Leadership Flashcards
For bad Athenian Leadership, who would you mention? (8 possible examples)
Pericles (Plutarch + Aristophanes perspective)
Desmothenes
Nicias
Cleon
Cleophon
Lamachus
Alcibiades
Antiochus
For good Spartan leadership, who would you mention? (4 possible examples)
Agis
Brasidas
Gylippus
Lysander
In Plutarch’s perspective, why is Pericles labelled as a bad leader?
Pericles is adamant on the Megarian Decree (Draws away attention from Pheidas embezzlement scandal) even after Spartan ultimatum for war - single biggest cause for the war according to Plutarch
In Aristophanes’ perspective, why is Pericles labelled as a bad leader?
His play, ‘the Acharnians’, highlights an entire dispute over Aspasia’s (Pericles’ mistress) prostitutes being stolen by Megara - cause of the decree which was the final straw for outbreak of war
Worth noting this may be satirical/exaggerated/false - but Aristophanes is contemporary and it could project actual viewpoints of society at the time
Why can Demosthenes be argued to be a bad leader?
Despite initial success at Pylos, his failure to regain the land empire at Delium and then his failed attempt to reinforce Nicias at Sicily can all attribute to Athens losing too many hoplites + ships during the war
Why can Nicias be argued to be a bad leader?
His almost pitying view of Cleon allows him to gain leverage in Athens after his surprise military victory at Sphacteria - further political instability
The Sicilian Expedition was led by Nicias, resulting in the loss of 200 ships (He had tried to manipulate the Ekklesia to back out by asking for more ships - they agreed.) and 40,000 hoplites - the main reason of Athenian loss (Thucydides)
Why can Lamachus be argued to be a bad leader?
Jointly lead the Sicilian Expedition until his death in late 415 during a land battle
Contributed to Sicily’s impact as no objection to the expansionist ideal in the first place
Why can Cleon be argued to be a bad leader?
Populist + rabble-rousing demagogue - riled up Athens and the Ekklesia to act war-hungry and abrasive (Mytilene Revolt as example)
Main example of political instability on the rise after Pericles’ death - ‘most persuasive speaker in the eyes of the people’ (Thucydides)
Hated by aristocratic Athenians such as Thucydides + Aristophanes
Why can Alcibiades be argued to be a bad leader? (Debatable)
Only at first was he having a negative impact on Athens through the failed alliance with Argos (which he brokered) + pushing for the Sicilian Expedition (disastrous for Athens)
However, during the Ionian War he had many naval victories such as Cynossema, Abydos and Cyzicus + it was a mistake on the Ekklesia’s part to exile him
Why can Antiochus be argued to be a bad leader?
His blatant disregard to Alcibiades’ authority as his deputy and choosing to engage Lysander’s navy at the Battle of Notium lead to his death, a fleet defeated and the exile of Alcibiades (knock-on effect of Aegospotami’s events)
Why can Cleophon be argued to be a bad leader?
Populist demagogue - riled the Ekklesia to reject peace three separate times throughout the Ionian War (Cyzicus, Arginusae + Aegospotami)
Why can Brasidas be argued to be a good leader?
Led many Athenian allies in Thrace to revolt (424-422)
Defeated Thucydides at Amphipolis + later Cleon (422)
