In the 4th Century BC/BCE, Sparta's victory over Athens in the thirty-year-long Peloponnesian War may be attributed to several factors. One of the most important was the ability of Sparta to persist through numerous adversities, while its diplomatic skills was also one of the key factors. Just as important was the unwillingness of Athens to compromise on complete victory: given several chances to end the war with partial victory in hand, it chose instead to pursue (pridefully, as it were) an even greater prize.
Initially its long walls which protected the city and harbour, and its ability tooperate its fleet from this protection to import food during seige and to reach out and strike the opposing cities.
When the Peloponnesians later produced a competitve fleet these advantages disappeared.
They were part of the Peloponnesian League, which was stronger on land than the Athenian league/empire.
Athens' real strengths were the money from its empire which bankrolled a superior fleet. Eventually Persia supplied the money to give the Peloponnesian League a matching fleet, while Athens' shrinking empire limited its own fleet, plus the Persian subsidy allowed the Peloponnesians to pay more to attract the best rowers and sailors away from the Athenians.
When the Peloponnesians destroyed the Athenian fleet at Aigospotamai, they were able to beseige Athens as they pleased, and without sea resupply Athens was starved out and surrendered.
Its alliance had the strongest infantry force, and after the Persians gave them money, built a fleet to rival Athens' hitherto stronger fleet.
Sparta had the military advantage of having interior lines as opposed to Athen's having to rely upon a seaborne logistical train .
Sparta .
Sparta and its allies.
Alcibiades.
The single most consistent advantage for the South during the US Civil War was that they only needed a successful defensive war to win independence.
The generals on either side who changed during the course of the 27-yer war - scores of them.
Sparta trained all men in the arts of war from childhood. It had a population of athletic males ready to fight instead of the smaller percentage of military men that other city states had.
Sparta .
Menelaus.
The King of Sparta was Helen's husband, Menelaus.
Athens was not in control of Sparta before, during or after the war. The only facet of its military that was stronger than Sparta's was the Athenian navy.
Menelaus was the leader of the Spartans during the Trojan war
Sparta and its allies.
Menelaus king of Sparta
We call it the Peloponnesian War today because it was between the Athenian Empire and the Peloponnesian League, of which Sparta was a member and leader. At the time, they referred to it the war between Sparta and its allies and Athens and its allies.
swords and spears
Most of the Peloponnesian city-states.
Alcibiades.