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What was the Peloponnesian War?

Between 431 and 404 B.C. Athens and Sparta, Greek city-states, fought in what was called the Peloponnesian War. (A city-state was a self-ruling region made up of a city and its surrounding territory.) The city-states were competitors, and an intense rivalry grew between Sparta and Athens because of Athens increased power. Sparta recruited support from other groups on the Peloponnese Peninsula of Greece and attacked Athens. While Athens was repelling Sparta, it came under attack from another source—a deadly plague that killed one third of the Athenian population. After the loss of so many lives, Athens could not muster the military leadership and strength needed to defeat the Spartans. In 404 B.C. Athens lost the war and was left in ruins. Sparta dominated the Greek world, but disputes among the city-states continued to the detriment of the common people.

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