Peloponnesian States Flashcards
What 2 events brought Corinth into direct conflict w Athens pre-Arch War?
References?
Corcyraean affair (B of Sybota)
Potidaean Revolt
1.24-55
1.56-67
What 2 Thucydidean themes are found in Corinth’s first speech?
Athens’ imperial expansion.
Spartan hesitancy to act.
How many Corinthian speeches occur in Book 1? References?
two
1.68-71 and 1.120-124
Three main points of Corinthians’ first speech to Sps?
Sparta were being complacent.
Athens was experiencing significant growth and thus threatening the pelo states.
Corinth would seek support elsewhere if Sparta didn’t stand up.
Three main points of Corinthians’ second speech?
Inciting the lesser allies to support the war like Sparta now did.
Advantages of the Peloponnesian league.
Emphasis on the role as liberators, with Athens the tyrant keeping Greece captive.
What is the main reason Thuc gives for Sparta’s eventual decision to declare war? Reference?
fear of Athenian power and the threat it posed to their own
1.87-8
What rhetorical purpose does the inclusion of Corinth’s speeches to Sparta appear to serve?
Impression that they were an important Pelo city heavily involved in the conflict with Athens
Had a respected and influencial say over the action of the ‘pelo league’
What are three examples that show Corinth was Athens most consistently hostile opponent?
Opposition to Peace of Nikias with direct conflict against Athens happening 419-6.
Support of Syracuse and assertin that Sparta should do so.
Post-404 peace continued to oppose any treaty and urged for severe punishment on Athens
What evidence is there of Corinthian power in the Greek world?
Widespread minting of distinctive pegasus coinage by states associated with the city
What is the contradictory role of pelo allies in book 1?
Thuc asserts that Sparta did not declare war as a result of allies’ pressure yet places allies speeches in a central role always prior to Spartan decisions
Which pelo ally does Thuc say Athens blames most for the Pelo War? Reference?
Aegina
2.27
How can Thuc’s explicit downplaying of the allies’ roles be explained?
It does not align with his view of the war that sees Sparta as the agent in declaring war, out of of fearing Athenian growth in power resulting in Sp being outranked
What was the main complaint of Megara against Athens? Reference?
They had been barred from Athenian Empire harbours and trading
1.67
Why is the Megarian affair shrouded from modern scholars?
The treaty they appear to have made with Athens that plays a crucial role in their complaints is unknown in content and chronology
What reason does Thuc give in the ban of Megara from Ath harbours? What do other sources give?
Megarians had been cultivating sacred land and receiving runaway ath slaves (1.139)
Personal motives on behalf of Pericles and his mistress Aspasia (Diod xii.38-9; Plut, Per. 30-32)
