...The Peloponnesian War By definition The Peloponnesian War was a Greek civil war between two Greek allies in the Persian war; Athens and Sparta. The Persian war was a war fought between the Persians and the Greeks; these two Greek city states fought together to successfully defeat Persia. Many believe tensions arouse between Athens and Sparta during the Persian war due to opposing war tactics; quite simply they did not trust one another. This led to Athens and Sparta forming allies after the Persian war, Athens formed the Delian league while Sparta formed the Peloponnesian league. The Delian league funded their own naval army to guard and protect the Aegean from invasions from the Persians; this ultimately created a very powerful Athenian navy and Athenian empire. The first undeclared flames of war was when Sparta’s main ally, Corinth invaded Attica. Athens then taking precautions formed what is known as the long walls, which enclosed and connected Athens capital to its ports, which meant land based armies had little chances of starting war on Athens soil. This action sent fear and suspicions to Greek city states especially Corinth. Corinth was very important in commercial trade because it linked northern and southern Greece. The first outbreak of real conflict was when the Athenian navy dispatched a fleet to assist Egyptian rebels escape the Persian Empire. Rebellions in Athens then broke out, which led to Sparta invading Attica. A treaty known as the Thirty Years Peace was...
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...The Peloponnesian War was a conflict between the Greek city-states, Athens and Sparta, from 431 BC that brought an end to the Hellenic age of Pericles and his empire by the succession of Sparta by the end of the war. Thucydides is seen as a ‘proto-realist’, one of the first realists in the study of politics that wrote in a more theoretical sense, as well as the founding father of International Relations. His study on the History of the Peloponnesian War provides awareness of the conflict and various analyses on the causes of the war by observing the strategic interaction between the states, hierarchy amongst the states along with legitimacy and levels of power to determine the pattern of their relations. Although there are undeniably numerous differences between Thucydides era and our world system today, Thucydides persists to influence contemporary international relations, namely Realism, with many realists frequently referring to the Melian Dialogue when advocating a power-based approach. With Thucydides often portraying insights into human nature, many scholars use his findings as a guide that is still relevant today due to the generality of self-interest, fear and power maximisation that still occurs as it did previously. Thucydides’ relevance today has been greatly perceived through his impact upon political realism in his studies concerning the concept of power politics. Whilst political realism expresses the view that international relations is the battle of self-interested...
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...Athens and Sparta had cooperated during the Persian War, but relations between these powerful states declined throughout the years. The Athenian pursuit of equality in their city combined with their growing domination abroad allowed Athens to attempt to create a land and maritime empire. This was one of the main causes for the First Peloponnesian War. The Delian League was initially established as a naval alliance among the Greek nautical states. Overtime, the aggressive policies of Athens converted the voluntary allies of the Delian League into the involuntary subjects of an Athenian naval empire. When Athens tried to expand their kingdom to the Greek mainland they encountered a series of battles with Sparta and its allies, which started the First Peloponnesian War. After a succession of defeats for the Athenians, their land empire began to collapse and they agreed to a thirty year peace treaty with the Spartans. Athens began to use the Delian League as its own empire. They eventually increased their control over it by gaining power of its treasury. The Athenian Pericles was responsible for taking Delian League funds for various projects. He constructed the “long walls” with these reserves enclosing Athens as well as the port of Piraeus. The Spartans saw this piece of land as an important part of their defenses and believed this gave the Athenians an unfair military advantage. Athens did not allow members of the League to leave their alliance. Each ally was charged a fee for...
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...It is important to study Thucydides because Thucydides can help us to understand the way politics work in the world today.This should come later – it is not an introduction to a whole paper – always assume your reader is not familiar with your topic In his book titled, The History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides brings to light, some of the causes of the war, as well as some of the consequences of the war. (This is a good opening sentence. It introduces the reader to the topic) Thucydides analyzed the Peloponnesian War on a deeper level (what do you mean?) to help us understand why and how things occur in the world. The world has a better understanding of war and politics in general because of Thucydides. Thucydides’ account of The History of the Peloponnesian War has taught us many things about how politics work in the modern world. (These last three sentences are a little repetitive and do not give a lot of information) One thing that Thucydides’ work on the Peloponnesian War has taught us is that states are only concerned with their own interests, and how their interests can benefit them (repetitive). Good! This is demonstrated in the conflict between Melos and Athens. Good! The Melians wanted to avoid conflict with Athens by trying to persuade them that the Athenians should not attack them because they were neutral and not allies to either side (Thucydides Book VI, p. 2). The Athenians did not comply with the Melians plea to maintain their territory. Instead,...
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...imply that Athens played a significant role in revolutionizing politics and taking down oligarchies and dynasties during the 4th, 5th and 6th centuries. In the last couple of decades, historians have found some evidence that led them to be skeptical, for the first time in history, of Athens' commitment to this cause. In the previous two parts of this paper I discussed the point of view of a couple of political scientists and history professors on whether Athens promoted democracy consistently or not. I also mentioned some of the ancients' views on the subject (such as the famous Aristotle). After...
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...Thucydides composes a book from the Peloponnesian War. “Often regarded as the father of realism, Thucydides was a historian and an original political thinker who described and analyzed social and political events.” (Korab-Karpowicz) In the introduction, it states several times that we do not actually know much about Thucydides. On the contrary, we do know some things though. It states that he was a young man, probably in his later twenties when the Peloponnesian War began. He was also from Athens and was considered to be a part of the aristocratic level of society. When the war began, he perceived that it would be a conflict on a scale without precedent and he wanted to become its historian. Thucydides was also a commander in the north-east...
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...historical significance to the systematic study of people and culture as their society progressed through wars and cultural change. War is a universal experience which has occurred since the birth of the human race. It is also the muse of historians around the world. In early Greek society war provided a gateway to heroes, glory, and gods. The famous Trojan War described in Homer’s Iliad epic gave descriptions of Achilles, Hector, Paris and Helen of Troy which were intertwined with the gods Athena, Apollo and Hephaestus. Homer entertained the populace with the “actions of gods and the deed, passions, glories, and defeats of a few heroes,” but also cataloged a few historical significant items. Subsequent the Great Persian War (in 490 and 480/79 BC) inspired Herodotus in writing his Histories migrating from heroes and gods to a more common cultural history. His descriptions still held a dramatic flair which was pleasing to the populace but held a more chronological account of events. Following the Great Persian War was the Peloponnesian War (430-404 BC) and brought forth Thucydides. His accounts of the war provided an analytical view on events and identified sources to actions and political structure. Nevertheless historiography developed over the growth of Greek society and to better understand this each war and historian should be discussed further. Let us begin with the Trojan War. The area between the Black...
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...Thucydides was an Athenian general, political philosopher and one of the greatest ancient historians of the fifth century B.C. Father of scientific history, and also of political "realism", the school of thought that focuses on power and state security above all else. He became famous for his strict standards of evidence gathering and examination of cause and effect without reference to intervention by the divine beings. He set a standard for precision, concision and scope that makes his work characterizing to the genre of history, and the first scientific gathering of the facts of its sort. Thucydides still holds critical significance today and his texts are still studied at both propelled military colleges and universities around the world....
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...Colonists were selected by lot. b. Metropolis (mater polis) i. Political alliance ii. Economic ties c. Ionia (coast of Asia Minor) d. Sicily iii. Both are major centers of colonization (magna graecia) Trade and commerce would produce tremendous wealth. Phoenicians They see themselves as monopolizing. Rivalry between Phoenicians and these new Greeks. 2. Alphabetic Writing Writing will return to the Greek world during this period. When it does it won’t be like Linear A or B. It will be based on an alphabet that the Greeks borrowed and modified the Phoenicians alphabet. Homer- iconic poet of Greek literature. He came from the region of Ionia. Produced famous epics of the Trojan War. Legends of the great Mycenaean heroes. Different traditions focused on different heroes. Responsible for two of the great monuments. The Iliad and the Odyssey. Achilles Agamemnon Odysseus Hector Ajax Paris Helen of Troy Penelope Important element- arête means excellence. Surpassing Excellence. Achievement, accomplishment. Exceed potential. Also mental. Ex. Odysseus is smarter than anyone else. He outwits Gods. Virtue of this society. Also is very competitive. Forever contending against one another. Individualistic quality. Have to be the best. Character trait that is the center of Greece. 3. Polis e. Polis literally means city. f. Greeks meant g. Oligarchic rule of Basileis Greece is made...
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...November 19 1863, share several common aspects. Both speeches pertained to honor the fallen heroes of the Peloponnesian War and the United States Civil War. Due to the fact that both Pericles and Lincoln were politicians we can infer that they were experts in getting their point across to the masses. Pericles’ Funeral Oration happened thousands of years before Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, however the fact that both of them were meant to redefine war and its purpose made them very comparable. There is a reason these two speeches can be compared; by looking at the bigger picture, analyzing the similarities, and meaning of the dialogue it can be said the speeches were intended to portray both wars as a necessary method to reestablish the pillars for which each nation and/or city was founded upon. Both of these speeches are without a doubt, an important piece of history, as they tell the story of the aftermath of the battles that had taken place and the ones that were yet to come. The Funeral Oration by Pericles displays the difference those who had died in the battles made and how much Athenians valued them, enough to publicly honor them. According to Thucydides Pericles stated, “Such is the Athens for which these men, in the assertion of their resolve not to lose her, nobly fought and died; and well may every one of their survivors be ready to suffer in her cause.” With this passage we can infer that Athenians were very loyal to their region and Pericles knowing that...
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...In his recount of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides presents the speech of the Spartan King Archidamus as a part of the debate that occurred at the Sparta War Council. In his speech, Archidamus hopes to convince the Spartans that, contrary to conventional belief, they are not truly courageous if they give in to the urging of their allies and immediately went to war with Athens. Rather, self-control, expressed in the form of prudent decision-making, represents true courage because the exercise of self-control is able to endow its possessor with other Spartan ideals—namely, good judgment, a sense of shame, and moderation. Through tying his conception of courage with other highly esteemed traditional Spartan ideals, Archidamus espouses a vision of the...
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...Written by the Greek historian Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War is one that tells the story of the war (431-404 BC) which divided the Greek world between Athens and its allies and Lacedaemon. The Melian Dialogue presents two sides and two perspectives that of the Melians neutrality and that of the Athenians’ might. By Thucydides juxtaposing the Athenian’s position to that of the Melians, there is a clear conclusion of which side actions are tactically and morally acceptable. One would argue that the Athenians are immoral for violently plundering the Melian territory because they had the power to do so. However, given the circumstance of trying to defend their empire due to the imbalance of forces, the Athenian actions are not unduly harsh and are justified because they needed to assert their power. The Melians’ senselessness of resistance and logicality of weakness enables Athens’ actions to be more reasonable. Athens is a nation that has demonstrated their power and authority towards other nations in situations of war and imperialism. In tactically trying to gain allies in the war against Sparta, Athens’ main objective is not to appear weak before their enemies and as a result, they needed to assert their power towards Melos. While asking the Melians to submit, the Athenians say to them, “for your hostility cannot so much hurt us as your friendship will be an argument to our subjects of our weakness, and your enmity of our power” (Thucydides 269). Here, the Athenians...
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...Athens’ Golden age, where both economically and politically they reached their peak, is generally found between the repulsion of the Persian invasion and the Peloponnesian war (431-404BC). During this period Athens became its most democratic and wealthiest; her navy was the envy of the entire classical world both in size and quality. Behind these achievements flourished both population and culture, tragedy and comedy from playwrights such as Aristophanes and Euripides whilst philosophy and medicine reached new heights under Socrates and Hippocrates respectively. Far more than just these sweeping general achievements happened but they set the filter through which Athenians saw themselves and their city. This is important in order to fully answer...
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...Oedipus the King – STUDY GUIDE Section 1 – Greek Culture Home of the Greek Gods & Goddesses… Mount Olympus King of the Gods… Zeus Type of politics that began in Athens… Democracy God of War & Wisdom… Athena Peloponnesian War between… Athens & Sparta Wealthy landowners… Aristocrats Women were appreciated in… Sparta Most famous artist… Sculptor Women treated like slaves in… Athens City that liked poetry, writing and art… Athens Military state… Sparta Another word for slaves… helots Type of poetry written… lyric Word comes from a small harp called… lyre Greek kept literature alive by… singing Popular sports competition still done today… Olympics Winner of Olympics won… Olive Branch Section 2 – First Readings Oedipus the King Writer of Oedipus the King… Sophocles Write 120 plays but only ____ survived… Seven Tragedy means… Goat God of wine… Dionysus Lyrics chanted called dythrims chanted to… Dionysus To become king, Oedipus solved… the riddle of the sphinx Contrast between audience and character… Dramatic irony City is suffering from… plague The plague causes… Stillborn children Animals to die Crops to die Women/mothers dying Who did Oedipus send to Delphi too figure out the problem… Creon Apollo says the cause of affliction is that… the murderer of Lauis is in Thebes Blind prophet who says Oedipus is the murderer… Tiresius Oedipus says Tiresius is worthless prophet because… should have solved the riddle and saved the city Who...
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...Written Assignment 1; The Nature of the Good Life Greg PHI-286-OL-008; JUN-2016 Thomas Edison State University Abstract This paper explores the ethical dilemma of happiness and the nature of good life. The paper is broken into two sections to support both parts of the first written assignment for Contemporary Ethics (PHI-286 from TESU; Thomas Edison State University). The first discussion emphasizes the differences between the ways we act in society, whether it is to support our own self-interest or for the greater good. Plato’s The Republic (Newton 2003) is the premise of the first section, which notes the moral dilemma of the nature of man from a normative standpoint. Juxtapose to the normative view is the empirical view, as claimed by Thucydides, that considers the ethics of imperialism. The second discussion weighs the biblical view against the Utilitarianism view of the individual in society, and how they should act. The biblical and Utilitarianism views agree that humans should act for the greater good of society, however each view differs in its derivation and outcome. Section 1: Athenians The nature of the good life for centuries has been pondered among thousands of sophists. Is it better to live your life selfishly looking out for your own well-being or to look out for the improvement of the society in which you live? Thucydides (c. 421 B.C.E.) claims that is it best, for society, if those that are ‘strong’ enough to lead do so for the...
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