What is the Peace of Nikias?

Definition of the glossary term Peace of Nikias

Mar 4, 2006 Robin Fowler

Definition of the glossary term Peace of Nikias

The Peace of Nikias was a treaty signed by Athens and Sparta, in which the two poleis agreed to defend each other for a term of 50 years, beginning in the Spring of 421 B.C. This should have effectively ended the Peloponnesian War. It was named for the Athenian soldier who acted as negotiator.

The peace did not last, as Sparta had trouble calming down the poleis it had convinced to rebel in the first place, and Athens was filled with young and power-hungry aristocrats looking to stir things up. The peace ended around 413 B.C.

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