Observation Of Athenians
Arguably, Athenian political objectives (ends) include securing its sea lines of communication (SLOC) for grain. Although debates prior to the expedition did not include grain, Athens was in need of it and Syracuse in Sicily was the bread basket of the Greek world. Attica’s inability to feed its whole population made Athenians search for fertile lands and seek their colonization. Accessibility to grain routes was necessary to feed the people. At the same time, it was essential to find friendly trades for commerce. Athenians could exchange their pottery in Egypt, helped by the vast navy, but the costs would increase dramatically. On the other hand, Sicily’s expedition would deny the grain flow to Athens’ nemesis, which had grown stronger during