What was the cause of the peloponnesian war?

A. Greeks sought revenge for the persian wars.
B. Sparta wanted control of the powerful athenian army.
C. A spartan murdered the athenian ruler pericles.
D. Many greeks outside of athens resented athenian domination.
I got C.

I disagree.

Read this site carefully.

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/peloponnesianwar/qt/073009CausesofPeloponnesianWar.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pericles#Last_military_operations_and_death

The cause of the Peloponnesian War was not C. A Spartan murdering the Athenian ruler Pericles. The correct answer is D. Many Greeks outside of Athens resented Athenian domination.

The correct answer to the question "What was the cause of the Peloponnesian War?" is not option C, but D: Many Greeks outside of Athens resented Athenian domination.

To determine the cause of the Peloponnesian War, it is important to understand the historical context. The war took place between 431 and 404 BCE and involved two major Greek city-states, Athens and Sparta, along with their respective allies.

The underlying cause of the war was the growing tension and rivalry between Athens and Sparta, the two most powerful city-states in ancient Greece. Athens had emerged as a dominant naval power through its successful leadership in the Delian League, an alliance of Greek city-states formed to fight against the Persian Empire during the Persian Wars. As Athens grew in power and influence, other Greek city-states began to feel threatened by its dominance.

The main factor that led to the war was the resentment and fear felt by many Greeks outside of Athens. The Athenians, under the leadership of Pericles, used their naval power to establish an empire-like domination over other city-states. This control was exerted through the Delian League, which was initially set up to protect against a potential Persian invasion but gradually transformed into an Athenian empire.

With Athens exerting control and imposing tribute on other city-states, tensions escalated. Sparta, a powerful land-based city-state, saw Athens as a threat to its own security and influence. Sparta, therefore, led a coalition of city-states known as the Peloponnesian League, and declared war on Athens in 431 BCE. This marked the beginning of the Peloponnesian War.

In summary, option D, "Many Greeks outside of Athens resented Athenian domination," is the correct answer. Athenian domination and their establishment of an empire-like control over other city-states caused resentment and fear among Greeks, leading to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War.