Western History 34: What were the principle wars that plagued Classic Greece?

The Greeks were challenged by the superpower that was Persian but emerged with independence after securing victories at Marathon (490 BCE), Salamis (480 BCE) , Plataea (479 BCE)  and Mycale (479 BCE) . A brief setback at Thermoplylae (480 BCE) almost spelt doom but Grecian resourcefulness would save the civilization. In fact the Athenian dominated Delian League would eventually take the War to the Persians own backyard in Asia itself.

City-states frequently clashed as their geopolitical and economic interests overlapped. Alliances and Leagues were formed and the Greek city-states were weakened by a cycle of recurring wars. The Spartans and Athenians fought the Peloponnesian Wars between 431-404 BC which ended in the eventual victory of the Spartans and the dissolution of Athens and its allies (the Delian League). However Spartan’s hegemony was short lived and they in turn would be weakened by a coalition of Greek states that included Thebes, Corinth, Argos and Athens itself during the inconclusive Corinthian War (395-387 BC).