Empire and Imperialism - Athenian Imperialism Flashcards
What does Doyle define as empire?
“Empire, then, is a relationship, formal or informal, in which one state controls the effective political sovereignty of another political society. “
When was the Athenian Empire in power?
5th century BC
Which league did Athens gain control over? Was the power primarily land or sea?
Delian League. Naval power
When was the Roman Empire in power?
3rd C. BC - 5th C. AD
What does Polybius say about Rome?
“in 53 years, Rome brought the whole world under its control”
How did Athens create a union within the empire?
Construction of ideolology and identity:
- Greeks versus Barbarians (civilised Greeks against the uncivilised Persians)
- Religious unity - Panathenaic festival, shared festivals across the empire
- Democracy - contrast with Spartans and Persians. Relationship between democracy and empire - encourages democracy in its subject city-states
Summarise:
Rethinking Athenian imperialism: Ian Morris, ‘The greater Athenian state’ (2009)
Empire is the wrong category
Lack of cultural differences between ruler and subject
‘Athens tried to develop an Ionian Greek territorial state with Athens as its capital city’ (p. 141)
When was the revolt of Naxos and what does Thucydides write on it?
Revolt of Naxos, early 460s (10 years post-formation of Delian League)
Thucydides 1.98.4: “After this they made war on the Naxians, who had revolted, and subdued them by siege: Naxos was the first allied city to be enslaved contrary to the established usage, but later the same thing also happened to each of the others as circumstances arose.”
When did Chalcis revolt? What were the consequences?
Suppression of revolt in Chalcis, Euboea, mid 440s
It was resolved that the Chalcidians should swear in these terms:
“I will not rebel from the demos of the Athenians by any means or artifice, or be disloyal in word or deed, nor will I obey anyone who does revolt, and if anyone does revolt I will tell the Athenians, and I will pay the tribute to the Athenians, at such level as I my persuade the Athenians to accept, and I will be as good and as true an ally as I can and I will help and defend the demos of the Athenians, if anyone wrongs the demos of the Athenians, and I will obey the demos of the Athenians.”
What were Athenian tribute lists?
Displayed on the Acropolis, from 454/3 to c. 414 with many gaps, one list for each year - treasury transferred at this time from Delos to Athens
Tribute regularly reassessed
Provides evidence for all the states which were part of the Delian League
How much of the tribute did the Athenian tribute lists record?
Does not list total tribute, but lists 1/60th of tribute – this was offered to Athena as ‘first fruits’
How were the contributors to Athens divided in the tribute lists?
Contributors divided into administrative districts, e.g. Hellespontine, Thracian, Islands
What was the Cleinias Decree and when was it enacted?
420s?
The Athenians are to choose fo[ur men and send them to] the cities to give a receipt for [the tribute which has been paid and] to demand the un[paid tribute from those that have defaulted]; two shall sail in a fast trireme to [the cities of the Islands and of Ionia, and two to those of the Hellespont and] towards Thrace.
How did the Parthenon on the Acropolis emulate Empire?
Exudes Athenian wealth and power, partly paid for by city-states, tribute lists displayed here
South metopes: Centaurs versus Lapiths, reinforcing Greek (civilised) versus non-Greek (uncivilised) conflict which binds the empire together - purpose of Delian League and ideological foundation of the empire
How did Athens maintain and control their empire?
Imposition of democracy, e.g. Erythrae ( Erythrae in Ionia after revolt in late 450s, known from an inscription, the Erythrae Decree; imposed a democracy onto this state post-revolt as a way to prevent a recurrence) - democracies more likely to favour Athens
Regulations, e.g. Cleinias decree, Coinage decrees – 440s or 420s?
Local participation, proxenoii - people within a state who represent Athens within their city-state (usually families with long-standing friendships between two city-states), this is an established method of international relations. Proxenoii are bonded to the imperial power and therefore at risk of attack in the case of a revolt
