Alastair Blanshard

They increasingly realized that actually this activist expansionist Athens is not a good thing for them. And so we see two particular satraps, Afanabazos and Tisaphernes, start to mobilize diplomatic relations. Initially with Sparta, Alcibiades comes in and says, look, actually it's in your best interest not to go for one side or the other, but rather to sort of maintain a status quo.

They increasingly realized that actually this activist expansionist Athens is not a good thing for them. And so we see two particular satraps, Afanabazos and Tisaphernes, start to mobilize diplomatic relations. Initially with Sparta, Alcibiades comes in and says, look, actually it's in your best interest not to go for one side or the other, but rather to sort of maintain a status quo.

And so he's relatively effective early on in stopping the detente between Persia and Sparta, but eventually what we see Persia doing is siding with Sparta.

And so he's relatively effective early on in stopping the detente between Persia and Sparta, but eventually what we see Persia doing is siding with Sparta.

And so he's relatively effective early on in stopping the detente between Persia and Sparta, but eventually what we see Persia doing is siding with Sparta.

Yes. So initially, things are going well for Athens. And under Alcibiades, they have a number of successes.

Yes. So initially, things are going well for Athens. And under Alcibiades, they have a number of successes.

Yes. So initially, things are going well for Athens. And under Alcibiades, they have a number of successes.

It's a bit of a revival. It's a good period. But Persia and Sparta are getting closer. And indeed, Persia decides to fund a Spartan fleet. This is the game changer. Now, Sparta's not very good at naval battles and it takes a while for them to get reasonably good at it. There are a couple of false starts.

It's a bit of a revival. It's a good period. But Persia and Sparta are getting closer. And indeed, Persia decides to fund a Spartan fleet. This is the game changer. Now, Sparta's not very good at naval battles and it takes a while for them to get reasonably good at it. There are a couple of false starts.

It's a bit of a revival. It's a good period. But Persia and Sparta are getting closer. And indeed, Persia decides to fund a Spartan fleet. This is the game changer. Now, Sparta's not very good at naval battles and it takes a while for them to get reasonably good at it. There are a couple of false starts.

In 410 and 408 and stuff, we see a number of unsuccessful naval battles, particularly around the Hellespont. And the Hellespont itself becomes increasingly fractious in this period. So we have some city-states like Cestos, for example, which is on the Hellespont. I'm being very pro-Athenian, but its opposite number on the opposite coast of the Hellespont, Abydos, goes totally spartan.

In 410 and 408 and stuff, we see a number of unsuccessful naval battles, particularly around the Hellespont. And the Hellespont itself becomes increasingly fractious in this period. So we have some city-states like Cestos, for example, which is on the Hellespont. I'm being very pro-Athenian, but its opposite number on the opposite coast of the Hellespont, Abydos, goes totally spartan.

In 410 and 408 and stuff, we see a number of unsuccessful naval battles, particularly around the Hellespont. And the Hellespont itself becomes increasingly fractious in this period. So we have some city-states like Cestos, for example, which is on the Hellespont. I'm being very pro-Athenian, but its opposite number on the opposite coast of the Hellespont, Abydos, goes totally spartan.

And so around 411, we see the Hellespont kind of divide between Athens and Sparta. And we're starting to see increasing kind of naval actions in this period. Sparta is trying to blockade the Athenian fleet. The Athenian fleet manages to escape them. And so there's a lot of instability at this time.

And so around 411, we see the Hellespont kind of divide between Athens and Sparta. And we're starting to see increasing kind of naval actions in this period. Sparta is trying to blockade the Athenian fleet. The Athenian fleet manages to escape them. And so there's a lot of instability at this time.

And so around 411, we see the Hellespont kind of divide between Athens and Sparta. And we're starting to see increasing kind of naval actions in this period. Sparta is trying to blockade the Athenian fleet. The Athenian fleet manages to escape them. And so there's a lot of instability at this time.

Absolutely. So it's both taking out the navy and also controlling the supply lines. And I think those two things really are what are the fatal consequences for it. And the Spartans get better at it. I mean, from a very low base, it must be said. But still, by 407, the Battle of Notion, for example,

Absolutely. So it's both taking out the navy and also controlling the supply lines. And I think those two things really are what are the fatal consequences for it. And the Spartans get better at it. I mean, from a very low base, it must be said. But still, by 407, the Battle of Notion, for example,

Absolutely. So it's both taking out the navy and also controlling the supply lines. And I think those two things really are what are the fatal consequences for it. And the Spartans get better at it. I mean, from a very low base, it must be said. But still, by 407, the Battle of Notion, for example,