Final answer:
The false statement about the Peloponnesian War is that it contributed to the rise of the Athenian Empire. Instead, the Peloponnesian War followed the expansion of Athens and led to its defeat, the decline of its democracy and Golden Age, and the weakening of Greek culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is not true concerning the Peloponnesian War is C. The Peloponnesian War attributed to the rise of Athens as an empire. The war did not give rise to Athens as an empire; rather, it was after the Persian Wars that Athens expanded its power through the Delian League, laying the groundwork for what later became the Athenian Empire. It was this Athenian expansion and the resulting power struggle that contributed to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War. The war eventually led to Athens' defeat by Sparta, the decline of Athenian democracy and the Golden Age, and the weakening of the broader Classical Greek culture.
The Peloponnesian War followed the remarkable flowering of Greek civilization in what is known as the Classical Age, producing cultural and intellectual achievements. Nonetheless, the war had significant consequences for Greek society, including the transformation of Spartan society and a move towards a more cosmopolitan view among Greeks. Post-war, Sparta's brief period of dominance was challenged by Thebes, and continued conflicts eventually led to a mutual weakening of the Greek city-states.