Choosing not to flee, he spent his final days in the company of his friends before drinking the executioner’s cup of poisonous hemlock.
How did the Sicilian expedition affect Athens?
The Athenians sought to conquer the island of Sicily. This expedition resulted in a disastrous Athenian defeat that is seen as a turning point in the Peloponnesian war. Prior to the expedition, Athens held its own against Sparta and maintained its Empire.
Did Athens declared war on Sparta after a disagreement over Corinth?
Sparta and its allies became increasingly jealous and distrustful of Athens. Finally, in 431 BC, when Sparta and Athens ended up on different sides in a conflict over the city of Corinth, Sparta declared war on Athens.