Why Greek City-States Allied Against Athens

Fear of Athenian dominance drove a coalition led by Sparta (Peloponnesian League). Key factors:

• Economic rivalry and Athenian control of trade routes.
• Resentment over the Delian League tribute system.
• Accusations of imperialism and meddling in internal affairs.
• Democratic Athens threatened oligarchic elites elsewhere.
• Megarian Decree (trade embargo) sparked Spartan intervention.

These tensions erupted into the Peloponnesian War (431 BCE).