Plague of Athens

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

I don't underestimate any of the above reasons as factors that influenced the history of the War. The contrary. But I still think that excluding the plague from the reasons Athens lost the war is wrong. For one,in the batle of Arginusae,the Spartans were confident for the first time to give a big scale naval battle with Athens. Of cource they had already lost many in the Sicilian campaign,but it was only 15 years that the plague had killed 1/4 of the population. Finally,in Arginusae battle,they equiped everyone able to row. Children,slaves etc.And as we know a big amount of the fleet was consisted of allied cities' men. They won,yes,but I think it was more because of Athenian experience rather than superior skill.
I think that the message "Mindaros dead,ships gone,men starving,what shall we do" was sent after Cyzicus and not after Cynos Sema.
War is mostly psychology and morale,or at least whatever the result is,psychology and morale play a big role in it. The Plague was in the beginning of the War,not near the end,this is true,but it did influence the Athenian(and Spartan) policy.Its policy changed many times(three of them are the distinctive ones,that also named the three parts of the war) but as we know,these policies lead Athens to defeat. If we search and name the reason,we'll realize that the possible reasons everyone will bring are uncountable. Luck was one of the reasons,too(as always). But excluding the plague completely is also wrong.
Khairete
Giannis