# Book V explained — History of the Peloponnesian War

> Chapter companion for History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides.

## What happens

The tenth year of the war sees a temporary truce and the Peace of Nicias, but tensions persist. The Mantineans, Eleans, and Argives form a new alliance against Sparta, while Athens and Sparta struggle to maintain the fragile peace. Alcibiades emerges as a key figure, undermining the peace and forging an alliance between Athens and Argos. The chapter details shifting alliances, the Battle of Mantinea, and the growing conflict between Athens and Sparta, culminating in the Melian Dialogue where Athens brutally subjugates Melos.

## Themes in this chapter

### Alliance and Betrayal

The shifting alliances between Athens, Sparta, Argos, and other city-states highlight the fragile nature of trust and the ease with which alliances are broken for strategic gain.

### Power and Empire

Athens' subjugation of Melos in the Melian Dialogue starkly illustrates the brutal exercise of power and the imperial mindset that drives Athenian foreign policy.

## Character check-ins

### Alcibiades

Emerges as a key Athenian leader who undermines the Peace of Nicias and forges an alliance with Argos.

### Nicias

Architect of the Peace of Nicias, struggles to maintain the fragile truce amid growing tensions.

### Agis

Spartan king who leads forces in the Peloponnese and faces challenges from the Argive alliance.

### Cleon

Mentioned in the context of the peace negotiations and his death at Amphipolis.

### Brasidas

Mentioned in the context of the peace negotiations and his death at Amphipolis.

## Key lines

> The Athenians, however, were not persuaded by the arguments of the Melians, and they proceeded to besiege their city.

The Athenians rejected the Melians' pleas and laid siege to their city.

_This moment encapsulates the ruthless pragmatism of Athenian imperialism._

> The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

Those with power act as they wish, while the powerless endure the consequences.

_This famous line from the Melian Dialogue sums up the realist philosophy of power politics._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters/book-v
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/history_of_the_peloponnesian_war_se/chapters