Corinthian War (395–387 BCE)

Abstract The Corinthian War was the first major conflict between the city‐states of Greece in thefourth century BCE . It represented the first attempt by the cities of Greece to break theSpartan hegemony established after the Peloponnesian War (431–404), and the first time sincetheir crushing defeat in that war that the Athenians took an active role in a military campaign.The Corinthian War set the pattern for the inter‐polis conflicts that would typify the fighting of the fourth century BCE : Greek city‐states forming shortterm alliances against the current most powerful city; many skirmishes and battles but few decisive and lasting victories; and the Great King of Persia intervening to try and stabilize affairs in Greece by creating a common peace treaty. The Corinthian War also saw the use of certain tactics and troop types that were to play an increasingly important role in warfare throughout the century and beyond.