Pericles' Strategy Flashcards
What is Pericles’ Strategy for Athens to win the war? (5 points)
Don’t be expansionist
Don’t risk the empire’s safety
Utilise the navy + empire’s resources (put down revolts if necessary)
Avoid pitched/land battles
Where is Pericles’ Strategy recorded?
Thucydides - 2.65
What are the events that would be part of Pericles’ Strategy? (8 possible answers)
Hiding behind Long Walls during initial Spartan invasions (431-425)
The Mytilene Revolt (428)
Cleonymous Decree (426)
Thoudippos Decree (425)
Phormio’s naval victory in Naupactus (425)
Thracian Campaign (424-422)
Alcibiades’ naval victories in Cynossema + Abydos (411) + Cyzicus (410)
Battle of Arginusae (406 - debatable)
What are the events that go against Pericles’ Strategy? (8 possible answers)
The Pylos Catalyst (425)
The Battle of Delium (424)
Quadripatrite Alliance (421-418)
The Battle of Mantinea (418)
Destruction of Melos (416)
Sicilian Expedition (415-13)
The Battle of Notium (406)
The Battle of Aegospotami (405)
Why did the Long Walls tactic work with Pericles’ Strategy?
They were utilising their empire’s resources e.g. Long Walls
Why did the Mytilene Revolt work with Pericles’ Strategy?
Putting down Mytilene - a city in Lesbos, which providing tribute in the form of ships, was protecting the empire’s resources
Why did the Cleonymous + Thoudippos Decrees work with Pericles’ Strategy?
They were both economic decrees that were used to tighten measures of collecting tribute (Cleonymous) + raising tribute amount to 1460 talents (Thoudippos)
Utlising the empire’s resources + tribute system for more revenue
Why did Phormio’s naval victory as Naupactus work with Pericles’ Strategy?
Phormio defeated the Peloponnesian Fleet by utilising the navy - rendering PF useless until 413-410
Why did the Thracian Campaign work with Pericles’ Strategy?
They were putting down revolts from their allies instigated by Brasidas - utilising empire’s resources
Why did Alcibiades’ naval victories at Cynossema, Abydos + Cyzicus work with Pericles’ Strategy?
Alcibiades was utilising the navy to defeat the Spartans
Why did the Battle of Arginusae work with Pericles’ Strategy? What’s debatable about this?
Conon does defeat Callicratidas and the Persian-funded fleet however the Athenians execute 6/8 of the generals
Why did the Pylos Catalyst go against Pericles’ Strategy?
It was epiteichismos by Demosthenes + Cleon, this is expansionist as it was performed in the Peloponnese while also risking pitched battles
Why did the Battle of Delium go against Pericles’ Strategy?
It was expansionist intentions by Demosthenes + Hippocrates, while also risking a pitched battle and losing the land empire
Why did the Quadripartite Alliance and the Battle of Mantinea both go against Pericles’ Strategy?
It risked the empire by instigating war through allying with Argos, Mantinea and Ells
Mantinea was a pitched battle, risking empire too
Why did the Destruction of Melos go against Pericles’ Strategy?
Melos was a neutral state - the destruction + enslavement is clear expansionism when unnecessary
Why is the Melian Dialogue significant?
A unique departure from Thucydides’ style - most likely fabricated to prove his point that Melos was completely against Pericles’ strategy
Even Thucydides, as a strategoi and contemporary, can see how far Athens has strayed during the war
Why did the Sicilian Expedition go against Pericles’ Strategy?
It was expansionist, risked both the navy and empire and failed to avoid pitched battles
Nicias, Lamachus, Alcibiades + Demosthenes all stray from Pericles’ strategy
Why did the Battle of Notium go against Pericles’ Strategy?
Despite being a naval battle, Antiochus was clearly risking the navy as he was ordered not to engage the Spartans at sea - yet disobeyed and lost at Notium
Why did the Battle of Aegospotami go against Pericles’ Strategy?
It was a pitched battle, the Athenians risked the empire due to Lysander cutting off the Black Sea Grain afterwards - lead to ultimate Athenian surrender
