a strategy which came near to ruining Athens

这一战略在雅典施行几近两年
in a couple of years and could never have won the victory.

从未带来一场胜仗
Well, there is some merit in this analysis;

另外以下这种分析亦有可圈可点之处
the Athenians under Pericles had built a grand strategy

雅典人在伯里克利的领导下
that was based on naval power

基于海军力量构建起了
that might seem to suit a maritime empire,

一种可能更适用于海上帝国的伟大战略
whose homeland was an island such as Great Britain,

就像大不列颠这种以岛为疆的岛国
or a power that

或像是美国那般
dominates a continent and is separated from

以强大力量支配着一片大陆
other great powers by two great oceans, like the United States.

以两个大洋与其他强大力量分割开来的国家
Athens' geographical situation was not so fortunate,

雅典的地理境况却没有这么幸运
for the city was attached to the mainland,

因为雅典城邦与大陆相连