Athens and the island of Thasos, a…
465 BCE to 454 BCE
Athens and the island of Thasos, a powerful naval state, come into conflict over control of gold deposits on the Thracian mainland, which Thasos has traditionally mined.
Thasos rebels against Athenian control, seeking to renounce its membership in the Delian League.
The rebellion is eventually crushed, after a long and difficult siege, but not before Sparta has secretly promised to invade Attica in support of the Thasians.
The Spartans are prevented from making good on this promise only by an earthquake in Laconia, which triggers a helot rebellion.
The uprising of the helots against their Spartan overlords in the Peloponnese, coincident with the earthquake of 464 BCE, is soundly attested in contemporary or near-contemporary writings, although Greek historians do not agree on the interpretation of this event.
This appears in any case to lead to strained relations between Sparta and Athens, one of the factors that leads to the Peloponnesian War.
Fought between Sparta as the leaders of the Peloponnesian League and Sparta's other allies, most notably Thebes, and the Delian League led by Athens with support from Argos, the First Peloponnesian War consists of a series of conflicts and minor wars, such as the Second Sacred War.
There are several causes for the war, including the building of the Athenian Long Walls, Megara's defection and the envy felt by Sparta at the growth of the Athenian Empire.