Ebook: Expedition to Disaster

The Athenian expedition to conquer Sicily was one of the pivotal events of the classical period. At this time (415 BC), Athens was locked in a decades-long struggle with Sparta for mastery of the Greek world. The expedition to Sicily was intended to give Athens the extra money and resources to crush the Spartans. New archaeological discoveries allow the ensuing siege to be reconstructed in greater detail than ever before. The cast of characters includes Alcibiades, the flamboyant, charismatic young aristocrat; Nicias, the aging, reluctant commander of the ill-fated expedition and Gylippus, the.;Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; List of Plates; Introduction; Chapter 1 -- Events Leading to a Very Warm Cold War; The Persian wars -- where it all began; The Delian League; The Athenian empire is born; The world according to Pericles; 430 BC: war!; Pylos 425 BC; Chapter 2 -- From Melos to Sicily; Alcibiades; Mantinea 418 BC; Melos 416; The dialogue; Sicily up to 415 BC; Sicily at war; Chapter 3 -- Travel Plans; Nicias; Debate; Preparations; The silence of the herms; Launch day; Chapter 4 -- The Athenians are Coming!; The debate; Preparations; The coalition that wasn't.