What strategy did Pericles propose for Athens at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War?

At the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, Pericles proposed a defensive strategy designed to ensure Athens' survival rather than seek an outright military victory. Recognizing that Athens’ naval power was vastly superior to its land forces, he implemented the following measures:1

• Evacuation of Attica: He ordered the population of the Athenian countryside to move behind the city's fortified Long Walls, effectively abandoning the rural territory to Spartan incursions.12
• Avoidance of Land Battle: He insisted that Athens decline direct engagement with the superior Spartan army on land.2
• Reliance on Naval Power: He utilized the Athenian fleet to secure food supplies, maintain control over the empire, and launch maritime raids to harass the enemy and preserve city morale.12
• Financial Conservation: He relied on accumulated capital reserves to sustain the city through a prolonged conflict, intending to avoid further territorial expansion during the war.12

By these means, Pericles aimed to outlast the enemy, though his strategy faced significant criticism from citizens who were frustrated by the reactive nature of the defense.1