After the Syracuse failure Athens was faced with great problems. The had exhausted their monetary funds, a lot of their fleet had stayed in the bottom of the Mediterranean sea and many men died during the course of war. But the war was still going. Athens slowly recovered from their losses.

Athens didn't have anybody to lead them in ongoing war. So they elected a ten probouloi to help them in organizing. The probouloi acted quickly to put Athens back on the feet. They gathered timber for new ships from Macedonia, built a fort at Sunium to help protect the grain ships that had to pass by while the Spartan garrison at Decelea blocked the normal route from Euboea. They abandoned a fort in Laconia that was useless and costly. Athenians in times of probouloi kept a close eye on their allies. Also the tribute weight was to switch from one class of people to another, which brought a relief. Instead of tribute now a tax was imposed.

Still their situation was weak. Athenian allies such as Euboea, Chios, Lesbos etc. were about to revolt. And that would weaken Athens even more, unableing them to carry on with the war.

Sparta didn't loose any time. Spartans understood that Athens can be put on their knees only if their food supply coming from the Black see would be cut off. So Spartans started building up a fleet. They needed money to carry on the war and to build ships so they negotiated with Persia and Great King ordered to give them money supply. Sparta asked all her allies to give them curtain amount of ships that they got. With a new fleet Peloponesuans were on their way to a victory as they thought.

Sparta moved its fleet to Agean see, declining all invitation by Athens for a battle. They undertook a policy to revolt Athens allies in Ionica were they succeeded in taking Mytilene and Chios. Most of the battles were done on land at that time. Athenians proved themselves more worthy on the water and Spartans knowing that engaged in battles with big number advantages.

The costs of waging the war were higher than earlier years because of the existence of a Peloponnesian navy that threatened Empire and food supply and required them to keep as large fleet as possible at the sea.. At the same time Sparta was receiving money from Persia and was promised help by Phoenician fleet. At the very safety of Athenian empire Athens grew revolutionary movement, which resulted in cope and ruling of the Four hundred. Democracy in Athens was overthrown by oligarchy movement. Athenian fleet revolted and succeeded bringing a rule of Five Thousand. It was very important not to start civil war so with Alkibiadeses advice fleet just sent representative to Athens to say that 400 must go. Also Alkibiades was forgiven and was let to lead his own fleet.

New period in the war had started. At 411 Spartans and their allies transferred large force of solders to Hellaspont. To there it sent main fleet too. Spartans fleet by luck went by Athenian fleet without a battle. There in Hellaspont finally both forces met in the battle of Cyzcus. Spartans were under command of Mindarus and Athens were commanded jointly by Alkibiades,Thrasyllus and commander in chief-Thrasybulus.. Spartans had 86 ships against 76 of Athenians but lost the battle because of brilliant Athenian strategy.
Spartans were helped financially and with man power by satrap Pharnabazus. Still they lost another

battle to Athenians. Bat victory at Syzcus came in handy for Athens population bringing their moral up. On another side-Sparta was not in such a good mood. Inspite their number superiority and help from Persian satrap all their attempts had failed so far.

Athens cuptured more sites at Hellaspont-including very important ones like Byzantium.Alkibiades seems to play a large role in those successes. Athenian people fickle as they so often were welcomed him back and forgiven all his bad deeds(not for so long). With great caution Akibiades returned to Athens after long time away.

Soon this new General sailed out for more victories. During this expedition he made a little mistake, that turned out deadly for his career. At Notium he sailed out for some unknown business, leaving his ship pilot and drinking budy, Antiochus, his fleet with directions not to engage in a fight. But for some reason ,Antiochus, disobeyed and was defeated. Perhaps he had lost because of lack of experience of being a general. Anyway the outcome of this event was-Alkibiades wasn't reelected at 406/5 B.C. and never returned to Athens anymore seeking refugee.

New general Cannon sailed out and was defeated in another skirmish with Spartan forces. Situation didn't look good for Athens. Spartan fleet was under command of Lysander-smart diplomat and brilliant general. Because of his good relationship with Persian prince Cyrus, Lysander was able to pay his solders good money-one obol more then Athenian. This little obol may have had great effect on the war. Athenians encountered problem with having not enough rowers since most of them deserted to Spartans for a good pay. To help Canon Athens build huge fleet but didn't have enough people to fill it up so they even had to free some slaves. Also Lysander had trained his people well during his rest period and had Athenian well experienced rowers on his side. So it was no surprise when Spartan fleet outnumbering Athenians almost twice had destroyed 30 ships and remaining 40 locked in the bay of Mytilene.
Athenian fleet was in the hurry to rescue the blocked ships. At that time Lysander was not a navarch any more but instead he was replaced with young and bold, and aggressive new commander who was very successful at first. But in battle of Arginusae (406 B.C.)his luck turned around. Athenians using a new tactic and geographical advantages were able to defeat Spartan well-trained fleet with heavy losses on Spartan side. Victory at Arginusae was blended because Athenians couldn't pick up the survivors and the dead for the storm had arose. Seven Athenian Generals were tried and five were executed(two went into voluntary exile). As usual Athenian democracy acted first and thought afterwards. Spartans offered another piece treaty but were refused again for unknown reason(which might had been a big mistake since the terms were generous)

Final and very important battle of the war was lost by Athens because of their stubbornness and internal dissension of their own leaders. Alkibiades was nearby and offered his help but was refused because Athenian generals didn't want to share the fame. In Hellaspont Athenian fleet tried to engage in the fight with Spartans but they didn't succeed and had to spread around in search for money and supplies. Spartans saw the pattern and attacked while Athenians were a part. Only 20 out of 180 ships survived.

That was an end of Athenian control of the sea. Athens main route for grain supply was shut off. Lysander slowly driven all overseas athenians to home town and started a siege of Athens. For eight more months Athens held out because demagogue Kleophone resisted Spartan terms. But starving to death they had to give up in 405 B.C.

Athens did not suffered the fate of other cities it had cultured before. Athenians weren't sold to slavery and their town wasn't burned. Instead they were made allies to Sparta and their fleet was limited to 12 ships

The long Walls were torn down and governing body of 30 men appointed by Sparta. The harshness of their rule was so great that finally, in 403 B.C. the Athenians succeeded in defeating them astablishing a democracy for three more generations.