For the first two years until his death, Pericles. Then for the next 25 years, a few dozen politicians and generals.
Sparta and Athens were allies against Persia in the Persian War.
Sparta's serf population revolted and Athens sent a force to help the Spartans put it down. Then the Athenian soldiers started to sympathise with the serfs , so the Spartans sent them home. Relations froze. When the Athenians made an empire out of the Delian League cities it had led against the persians, it became adventurous and interfered in the affairs of the cities of the Peloponnesian League which Sparta led. Sparta asked Athens to back off, an overconfident Athens persisted and war ensued.
The sparta's navy defeated defeated the Athenians navy :). Glad I could help!!
Jake the sparten
Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta.
Yes, during the Peloponnesian War, the Athenians implemented a strategy to weaken Sparta by destroying the farms in the surrounding regions, particularly in the territories controlled by their allies. This tactic aimed to deprive Sparta and its allies of food resources, hoping to force a surrender through starvation. However, this strategy had mixed results, as it also led to significant suffering among local populations and ultimately contributed to the prolonged conflict.
The Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta, defeated the Athenian league/empire.
The Athenian empire was stronger at sea, the alliance led by Sparta was stronger on land.
The decline of Athens in its Golden Age was caused by a long, expensive, and ultimately disastrous war. For thirty years, Athens and its allies waged war against a coalition of Greek powers led by Sparta. After many ups and downs, the Athenians were beaten in 404 B.C.E. Despite brief recurrence of prosperity in later years, the economic and political losses by the Athenians in this war ended its "Golden" period.
The caused of lack of trust between Athens and Sparta were suspicion. As Athenian empire became rich and powerful, other city-states such as Sparta grew suspicious of it aim. Led by Sparta, they start join forces against Athens.
Sparta led the Peloponnesian League, Athens led the Delian League.
Athens turned the league which it led against the Persian Empire into an empire of its own. Using the power of this empire to bully other city-states. The Peloponnesian League led by Sparta called Athens on its attempt to bankrupt its neighbour Megara, a member of their league, an overconfident Athens persisted, resulting in a destructive war which Athens lost, and was stripped of its empire.