Greek & Non-Greek States Flashcards
Consider the implications of Herodotus as a credible historian.
Herodotus was really the first western historian to document events. He is more or less the only source detailing the Greco-Persian wars, and so most information of those events are from his accounts. It must be considered that Herodotus was vehemently pro-Athenian, and so his work may be altered to reflect favourably upon him. He was also influenced heavily by Homeric themes and literature, and this, in addition to his performing to an Athenian audience, means there is a tendency for Herodotus to exaggerate and dramatise his work for theatrical effect. His pro-Athenian nature also results in partiality, such as his anti-Corinthian statements in detailing the battle of salamis, as Athens and Corinth were bitter rivals.
What was the time period concerning the challenge of the Persian empire and detail an overview.
492-497 BC.
Details Persian approaches to Greek states, mardonios’ expedition in 492. Battle of marathon (Athenian and plataean forces, Persian forces, outcome & consequences, Spartan response). Persian aims and intentions, Darius & xerxes’ policies towards Greek states (&artabanus). Greek & Persian preparations in the build up to war, differences in perception of Persians among Greeks. Formation & leadership of the Hellenic league + states involved. Differing reactions of states to xerxes’ invasion. Main battles of Thermopylae (+artemisium), salamis, plataea, mycale. Cooperation and conflict betw Greek states, debates before salamis and plataea on strategy and tactics.
What was the time period concerning Greece in conflict (build up to first Peloponnesian war), and detail an overview.
479-446 BC.
Pentekontaetia
Concerning consequences of a victory for the Greeks & relations betw Athens and Sparta, growth of Athenian power + Delian league. Involvement of Sparta in 465bc, spartan issues in 470s, earthquake and helot revolt 465-464 and the consequences for relations betw Athens and Sparta and their allies. First peloponnesian war 461-446bc, Megara’s defection from peloponnesian league, Corinth’s relations w megara, Sparta and Athens. Battle of tanagra, spartan invasion of Attica in 446bc.
What was the time period concerning peace and conflict, and give an overview.
446-431 BC.
The peace of 446. The balance of power outlined in this peace and relations between Athens and Sparta. The revolt of Samos and spartan intervention. The role of Corinth. The events and causes leading to the outbreak of the archidamian war in 431 BC.
What was the time period concerning the archidamian war and detail and overview.
431-420 BC.
Athenian and spartan strategies in the archidamian war. The invasions of Africa and their effects on the states inc. plague in Athens. Course of war; pylons and sphacteria + effect of spartan war effort and allies. Brasidas in Thrace, differences w/in Athens and Sparta on the relations betw. States and the move to a peace settlement. The peace of nikias : main terms + aftermath, failures of peace and refusals of allies of both powers to support it. The spartan-Athenian alliance.
What was the time period concerning the end of the peloponnesian war and its aftermath and detail an overview.
419-404 BC.
The breakdown of relations, involvement of Athens and Argos in battle of mantinea 418. The Sicilian expedition 415-413 & consequences for Athens and Sparta. Occupation of decelea, Sparta + Athens relationship w/ Persians in final years of war and Persia’s aims and impact on course of war. Impact of war for Athens, Sparta and non- Greek states.
Discuss Thucydides as a source.
Regarding Thucydides, he very clearly states his opinion and subjectivity as a source. In his opinion, the outbreak of the peloponnesian war was due to the growth of Athenian power. Thucydides can therefore be criticised by his focus on this and his focus on the relationship between Athens and Sparta whilst simultaneously ignoring such things as the economic situation and events in Persia. He does however, consider himself to be an accurate historian and is not influenced by such things as Herodotus was, such as Homeric themes and dramatisation. He was also a high ranking Athenian general and had access to information.
Why did tensions initially build betw Athens and Sparta after mycale?
Thucydides states that the Athenians wanted to rebuild their walls down to Piraeus and the Spartans did not care for a fortified city of a rival state. The Spartans complained, which caused resentment in Athens. Themistocles delayed by going to Sparta whilst the Athenians hastily built their walls. The remainder of the walls today supports the fact that they were hastily built.
How did the Greeks reduce the treat of the Persians after the war ended?
Pausanius and Aristides set out the fleet to open a trade route to the Black Sea. They captured Cyprus and Byzantium (Bosporous & Hellespont) reducing the Persian threat.
How did Pausanias fall from power and what was the impact?
His ambition had peaked and apparently made duplicitous deals with the Persians. He even had Egyptian bodyguards according to Thucydides. He was recalled to Sparta to answer for this but the damage was done and many Greek states called for an Athenian takeover. Sparta’s attempt to reassert control failed. Aristides & cimom of the Athenian contingency took over & Sparta surrendered its leadership of the Hellenic league. Pausanius was eventually charged with conspiring with the helots and sentenced to death.
How did Athens assemble the Delian league and what was it’s purpose?
Organised by Aristides, the Athenians had by 477 bc assembled what would be known as the Delian league. The purpose was, according to diodorus, aggression against Persia. Tribute from each state was held at Delos, and Plutarch places the total figure at 1300 talents, whilst Thucydides and diodorus’ estimates are lower.
Detail the initial attributes and rise of Athenian power within the Delian league
The meeting place was Delos. Tribute would be paid in cash though also ships and crews (this would lead to an Athenian naval dominance). The league would have no allegiances outside of who was in the league. Treasurers of the league we’re from Athens and Aristotle tells us the league was called “the Athenians and their allies”. The Delian league was stricter than the Hellenic and was soon struck by conflict betw Athens and the other members, specifically when Naxos tried to leave the league which Athens would not permit, and later Thasos in 465 bc before being defeated in a naval battle by cimon. (They asked Sparta for help)
What was Sparta doing whilst the Athenians were growing in power
Struggling. The Spartans we’re dealing with pro-Persian Thessalians, a corrupt king, and a threat to their peloponnesian dominance in the form of Argos, who captured tiryns and Mycenae whilst Elis and mantinae achieved independence. Themistocles had been perusing anti-spartan policy and had been ostracised to Argos during this and later Persia, according to Thucydides.
Consider Plutarch as a source
Writing hundreds of years after the events he covered and was more interested in the individual lives rather than events as seen by his ‘parallel lives’. He also must detail his accounts on previous historians such as Herodotus and Thucydides. Roman magistrate, but originally Boeotian and a priest of Delphi.
Which was the final decision battle between the Greeks and the Persians and discuss the legitimacy of the peace of kallias
Eurymedon under Athenian command of Cimon, according to Plutarch and Thucydides. Peace of kallias was an alleged peace treaty between the Persians and Athens. The terms apparently included the Persians remaining 3 days away from the Greek coast. Diodorus, Plutarch and Herodotus make mention of such an agreement, But Thucydides doesn’t, which is significant. However, he does state that the Greeks no longer considered the Persians a threat and that there was trade betw the two.
What was cimon’s
Explanation for advancing the Delian league?
He stated according to thuydides that Athenian naval power was a natural response to spartan land power. He captured Persian occupies eion and scyros supporting the view of the Delian league as being motivated by anti Persian sentiments.
How did Sparta try and prevent the Athenian growth of power following the Greco Persian wars? And what were some triggers of the first peloponnesian war?
Initially protested Athenian walls to Piraeus. Later according to Thucydides, they secretly agreed to respond to the thasians plea to invade Attica, but were delayed by an earthquake and the revolt of the helots, Who began a full scale revolt in 464 bc. The Spartans even asked Athens for help, as the Hellenic league still technically existed. Cimon strongly argued to assist the Spartans, but they changed their mind according to Thucydides. This embarrassment led to cimon’s ostracism and lack of sympathy for Sparta within Athens. Cimon’s oligarchy was replaced w democracy according to Aristotle, led by euphyaltes. In response the Athenians allied w Argos and Thessaly, sparta’s rivals. Megara also defected from the peloponnesian league after quarrelling w corninth over border issues, and joined the Athenians. Athens also began supporting the helots at this point.
Detail an outline of the first peloponnesian war.
Pericles led the Athenians. He saw kairos in aiding rebels in Egypt. Both sides had victories such as Athens defeat at the hands f the Corinthians and Athenian victory at cecryphaleia. Sparta does not become directly involved until 457 bc, when they intervene between photos and Doris. After which the only battle to feature both Athenian and spartan troops took place, the battle of tanagra. The Athenians lost but were not destroyed, though with their loss in Egypt and a failure in Thessaly made them die for peace, to be negotiated by Cimon. Cimon would handle military matters, whilst Pericles would handle domestic ones.
According to Plutarch and diodorus what were the terms of the peace of kallias?
Persians would allow Greek cities in Asia Minor to have own governments + remain 3 days away from mainland. Greeks would not send Greek troops into Persia and would withdraw from Cyprus.
Discuss the main strengths of Athens, Sparta, Sicily, county and Persia.
- Athens had a mighty navy, expanding influence and wealth, and many allies
- Sparta had the best and well trained land army, and control of peloponnesian empire
- Persia had the massive manpower and navy of its empire
- Sicily was the dominant Greek power in the Mediterranean and was as powerful as Athens and Sparta.
- Corinth was the major naval power of the peloponnese and was considered athens’ main naval rival
