Andrew Bayliss, Part Two: Pericles of Athens and the Peloponnesian War.

Andrew Bayliss, Part Two: Bayliss covers the Peloponnesian War, sparked by Athenian leader Pericles' provocations. The Spartans respond with siege tactics, while Athens suffers from a devastating plague that claims Pericles' life. Prominent figures like Lysander emerge, securing Persian funds to build a competitive fleet and capture the Athenian navy. However, Sparta struggles to govern, plagued by declining citizen numbers. The empire collapses after its defeat by the Thebans at Leuctra. The segment concludes by examining the historical validity of the "Thucydides Trap" in 21st-century geopolitics. (2)