The Peace of Nicias was a peace treaty that was signed between the Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta in 421 BC, ending the first half of the Peloponnesian War. A treaty is a binding agreement under international law concluded by subjects of international law, namely states and international organizations. ... A city-state is a region controlled exclusively by a city. ... The Acropolis in central Athens, one of the most important landmarks in world history. ... Sparta (Greek Σπάρτη) was a city in ancient Greece, whose territory included, in Classical times, all Laconia and Messenia, and which was the most powerful state of the Peloponnesus. ... Centuries: 6th century BC - 5th century BC - 4th century BC Decades: 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC 430s BC - 420s BC - 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC 370s BC Years: 426 BC 425 BC 424 BC 423 BC 422 BC - 421 BC - 420 BC 419 BC... Map of the Greek world at the start of the Peloponnesian War Temple of Apollo at Corinth The Peloponnesian War began in 431 BC between the Athenian Empire (or The Delian League) and the Peloponnesian League which included Sparta and Corinth. ...

In 425 BC the Spartans had lost the battles of Pylos and Sphacteria, a severe defeat resulting in the Athenians holding 120 Spartan hoplites (stated by Thucydides). They had recovered by 424 BC, when the Spartan general Brasidas captured Amphipolis. That same year, the Athenians suffered a major defeat in Boeotia at the Battle of Delium, and in 422 BC they were defeated at the Battle of Amphipolis in their attempt to take back that city. Both sides were exhausted and ready for peace. Centuries: 6th century BC - 5th century BC - 4th century BC Decades: 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC 430s BC - 420s BC - 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC 370s BC Years: 430 BC 429 BC 428 BC 427 BC 426 BC - 425 BC - 424 BC 423 BC... Battle of Pylos Conflict Peloponnesian War Date 425 BC Place Pylos Result Athenian victory The Battle of Pylos took place between Athens and Sparta during the Peloponnesian War in 425 BC. Accompanying this battle was the Battle of Sphacteria. ... Battle of Sphacteria Conflict Peloponnesian War Date 425 BC Place Sphacteria Result Athenian victory The Battle of Sphacteria was a battle of the Peloponnesian War in 425 BC, between Athens and Sparta. ... Bust of Thucydides Thucydides (between 460 and 455 BC–circa 400 BC, Greek Θουκυδίδης, Thoukudídês) was an ancient Greek historian, and the author of the History of the Peloponnesian War, which recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens. ... Centuries: 6th century BC - 5th century BC - 4th century BC Decades: 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC 430s BC - 420s BC - 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC 370s BC Years: 429 BC 428 BC 427 BC 426 BC 425 BC - 424 BC - 423 BC 422 BC... Brasidas (d. ... Amphipolis (modern Greek: Amfipoli), was an ancient city of Macedonia, on the east bank of the river Strymon, where it emerges from Lake Cercinitis, about 3 m. ... Boeotia (Greek Βοιωτια) was the central area of ancient Greece. ... The Battle of Delium took place in 424 BC between the Athenians and the Boeotians, and ended with the siege of Delium in the following weeks. ... Centuries: 6th century BC - 5th century BC - 4th century BC Decades: 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC 430s BC - 420s BC - 410s BC 400s BC 390s BC 380s BC 370s BC Years: 427 BC 426 BC 425 BC 424 BC 423 BC - 422 BC - 421 BC 420 BC... Battle of Amphipolis Conflict Peloponnesian War Date 422 BC Place Amphipolis Result Spartan victory The Battle of Amphipolis was fought in 422 BC during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. ...

The negotiations were begun by Pleistoanax, King of Sparta, and the Athenian general Nicias. Both decided to return everything that they had conquered during the war, except for Nisaea, which would remain in Athenian hands, and Plataea, which remained under the control of Thebes. Most notably, Amphipolis would be returned to Athens, and the Athenians would release the prisoners taken at Sphacteria. Temples throughout Greece would be open to worshippers from all cities, and the oracle at Delphi would regain its autonomy. Athens could continue to collect tribute from the states that done so since the time of Aristides, but Athens could not force them to become allies. Athens also agreed to come to Sparta's aid if the helots revolted. All of Sparta's allies agreed to sign the peace, except for the Boeotians, Corinth, Elis, and Megara. Pleistoanax (reigned 459 BC – 409 BC) was an Agiad King of Sparta. ... Sparta was an important Greek city-state in the Peloponnesus. ... Nicias (d. ... Plataea is an ancient city, located in Greece in southeastern Boeotia, south of Thebes. ... For the ancient capital of Upper Egypt, see Thebes, Egypt. ... The amphitheater, seen from above Delphi (Chech Δελφοί - Delphoi) is an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece. ... Aristides (530 BC–468 BC) was an Athenian statesman, nicknamed the Just. He was the son of Lysimachus, and a member of a family of moderate fortune. ... Helots were Peloponnesian Greeks who were enslaved under Spartan rule. ... Boeotia (Greek Βοιωτια) was the central area of ancient Greece. ... Temple of Apollo at Corinth Corinth, or Korinth (Κόρινθος) is a Greek city, on the Isthmus of Corinth, the original isthmus, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. ... Elis, or Eleia (Greek, Modern: Ήλιδα Ilida, Ancient/Katharevousa: Ήλις, also Ilis, Doric: Άλις) is an ancient district within the modern prefecture of Ilia. ... Megara (Greek: Μέγαρα) is an ancient city in Attica, Greece, on the Saronic Gulf opposite the island of Salamis, which belonged to Megara in archaic times, before being taken by Athens. ...

Seventeen representatives from each side swore an oath to uphold the treaty, which was meant to last for fifty years. These representatives were, for Sparta, the kings Pleistoanax and Agis II, Pleistolas, Damagetus, Chionis, Metagenes, Acanthus, Daithus, Ischagoras, Philocharidas, Zeuxidas, Antiphus, Tellis, Alcindas, Empedias, Menas, and Laphilus. The Athenian representatives were Lampon, Isthmonicus, Nicias, Laches, Euthydemus, Procles, Pythodorus, Hagnon, Myrtilus, Thrasycles, Theagenes, Aristocrates, Iolcius, Timocrates, Leon, Lamachus, and Demosthenes. Agis II (d. ... For the Athenian orator, see Demosthenes. ...

However, neither side was satisfied, and the treaty was later broken and rendered useless.

Links

• Text of the Peace of Nicias