Alastair Blanshard

Well, good question. I mean, and that certainly was Thucydides' question. I mean, it must be said that the Athenians had been increasingly interested in the West from about the mid-5th century onwards. In particular, they have diplomatic relations with cities like Leontini, Regium, those kinds of places.

They were also involved in the establishment of an Athenian colony at Thurii in southern Italy. So they've always had a kind of Western interest.

They were also involved in the establishment of an Athenian colony at Thurii in southern Italy. So they've always had a kind of Western interest.

They were also involved in the establishment of an Athenian colony at Thurii in southern Italy. So they've always had a kind of Western interest.

Part of the reason why, in fact, they've got into conflict with Corinth was because they were also interested in establishing diplomatic relations with an ex-Corinthian colony by the name of Corsaira, modern-day Corfu, which also shows an interest in the West as well. So Athens had been interested in the West for a long time. Indeed, if we believe Plutarch, when they heard the

Part of the reason why, in fact, they've got into conflict with Corinth was because they were also interested in establishing diplomatic relations with an ex-Corinthian colony by the name of Corsaira, modern-day Corfu, which also shows an interest in the West as well. So Athens had been interested in the West for a long time. Indeed, if we believe Plutarch, when they heard the

Part of the reason why, in fact, they've got into conflict with Corinth was because they were also interested in establishing diplomatic relations with an ex-Corinthian colony by the name of Corsaira, modern-day Corfu, which also shows an interest in the West as well. So Athens had been interested in the West for a long time. Indeed, if we believe Plutarch, when they heard the

This expedition, everyone was in the marketplace drawing maps of Sicily, talking about the wealth of Sicily. And of course, Sicily is a hugely wealthy, important series of Greek communities in this period.

This expedition, everyone was in the marketplace drawing maps of Sicily, talking about the wealth of Sicily. And of course, Sicily is a hugely wealthy, important series of Greek communities in this period.

This expedition, everyone was in the marketplace drawing maps of Sicily, talking about the wealth of Sicily. And of course, Sicily is a hugely wealthy, important series of Greek communities in this period.

Abrogento, Igestra. I mean, all these are really powerful, wealthy cities that you can see, if you're an expansionist power like Athens, are precisely the kinds of allies you want to have. So an expedition to Sicily makes a lot of sense. Athens is invited by one of the city-states, Augusta, to come and intervene in a local dispute.

Abrogento, Igestra. I mean, all these are really powerful, wealthy cities that you can see, if you're an expansionist power like Athens, are precisely the kinds of allies you want to have. So an expedition to Sicily makes a lot of sense. Athens is invited by one of the city-states, Augusta, to come and intervene in a local dispute.

Abrogento, Igestra. I mean, all these are really powerful, wealthy cities that you can see, if you're an expansionist power like Athens, are precisely the kinds of allies you want to have. So an expedition to Sicily makes a lot of sense. Athens is invited by one of the city-states, Augusta, to come and intervene in a local dispute.

It mounts this enormous, enormous expedition, and it all goes badly for them. They arrive Turns out that the promises that Augusta made about the wealth that was waiting for them there turned out not to be true. Turned out that, in fact, they weren't as great at land battles as they thought they might be. They can't make good use of their navy. They don't have any cavalry.

It mounts this enormous, enormous expedition, and it all goes badly for them. They arrive Turns out that the promises that Augusta made about the wealth that was waiting for them there turned out not to be true. Turned out that, in fact, they weren't as great at land battles as they thought they might be. They can't make good use of their navy. They don't have any cavalry.

It mounts this enormous, enormous expedition, and it all goes badly for them. They arrive Turns out that the promises that Augusta made about the wealth that was waiting for them there turned out not to be true. Turned out that, in fact, they weren't as great at land battles as they thought they might be. They can't make good use of their navy. They don't have any cavalry.

They can't seem to make any diplomatic friends on the island. They fall into a conflict with the main power in the island, which is Syracuse, which then receives some help from Sparta. And through a series of tactical blunders, they end up losing the entire expeditionary force. The entire expeditionary force.

They can't seem to make any diplomatic friends on the island. They fall into a conflict with the main power in the island, which is Syracuse, which then receives some help from Sparta. And through a series of tactical blunders, they end up losing the entire expeditionary force. The entire expeditionary force.

They can't seem to make any diplomatic friends on the island. They fall into a conflict with the main power in the island, which is Syracuse, which then receives some help from Sparta. And through a series of tactical blunders, they end up losing the entire expeditionary force. The entire expeditionary force.

Yeah, so Thucydides says, you know, that never had Athens experienced such a great defeat, and this was the greatest defeat of the Peloponnesian War.