Why did Athens avoid fighting on land and what did they rely on to fight Sparta?

Answer 1

Athens sought to avoid land battles with Sparta since Sparta was the strongest land power - to thwart Spartan power on land Athens relied on it's naval assets which were more powerful since Sparta had a limited navy . This did not hold true in the latter stages of the Peloponnesian War where Sparta had developed a stronger navy than the Athenians .

Answer 2

Athens avoided fighting on land during the Peloponnesian War because they lacked a strong land army compared to their rival, Sparta. Instead, Athens relied on their powerful navy to maintain control of the sea, protect their trade routes, and launch naval attacks on Spartan territories. They also relied on alliances with other city-states and their strong fortifications, such as the Long Walls, to defend their city.