A classic work of ancient history, this book examines two of the most significant events of the Peloponnesian War: the fall of the city of Plataea and the devastating plague that swept through Athens in the early years of the conflict. Drawing on the accounts of the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, as well as other contemporary sources, the book provides a detailed and nuanced analysis of these pivotal events and their impact on the course of the war and the history of Greece. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.