He told them that Athens and its empire was stronger than the Peloponnesian League.

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While Athens had plenty of money from its empire, the Peloponnesians had no such east money to finance a war; the Athenian navy was stronger – the Peloponnesians were farmers, not sailors; that Athens’ fortifications were impregnable to land attack; and Athens’ fleet was capable of invading the Peloponnesian cities while the home city was safe.

With this balance of power in Athens’ favour, he told them to reject the Spartan ultimatum to lift the Athenian sanctions on Megara and accept war.

Neither side foresaw more than a dispute to be resolved by a battle or two, not the devastating 27-year war which ensued.

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