What were the major events and outcomes of the Peloponnesian War?

The major events of the Peloponnesian War were:

1. The war began in 431 BCE between the two major Greek city-states, Athens and Sparta, and their respective allies.
2. The conflict lasted for 27 years, with several periods of truce and intermittent fighting.
3. Athens, with its powerful navy, initially had the upper hand and controlled the sea, while Sparta, with its strong army, dominated on land.
4. The Athenian leader Pericles implemented a strategy of avoiding direct land battles and relying on their navy to maintain control over their empire.
5. A devastating plague struck Athens in 430 BCE, killing a significant portion of its population, including Pericles.
6. Sparta formed the Peloponnesian League, a coalition of city-states, to challenge Athens' dominance.
7. In 415 BCE, Athens launched a disastrous expedition to conquer Sicily, resulting in the loss of a large portion of their fleet and soldiers.
8. Sparta, with the support of Persia, eventually gained the upper hand and besieged Athens.
9. In 404 BCE, Athens surrendered, and Sparta emerged as the dominant power in Greece.
10. The outcome of the war led to the decline of Athens' power and influence, the dismantling of its empire, and the rise of Sparta as the leading city-state in Greece.

Overall, the Peloponnesian War had a significant impact on the balance of power in ancient Greece and marked the end of Athens' golden age.