cam . # .

I agree with most of that. The Peloponessian War went for so long because Athens would not meet Sparta's hoplites in battle (same as Germany and the UK wouldnt trade shots with Dreadnaughts in WWI) and Sparta wouldnt meet the Athenian Navy in a clean fight. So they fought assymetrically and consequently a city-state form of genocide appears to have been the common way to fight. Quite horrid really.

The Spartans were skilled at statecraft though. They did manage to keep a wide confederation in place throughout the war despite Athenian attempts to destabilise it through the Messinians and by establishing democratic ruling elites in cities. There was political genocide as well in cities because Sparta and Athens tried to install oligarchic or democratic elites into power. The locals would execute their political rivals and vice versa.