Changes

By 428-427 BC, the fourth year of the war, the temple reserve had fallen to less than 1,000 talents. To compensate for the dwindling fund the Athenian government introduced a direct tax on the people, which proved to be very unpopular. <ref> Kagan, p. 104</ref> The desperate financial situation was eased a bit with the Peace of Nikias in 421 BC. Although the peace only lasted two years, it allowed the Athenians to rebuild the reserve of Athena back to 4,000 talents by 415 BC. <ref> Kagan, p. 247</ref> But once more the Athenians were plagued by their own myopia; after depleting the resources of their allies they were forced to rely on their own silver deposits, which were largely depleted by 413 BC. <ref>Blamire, p. 115</ref>

The Peloponnesian War represented one of the true turning points in the history of the Hellenic world. Athens sought to put the entire Greek speaking world under its rule with its large and formidable navy; but the true strength behind Athens’ power was its wealth and financial system. Pericles and the Athenians planned well for the Peloponnesian War economically speaking, but their efforts were too short-sighted. The Spartans eventually outlasted the Athenians to “win” the Peloponnesian War, but the Macedonians were the true winners because they became the major power in the Greek speaking world.