<P> From the start, the mismatch in the opposing forces was clear . The Delian League (hereafter' Athenians') were primarily a naval power, whereas the Peloponnesian League (hereafter' Spartans') consisted of primarily land - based powers . The Athenians thus avoided battle on land, since they could not possibly win, and instead dominated the sea, blockading the Peloponnesus whilst maintaining their own trade . Conversely, the Spartans repeatedly invaded Attica, but only for a few weeks at a time; they remained wedded to the idea of hoplite - as - citizen . Although both sides suffered setbacks and victories, the first phase essentially ended in stalemate, as neither league had the power to neutralise the other . The second phase, an Athenian expedition to attack Syracuse in Sicily achieved no tangible result other than a large loss of Athenian ships and men . </P> <P> In the third phase of the war however the use of more sophisticated stratagems eventually allowed the Spartans to force Athens to surrender . Firstly, the Spartans permanently garrisoned a part of Attica, removing from Athenian control the silver mine which funded the war effort . Forced to squeeze even more money from her allies, the Athenian league thus became heavily strained . After the loss of Athenian ships and men in the Sicilian expedition, Sparta was able to foment rebellion amongst the Athenian league, which therefore massively reduced the ability of the Athenians to continue the war . </P> <P> Athens in fact partially recovered from this setback between 410 - 406 BC, but a further act of economic war finally forced her defeat . Having developed a navy that was capable of taking on the much - weakened Athenian navy, the Spartan general Lysander seized the Hellespont, the source of Athens' grain . The remaining Athenian fleet was thereby forced to confront the Spartans, and were decisively defeated . Athens had little choice but to surrender; and was stripped of her city walls, overseas possessions and navy . In the aftermath, the Spartans were able to establish themselves as the dominant force in Greece for three decades . </P> <P> Although tactically there was little innovation in the Peloponessian War, there does appear to have been an increase in the use of light infantry, such as peltasts (javelin throwers) and archers . Many of these would have been mercenary troops, hired from outlying regions of Greece . For instance, the Agrianes from Thrace were well - renowned peltasts, whilst Crete was famous for its archers . Since there were no decisive land - battles in the Peloponnesian War, the presence or absence of these troops was unlikely to have affected the course of the war . Nevertheless, it was an important innovation, one which was developed much further in later conflicts . Sileraioi were also a group of ancient mercenaries most likely employed by the tyrant Dionysius I of Syracuse </P>

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