the Spartans in the Battle of Pylos. 424 BC: Sicily withdraws from the war and expels every foreign power. Thus, Athens is forced to withdraw from the island. 424 BC: The Athenians try to capture Megara, but are defeated by the Spartans. 424 BC: The Spartan general Brasidas captures Amphipolis, which is a setback for Athens. Thucydides is held responsible for the Athenian failure and is ostracised. This gives him time to start writing his history book. 423 BC: The Athenians propose a cease-fire, which the Spartan general Brasidas ignores. 422 BC: The Spartans defeat the Athenians in the Battle of Amphipolis, where the Athenian Cleon and the Spartan Brasidas are both killed. 421 BC: The Peace of Nicias puts a temporary end to the hostilities between Athens and Sparta. 420 BC: Alcibiades is elected strategos of Athens and begins dominating Athenian politics. 410s BC 419 BC: The Peace of Nicias is broken when Sparta defeats Argos. 418 BC: The Spartans win a major victory over the Athenians in the Battle of Mantinea, the biggest land battle of the Peloponnesian War. 416 BC: The Athenians capture the island of Melos and treat the inhabitants with great cruelty. 416 BC: The Athenians adhere to a plea of help from Sicily and start planning an invasion of the island. 415 BC: The sacred Hermae busts in Athens are mutilated just before the expedition to Sicily is sent away. One of the culprits, Andocides, is captured and is forced to turn informer. He names the other mutilators, among them Alcibiades, who are sentenced to death in their absence. 415 BC: Alcibiades defects from Athens to Sparta after having learned about his death sentence. 414 BC: The Athenians try to make a breakthrough in their siege of Syracuse but are defeated by the Spartans. 413 BC: Nagadaska is deposed by people of Magadha. Thus, ending Haryanka dynasty. He succeeded by Shishunaga who founded Shaishunaga dynasty. 413 BC: Demosthenes suggests the Athenians leave Syracuse in order to return to Athens, where help is needed. However, Nicias refuses and they are again defeated in battle by the Spartans. Both Demosthenes and Nicias are killed. 413 BC: Caria allies itself with Sparta. 412 BC: The Persian Empire starts preparing an invasion of Ionia and signs a treaty with Sparta about it. 411 BC: The democracy in Athens is overthrown and replaced by the oligarchic Council of Four