The Debate that Lead to the Pelloponesian War

How does the section of Thucydides narrative about the debate at Sparta and the declaration of war show the Spartans as being unwilling to enter into a war with Athens? Thucydides is thought by some to be the true father of history; most historians before him, such as Herodotus, could be more accurately described as storytellers who were more interested in romantic sideline stories, that could be fact of fiction, than in giving an accurate …

…decision has to be reached the Spartans wish to do so independently. All this shows that the ties between Sparta and her allies are not very strong and the Spartans could not be blamed for not wanting to engage in a war against and empire that has shown no aggression to Sparta herself, only to her allies. Thucydides even says that it is not because of the encouragement of her allies that war was declared.