Book IV of *Athens: Its Rise and Fall* is a detailed chronicle of the first ten years of the Peloponnesian War. It moves beyond simply listing events, delving into the motivations of the key players – Pericles, Cleon, Brasidas, and the Spartan leaders – and the impact of the war on Athenian society. Giles examines the strategic decisions made by both sides, the devastating plague that struck Athens, the internal political struggles within the city, and the early military engagements, including the initial Spartan invasions of Attica and the Athenian naval raids on the Peloponnese. The book culminates in the Peace of Nicias, a fragile truce that ultimately failed to resolve the underlying tensions between Athens and Sparta.
