Book 3 Summary and Analysis

In the summer of 428 BC, the Peloponnesian army once again invades Attica. As usual the Athenians do not provide massed resistance; though the Peloponnesians destroy large expanses of crop land Athens is not adversely affected by this to a marked degree—her financial empire and sea power allow for continuous supply by sea. Lesbos revolts against Athenian rule and the city of Mytilene requests assistance from Sparta and secures an alliance. The Mytilene revolt consumes a large amount of the subsequent text and becomes a central focus of Athenian politics in the short term. Mytilene, the largest and most-important city on Lesbos, effectively leads the entire island into revolution. This is particularly significant to Athens because the Lesbians, unlike most other participants in the Delian League, have traditionally contributed ships and sailors instead of money. Thus, the revolt of Mytilene...