The Corinthian War, 395-387 BC

Jeffrey A. Smith's examination of the Corinthian War presents a detailed analysis of a conflict that marked a significant turning point in classical Greek history. This military engagement, spanning from 395 to 387 BC, represented one of the first major challenges to Spartan hegemony following their victory in the Peloponnesian War. Smith's work fills an important gap in the historical literature, as this particular conflict has often been overshadowed by the more famous wars that preceded and followed it.

The book opens with the geopolitical landscape of Greece in the aftermath of Sparta's triumph over Athens. Smith carefully establishes the context that led to the outbreak of hostilities, explaining how Spartan heavy-handedness in dealing with former allies and subjected states created widespread resentment. The author traces the diplomatic maneuvering that brought together the unlikely coalition of Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos against their former Spartan overlords, with significant backing from Persia. This Persian involvement, motivated by concern over Spartan expansion into Asia Minor, added a complex international dimension to what might otherwise have been a purely Greek affair.

Smith demonstrates considerable skill in narrating the military campaigns that characterized this conflict. The early phases of the war saw fighting concentrated in the Corinthian region, which gave the conflict its name. The author provides clear descriptions of the major engagements, including the battles of Nemea and Coronea in 394 BC, where Spartan forces achieved tactical victories but failed to break the coalition's resolve. Smith's analysis of these battles goes beyond simple tactical descriptions, examining the strategic implications and the ways in which both sides adapted their approaches as the war progressed.

One of the book's strengths lies in its treatment of the naval dimension of the conflict. The restoration of Athenian naval power, funded largely by Persian gold, represented a remarkable comeback for a city that had been thoroughly defeated just a generation earlier. Smith explores how the war at sea, particularly under the command of the Athenian admiral Conon, shifted the balance of power and eventually led to the destruction of the Spartan fleet at Cnidus in 394 BC. This naval defeat had profound consequences for Sparta's ability to project power and maintain control over its subject territories.

The author also gives appropriate attention to the role of Persia throughout the conflict. The Persian Empire's financial support and diplomatic pressure played crucial roles in sustaining the anti-Spartan coalition. Smith analyzes how Persian intervention, while initially supporting Sparta's enemies, ultimately led to the peace settlement that ended the war. The King's Peace, also known as the Peace of Antalcidas, represented a diplomatic triumph for Sparta even as the military conflict had exposed the limits of Spartan power.

Smith's examination of the war's conclusion and its aftermath proves particularly illuminating. The Peace of Antalcidas in 387 BC, dictated by Persian terms, required Greek cities in Asia Minor to submit to Persian rule while guaranteeing the autonomy of Greek cities on the mainland. This settlement represented a profound shift in the balance of power, effectively making Persia the arbiter of Greek affairs. The author explores the irony that Sparta, which had justified its wars against Athens partly on the grounds of liberating Greeks from subjugation, now enforced a peace that subjected Greeks to Persian authority.

The book succeeds in demonstrating how the Corinthian War exposed fundamental weaknesses in the Spartan system. The strain of prolonged conflict revealed limitations in Spartan manpower and the fragility of their alliance system. Smith argues convincingly that this conflict marked the beginning of Sparta's decline as the dominant power in Greece, even though they emerged from the war with their hegemony temporarily intact.

Smith writes in an accessible style that makes complex military and political developments comprehensible without sacrificing analytical depth. The narrative maintains focus on the main threads of the conflict while providing sufficient context for readers less familiar with the period. The book serves as both a specialized study of this particular war and a broader examination of Greek interstate relations in the early fourth century BC.

This work represents a valuable contribution to the study of classical Greek military history. Smith has produced a comprehensive account that illuminates an important but often neglected conflict, demonstrating its significance in the broader trajectory of Greek history and the eventual decline of Spartan power.