A PlsLory of AnclenL Creece

1he Clory 1haL Was Creece

AuLhor 8oberL A Culsepl

uaLe 2001

1he glory LhaL was Creece ln Lhe words of Ldgar Allan oe was shorLllved and conflned Lo a
very small geographlc area ?eL lL has lnfluenced Lhe growLh of WesLern clvlllzaLlon far ouL of
proporLlon Lo lLs slze and duraLlon 1he Creece LhaL oe pralsed was prlmarlly ALhens durlng lLs
golden age ln Lhe 3Lh cenLury 8C SLrlcLly speaklng Lhe sLaLe was ALLlca ALhens was lLs hearL
1he Lngllsh poeL !ohn MllLon called ALhens Lhe eye of Creece moLher of arLs and eloquence
ALhens was Lhe clLysLaLe ln whlch Lhe arLs phllosophy and democracy flourlshed AL leasL lL
was Lhe clLy LhaL aLLracLed Lhose who wanLed Lo work speak and Lhlnk ln an envlronmenL of
freedom ln Lhe rarefled aLmosphere of ALhens were born ldeas abouL human naLure and
pollLlcal socleLy LhaL are fundamenLal Lo Lhe WesLern world Loday

1he 8ackground Aegean C|v|||zat|on 20001200 8C
Creek clvlllzaLlon was unlque ln so many ways LhaL a sLudenL of hlsLory mlghL lnfer LhaL lL
developed free from ouLslde lnfluences sprlnglng full blown from Lhe mounLalns and plalns of
Lhls small land 1he Creek achlevemenL however was preceded by an advanced clvlllzaLlon
locaLed on Lhe lands surroundlng Lhe Aegean Sea 1hls Aegean clvlllzaLlon whlch came lnLo full
flower abouL 2000 8C and collapsed suddenly followlng 1200 8C developed Lhrough Lwo
ma[or perlods
M|noan And Mycenaean hases
1he flrsL and longer phase of Aegean clvlllzaLlon whlch ended abouL 1430 8C ls called Mlnoan
afLer Lhe legendary CreLan klng Mlnos CreLe was Lhe cenLer of Mlnoan clvlllzaLlon whlch spread
Lo Lhe Aegean lslands Lhe coasL of Asla Mlnor and malnland Creece 1he lasL perlod of Aegean
clvlllzaLlon Lhe Lwo and onehalf cenLurles followlng 1430 8C when Lhe cenLer of Aegean
pollLlcal power and culLure lay on Lhe Creek malnland ls called Mycenaean afLer lLs mosL
lmporLanL slLe aL Mycenae

1he M|noans
1he narrow 160mllelong lsland of CreLe was a sLepplng sLone beLween

Lurope Asla and Afrlca SLlmulaLed by lmmlgranLs from Asla Mlnor and by

conLacLs wlLh MesopoLamla and LgypL a brllllanL clvlllzaLlon emerged here by

2000 8C
Mlnoan prosperlLy was based on largescale Lrade LhaL ranged from Slclly

Creece and Asla Mlnor Lo Syrla and LgypL 1he Mlnoans employed Lhe flrsL

shlps capable of long voyages over Lhe open sea Chlef exporLs were ollve oll

wlne meLal ware and magnlflcenL poLLery 1hls Lrade was Lhe monopoly of an

efflclenL bureaucraLlc governmenL under a powerful ruler whose admlnlsLraLlve

records were wrlLLen on clay LableLs flrsL ln a form of plcLure wrlLlng and

laLer ln a syllablc scrlpL known as Llnear A As nelLher scrlpL has been

declphered our knowledge of Mlnoan clvlllzaLlon ls scanLy and lmpreclse mosL

of lL ls derlved from Lhe maLerlal remalns uncovered by archaeologlsLs

lL was Lhe epochmaklng dlscoverles of Lhe Lngllsh archaeologlsL Slr

ArLhur Lvans LhaL flrsL broughL Lo llghL Lhls clvlllzaLlon whose exlsLence

had prevlously only been hlnLed aL ln Lhe eplcs of Pomer and ln Creek legends

such as LhaL of Lhe mlnoLaur half bull and half man who devoured youLhs and

maldens senL as LrlbuLe from Creece 8eLween 1900 and 1903 Lvans unearLhed Lhe rulns of a
greaL palace aL knossos Lhe domlnanL clLy ln CreLe afLer 1700 8C

8lslng aL leasL Lhree sLorles hlgh and sprawllng over nearly slx acres Lhls alace of Mlnos bullL
of brlck and llmesLone and employlng unusual downwardLaperlng columns of wood was a
maze of royal aparLmenLs sLorerooms corrldors open courLyards and broad sLalrways
lurnlshed wlLh runnlng waLer Lhe palace had a sanlLaLlon sysLem LhaL surpassed anyLhlng
consLrucLed ln Lurope unLll 8oman Llmes Walls were palnLed wlLh elaboraLe frescoes ln whlch
Lhe Mlnoans appear as a happy peaceful people wlLh a pronounced llklng for danclng fesLlvals
and aLhleLlc conLesLs Women are shown en[oylng a freedom and dlgnlLy unknown elsewhere ln
Lhe anclenL near LasL or classlcal Creece 1hey are noL secluded ln Lhe home buL are seen slLLlng
wlLh men and Laklng an equal parL ln publlc fesLlvlLles even as Loreadors ln a form of bull

flghLlng 1helr dresses are very elaboraLe wlLh gay paLLerns and colors

pleaLs puffed sleeves and flounces 8odlces are open ln fronL Lo Lhe walsL

and halr ls elaboraLely fashloned wlLh rlngleLs over Lhe forehead and abouL

Lhe ears



1he glory of Mlnoan culLure was lLs arL sponLaneous and full of rhyLhmlc

moLlon ArL was an essenLlal parL of everyday llfe and noL as ln Lhe anclenL

near LasL an ad[uncL Lo rellglon and Lhe sLaLe WhaL llLLle ls known of

Mlnoan rellglon also conLrasLs sharply wlLh condlLlons ln Lhe near LasL Lhere

were no greaL Lemples powerful prlesLhoods or large culL sLaLues of Lhe

gods 1he prlnclpal delLy was Lhe MoLher Coddess her lmporLance reflecLed Lhe

lmporLanL poslLlon held by women ln CreLan socleLy A number of recovered

sLaLueLLes show her dressed llke a fashlonable CreLan woman wlLh flounced

sklrLs a LlghLly laced lowcuL bodlce and an elaboraLe colffure She was

probably Lhe proLoLype of such laLer Creek goddesses as ALhena uemeLer and

AphrodlLe

1he Mycenaeans

AbouL 2000 8C or shorLly LhereafLer Lhe flrsL lndoLuropean Creek

Lrlbes collecLlvely called Achaeans enLered Creece where Lhey absorbed Lhe

earller seLLlers and ruled from sLrongly forLlfled clLadels aL Mycenae ylos

ALhens and oLher slLes 8y 1600 8C Lhe Achaeans or Mycenaeans as Lhey

are usually called had adopLed much of Lhe advances culLure of Lhe Mlnoans

1hey remalned warllke however and plled Lhe seas as ralders as well as

Lraders Mycenaean women adopLed CreLan fashlons and added a varleLy of

sumpLuous [ewelry from braceleLs Lo earrlngs

Some of Lhe wealLh accumulaLed by Lhe klngs of Mycenae Lhe greaLesL

slngle hoard of gold sllver and lvory ob[ecLs found anywhere before Lhe

dlscovery of 1uLankhamens Lomb was unearLhed ln 1876 by Pelnrlch

Schllemann fresh from hls even more sensaLlonal dlscoverles aL 1roy 1he

royal palace on Lhe acropolls or clLadel of Mycenae had wellproporLloned

audlence rooms and aparLmenLs frescollned walls floors of palnLed sLucco

and large sLorerooms noLeworLhy also were Lhe royal beehlve Lombs

consLrucLed of cuL sLone and covered wlLh earLh

1he expanslve force of Mycenaean clvlllzaLlon led Lo Lhe planLlng of

colonles ln Lhe easLern MedlLerranean (PlLLlLe sources refer Lo Achaeans ln

Asla Mlnor) and Lo Lhe conquesL of knossos abouL 1430 8C 1he laLLer evenL

was made posslble by Lhe desLrucLlon of Lhe labyrlnLhlan palace aL knossos by

flre Lhe afLereffecL lL ls now con[ecLured of a greaL Lldal wave caused by

Lhe erupLlon of Lhe small volcanlc lsland of 1hera (SanLorlnl) elghLy mlles

norLh of CreLe 1he palace aL knossos was rebullL by Lhe Mycenaeans (Lo be

desLroyed flnally abouL 1380 8C by earLhquake and flre) and Lhe cenLer of

Aegean clvlllzaLlon shlfLed Lo Lhe Creek malnland

1hls sLory of AchaeanCreLan relaLlons was unclear unLll afLer 1932 when

a young Lngllsh archlLecL Mlchael venLrls sLarLled Lhe scholarly world by

declpherlng a Lype of CreLan scrlpL known as Llnear 8 many examples of whlch

had been found by Lvans aL knossos and by laLer archaeologlsLs aL ylos

Mycenae and 1hebes When Llnear 8 Lurned ouL Lo be an early form of Creek

wrlLLen ln syllablc characLers lL followed LhaL Lhe rulers of knossos afLer

1430 8C musL have been Achaean Creeks who had adopLed Lhe CreLan scrlpL Lo

wrlLe Lhelr own language

1he Llnear 8 LexLs whlch are admlnlsLraLlve documenLs and lnvenLorles

greaLly add Lo our knowledge of Mycenaean llfe 1he Mycenaean cenLers were

forLlfled palaces and admlnlsLraLlve cenLers and noL as ln CreLe Lrue

clLles 1he bulk of Lhe populaLlon llved ln scaLLered vlllages where Lhey

worked elLher communal land or land held by nobles or klngs 1he nobles were

under Lhe close conLrol of Lhe klngs whose admlnlsLraLlve records were kepL

dally by a large number of scrlbes romlnenL ln Lhese records are deLalls of

Lhe dlsbursemenL of graln and wlne as wages and Lhe collecLlon of Laxes ln

klnd 1he mosL lmporLanL lLem of lncome was ollve oll Lhe ma[or arLlcle ln

Lhe wlderanglng Mycenaean Lrade whlch was operaLed as a royal monopoly

erhaps lL was Lhelr role as merchanLmonopollsLs LhaL led Lhe Achaean klngs

abouL 1230 8C Lo launch Lhe famous expedlLlon agalnsL 1roy ln order Lo

ellmlnaLe a powerful commerclal rlval

1roy S|te Cf nomers I||ad

1he clLy of 1roy occupled a sLraLeglc poslLlon on Lhe PellesponL (Lhe

sLralL from Lhe Aegean Lo Lhe 8lack seas now known as Lhe uardanelles) 1hus

1roy could command boLh sea Lrafflc Lhrough Lhe sLralLs and land caravans

golng beLween Asla and Lurope lor many years scholars LhoughL Lhls clLy

exlsLed only ln Lhe eplc poems of Pomer Penrlch Schllemann (18221890) a

Cerman romanLlc dreamer and amaLeur archaeologlsL belleved oLherwlse As a

boy he had read Pomers lllad and LhereafLer he remalned flrmly

convlnced LhaL 1roy had acLually exlsLed AL Lhe age of forLyelghL havlng

amassed a forLune ln Lhe Callfornla gold rush and ln worldwlde Lrade

Schllemann reLlred from buslness Lo puL hls perslsLenL dream of anclenL 1roy

Lo Lhe LesL


ln 1870 Schllemann began excavaLlons aL Lhe legendary slLe of 1roy where

he unearLhed nlne burled clLles bullL one on Lop of anoLher Pe dlscovered a

Lreasure of golden earrlngs halrplns and braceleLs ln Lhe second clLy (1roy

ll) whlch led hlm Lo belleve LhaL Lhls was Lhe clLy of Pomers eplcs

LxcavaLlons ln Lhe 1930s however showed LhaL 1roy ll had been desLroyed

abouL 2200 8C far Loo early Lo have been Lhe scene of Lhe 1ro[an War and

LhaL 1roy vlla clearly desLroyed by human vlolence abouL 1230 8C was

probably Lhe one made famous by Pomer

nelLher Lhe vlew LhaL 1roy was Lhe vlcLlm of commerclal rlvalry nor Lhe

oLher wldely held Lheory LhaL lL was desLroyed by Achaean plraLes seeklng

booLy corresponds Lo Pomers vlew LhaL Lhe 1ro[an War was caused by Lhe

abducLlon of Pelen queen of SparLa by Lhe 1ro[an prlnce arls Led by

Agamemnon klng of Mycenae Lhe wraLhful Achaeans besleged 1roy for Len long

years Pomers lllad deals only wlLh a few weeks durlng Lhe LenLh year

of Lhe slege


1he Ia|| Cf Mycenaean C|v|||zat|on
AbouL 1200 8C a new wave of lndoLuropeans Lhe uorlan Creeks

maLerlally alded by weapons made of lron lnsLead of bronze lnvaded Creece

llrsL of Lhe Mycenaean sLrongholds Lo fall was ylos whose Llnear 8 archlves

conLaln numerous references Lo hasLlly underLaken preparaLlons Lo repel Lhe

lnvaders We flnd orders dlrecLlng women and chlldren Lo places of safeLy

lnsLrucLlons Lo armorers rowers and food suppllers and a reporL enLlLled

Pow Lhe waLchers are guardlng Lhe coasLal reglons 2 1he preparaLlons were

ln valn however ylos was sacked and burned and Lhe desLrucLlon of Lhe

oLher ma[or Mycenaean clLadels soon followed Mycenaean refugees found a haven

aL ALhens and ln lonla on Lhe wesLern coasL of Asla Mlnor

looLnoLe 2 See Leonard 8 almer Mycenaeans and Mlnoans Aegean rehlsLory

ln Lhe LlghL of Lhe Llnear 8 1ableLs (new ?ork Alfred A knopf 1961) ch 3

1he LasL uays of ylos

1he 8lse Cf Pellenlc ClvlllzaLlon 1130300 8C

1he four cenLurles from c1130 Lo 730 8C Lhe Creek uark Ages were

marked by Lhe dlsappearance of Lhe ma[or characLerlsLlcs of Mycenaean

clvlllzaLloncenLrallzed and bureaucraLlc admlnlsLraLlon wlderanglng

commerce sophlsLlcaLed arL forms (lncludlng monumenLal archlLecLure) and

wrlLlng ?eL whlle Lhe uorlan lnvaslon was an undoubLed caLasLrophe lL was

also vlLal Lo Lhe ulLlmaLe rlse of a unlque Pellenlc (from Pellas Lhe

Creek name for Creece) clvlllzaLlon LhaL was noL largely an offshooL of Lhe
near LasL as was Aegean clvlllzaLlon A fresh sLarL now had Lo be made


1he Inf|uence Cf Geography

Ceographlcal facLors played an lmporLanL parL ln shaplng Lhe evenLs of

Creek hlsLory 1he numerous mounLaln ranges LhaL crlsscross Lhe penlnsula

whlch ls abouL Lhe slze of Malne severely hampered lnLernal communlcaLlon and

led Lo Lhe developmenL of flercely lndependenL clLysLaLes and Lhe fallure of

Lhe Creeks Lo unlLe lnLo a slngle sLaLe 1he mounLalns cover Lwo Lhlrds of Lhe

surface and along Lhe wesL coasL Lhey come close Lo Lhe sea leavlng few

harbors and arable plalns Llsewhere Lhe deeply lndenLed coasL provldes many

naLural harbors LhaL lnvlLe marlLlme advenLure 1he ma[or clefL ls Lhe Culf of

CorlnLh whlch made souLhern Creece almosL an lsland hence lL was called

Lhe eloponnesus (elops lsland) 1he lndenLed coasLllne and Lhe many

lslands offshore sLlmulaLed seagolng Lrade and Lhe rocky soll (less Lhan a

flfLh of Creece ls arable) and few naLural resources encouraged Lhe Creeks Lo

esLabllsh colonles abroad

1he nomer|c Age

MosL of our lnformaLlon abouL Lhe Creek uark Ages whlch followed Lhe

uorlan lnvaslon ls derlved from Lhe eplcs puL ln flnal form durlng Lhe lasL

cenLury of Lhls perlod and aLLrlbuLed Lo Lhe bllnd lonlan poeL Pomer

ConLroversy surrounds Lhe quesLlon of Pomers exlsLence and wheLher he or

several poeLs composed Lhe lllad and Cdyssey 1he Pomerlc eplcs reLaln

someLhlng of Lhe maLerlal slde of Lhe Mycenaean perlod ?eL ln fllllng ln Lhe

deLalls of pollLlcal economlc and soclal llfe Lhe rellglous bellefs and

pracLlces and Lhe ldeals LhaL gave meanlng Lo llfe Lhe poeL could only

descrlbe whaL was famlllar Lo hlm ln hls own age


1he values LhaL gave meanlng Lo llfe ln Lhe Pomerlc Age were

predomlnanLly herolc values Lhe sLrengLh sklll and valor of Lhe preemlnenL

warrlor Such was Lhe earllesL meanlng of areL excellence or vlrLue a

key Lerm LhroughouL Lhe course of Creek culLure 1o obLaln areL deflned by

one Pomerlc hero as Lo flghL ever ln Lhe forefronL and ouLvle my peers and

Lhe lmperlshable fame LhaL was lLs reward men welcomed hardshlp sLruggle

and even deaLh Ponor llke fame was a measure of areLe and Lhel greaLesL of

human Lragedles was Lhe denlal of honor due Lo a greaL warrlor Pomer makes

such a denlal Lhe Lheme of Lhe lllad 1he rulnous wraLh of Achllles LhaL

broughL counLless llls upon Lhe Achaeans when Achllles lnsulLed by

Agamemnon wlLhdraws from baLLle

1o Lhe Pomerlc Creeks Lhe gods were plalnly human Zeus Lhe klng of Lhe

gods was ofLen Lhe undlgnlfled vlcLlm of Lhe ploLs of hls wlfe Pera and oLher

delLles and he asserLed hls auLhorlLy Lhrough LhreaLs of vlolence Pades Lhe

abode of Lhe dead was a subLerranean land of dusL and darkness and Achllles

as Pomer Lells us ln Lhe Cdyssey would have preferred Lo be a slave on

earLh Lhan a klng ln Pades

SocleLy was clearly arlsLocraLlc only Lhe arlsLol (arlsLocraLs) possessed areL and Lhe common man was
revlled and beaLen when he dared Lo quesLlon hls beLLers ?eL Lhe common man had cerLaln pollLlcal
rlghLs as a member of Lhe assembly LhaL was summoned whenever a crlsls such as war requlred hls
parLlclpaLlon 1wo oLher lnsLrumenLs of governmenL descrlbed by Pomer were Lhe Lrlbal klng and hls
councll 1he klng was hardly more Lhan a chlef among hls peers hls fellow nobles who saL ln hls councll Lo
advlse hlm and Lo check any aLLempL he mlghL make Lo exerclse arblLrary power 1he economy was LhaL
of a slmple selfsufflclenL agrlculLural sysLem much llke LhaL of Lhe early Mlddle Ages ln wesLern Lurope



1he ClLySLaLe Crlgln And ollLlcal LvoluLlon


1he polls or clLysLaLe Lhe famed Creek pollLlcal unlL dld noL exlsL

ln Lhe Creek uark Ages 1he nucleus of Lhe polls was Lhe elevaLed forLlfled

slLe Lhe acropolls where people could Lake refuge from aLLack ln Llme

Lhls defenslve cenLer Look on added slgnlflcance as Lhe focus of pollLlcal and

rellglous llfe When commerce revlved ln Lhe elghLh and sevenLh cenLurles

8C a Lradlng cenLer developed below Lhe acropolls 1he Lwo areas and Lhe

surroundlng LerrlLory usually smaller Lhan a modern counLy formed Lhe polls

from whlch our word pollLlcs ls derlved

1he pollLlcal developmenL of Lhe polls was so rlch and varled LhaL lL ls

dlfflculL Lo Lhlnk of a form of governmenL noL experlenced and glven a

lasLlng name by Lhe Creeks lour ma[or Lypes of governmenL evolved (1)

monarchy llmlLed by an arlsLocraLlc councll and a popular assembly as

descrlbed ln Lhe Pomerlc eplcs (2) ollgarchy (rule of Lhe few) arlslng

when Lhe arlsLocraLlc councll ousLed Lhe klng and abollshed or resLrlcLed Lhe

popular assembly (3) Lyranny lmposed by one man who rode Lo power on Lhe

dlsconLenL of Lhe lower classes (4) democracy (rule of Lhe people) Lhe

ouLsLandlng pollLlcal achlevemenL of Lhe Creeks whlch emerged afLer Lhe

LyranL was deposed and Lhe popular assembly revlved and made Lhe chlef organ

of governmenL AfLer dlssaLlsfacLlon wlLh democraLlc governmenL became

wldespread ln Lhe fourLh cenLury 8C many of Lhe clLysLaLes reLurned elLher

Lo ollgarchy or Lo oneman rule


lrom Cllgarchy 1o 1yranny



8y Lhe mlddle of Lhe elghLh cenLury 8C Lhe nobles who resenLed Lhe

power wlelded by Lhe Lrlbal klngs had Laken over Lhe governmenL usherlng ln

an age of ollgarchy 8uLhlessly exerclslng Lhelr superlor power Lhe nobles

acqulred a monopoly of Lhe besL land reduclng many commoners Lo vlrLual

serfdom and forclng oLhers Lo seek a llvlng on rocky barren soll

1he hard loL of common people under ollgarchy produced Lhe angulshed

proLesL of Peslods Works and uays (c 700 8C) A commoner who had been

cheaLed ouL of hls parcel of land by hls evll broLher ln league wlLh

brlbeswallowlng arlsLocraLlc [udges Peslod was Lhe propheL of a more

exalLed concepLlon of Lhe gods and a new age of soclal [usLlce 1o esLabllsh a

[usL socleLy Peslod argued people musL learn Lo pursue moderaLlon

(sophrosyne) ln all Lhlngs apparenLly Lhe flrsL expresslon of Lhls famous

Creek ldeal and reallze LhaL farseelng Zeus and Lhe oLher gods punlsh

evlldoers and reward Lhe rlghLeous ln conLrasL Lo Pomer wlLh hls arlsLocraLlc

heroes Peslod deflned human excellence or areLe ln a way Lo make lL

aLLalnable for commonl people lLs essenLlal lngredlenLs were rlghLeousness

and work honesL work ln compeLlLlon wlLh ones fellows belng a form of

sLrlfe ln moderaLlon Cods and men haLe hlm who llves wlLhouL work Peslod

lnslsLed Pls naLure ls llke Lhe drones who slL ldle and eaL Lhe labor of Lhe

bees lurLhermore work ls no shame buL ldleness ls a shame and esLeem

glory and rlches follow work 3 All Lhls sounds much llke Lhe roLesLanL

eLhlc of dlsclpllned resLralnL sobrleLy frugallLy and lndusLry LaughL by

!ohn Calvln and hls followers

looLnoLe 3 CuoLed ln Werner !aeger aldela 1he ldeals of Creek CulLure

(new ?ork Cxford unlverslLy ress 1939) vol 1 p 70

Peslods new ldeals of moderaLlon and [usLlce were slow Lo Lake rooL 1he

poor found rellef only by emlgraLlng Lo new lands overseas As laLo laLer

noLed Lhe wealLhy promoLed colonlzaLlon as a safeLy valve Lo ward off a

LhreaLened pollLlcal and economlc exploslon

When men who have noLhlng and are ln wanL of food show a dlsposlLlon Lo

follow Lhelr leaders ln an aLLack on Lhe properLy of Lhe rlch Lhese who are

Lhe naLural plague of Lhe sLaLe are senL away by Lhe leglslaLor ln a frlendly

splrlL as far as he ls able and Lhls dlsmlssal of Lhem ls euphemlsLlcally

Lermed a colony 4

looLnoLe 4 laLo Laws 3733 ln 1he ulalogues of laLo Lrans 8 !oweLL

(new ?ork 8andom Pouse 1937) vol 2 p 303

lrom 730 Lo 330 8C Lhe Creeks planLed colonles LhroughouL much of Lhe

MedlLerranean world a developmenL ofLen compared wlLh Lhe expanslon of Lurope ln modern Llmes
SeLLlemenLs sprang up along Lhe norLhern coasL of Lhe Aegean and around Lhe 8lack Sea So many Creeks
mlgraLed Lo souLhern lLaly and

easLern Slclly LhaL Lhe reglon became known as Magna Craecla or CreaL Creece

Colonles were also founded as far wesL as presenLday lrance aL Massllla

modern Marsellles for example and Spaln and on parLs of Lhe Afrlcan coasL

unlque was naucraLls ln LgypL noL a Lrue colony buL a Lradlng posL whose

resldenLs galned exLraLerrlLorlal rlghLs (Lhelr own maglsLraLes and law

courLs) from Lhe LgypLlans



ln Llme colonlzaLlon amelloraLed Creeces economlc and soclal problems

8y 600 8C economlc progress and Lhe use of colned money learned from Lhe

Lydlans had creaLed Lhe beglnnlngs of a mlddle class 1he Creek home sLaLes

gradually became lndusLrlallzed as a resulL of concenLraLlng upon Lhe

producLlon of speclallzed wares vases meLal goods LexLlles ollve oll and

wlne for exporL ln exchange for foodsLuffs and raw maLerlals 8uL before

Lhls economlc revoluLlon was compleLed Lhe conLlnulng land hunger of Lhe

peasanLs conLrlbuLed Lo a pollLlcal revoluLlon

AfLer 630 8C LyranLs arose ln many Creek sLaLes and supporLed by Lhe

aggrleved peasanLry and rlslng merchanL class selzed Lhe relns of governmenL

from Lhe noblllLy 1hey were supporLed by a new heavyarmed lnfanLry (Lhe

hopllLe phalanx) composed of mlddleclass clLlzens wealLhy enough Lo furnlsh

Lhelr own equlpmenL 1hese LyranLs (Lhe word meanL slmply masLer and dld noL

aL flrsL have Lodays unfavorable meanlng) noL only dlsLrlbuLed land Lo Lhe

peasanLs buL by promoLlng furLher colonlzaLlon Lrade and lndusLry

compleLed Lhe Creek economlc revoluLlon

ALhens 1o 300 8C

ALhens and SparLa Lhe clLysLaLes desLlned Lo domlnaLe Lhe hlsLory of

Creece durlng Lhe classlcal perlod (Lhe flfLh and mosL of Lhe fourLh cenLurles

8C) underwenL markedly dlfferenL developmenLs durlng Lhe perlod prlor Lo

300 8C Whlle ALhens pollLlcal economlc and soclal evoluLlon was Lyplcal

of mosL oLher Creek sLaLes SparLas developmenL produced a unlque way of llfe

LhaL ellclLed Lhe wonder and ofLen Lhe admlraLlon of oLher Creeks



uurlng Lhe sevenLh cenLury 8C Lhe councll of nobles became supreme ln

ALhens 1he popular assembly no longer meL and Lhe klng was replaced by nlne

arlsLocraLlc maglsLraLes called archons chosen annually by Lhe councll Lo

exerclse Lhe klngs clvll mlllLary and rellglous powers Whlle Lhe nobles on

Lhelr large esLaLes prospered Lhe small farmers and sharecroppers suffered

8ad years forced Lhem Lo borrow seed from Lhelr rlch nelghbors and when Lhey

were unable Lo repay Lhey were sold lnLo slavery 1o Lhe small farmers clamor

for Lhe cancellaLlon of debLs and Lhe end Lo debL slavery was added Lhe volce

of Lhe landless for Lhe redlsLrlbuLlon of land

When Lhe ALhenlan nobles flnally reallzed LhaL Lhelr fallure Lo heed Lhe

cry for reform would resulL ln Lhe rlse of a LyranL Lhey agreed Lo Lhe pollcy

of compromlse advocaLed by Lhe llberal arlsLocraL Solon ln 394 8C Solon was

made sole archon wlLh broad auLhorlLy Lo reconclle Lhe lower classes lnsplred

by Lhe ldeals of moderaLlon and [usLlce promoLed by Peslod a cenLury earller

Solon lnsLlLuLed mlddleofLheroad reforms LhaL have made hls name a byword

for wlse sLaLesmanshlp

lor Lhe lower classes Solon agreed Lo cancellng all debLs and forblddlng

debL bondage buL he re[ecLed as Loo radlcal Lhe demand for Lhe redlvlslon of Lhe land Pls longrange
soluLlon Lo Lhe economlc problem was Lo seek full employmenL by sLlmulaLlng Lrade and lndusLry 1o
achleve Lhls goal Solon requlred faLhers Lo Leach Lhelr sons a Lrade granLed clLlzenshlp Lo forelgn arLlsans
who seLLled ln ALhens and encouraged Lhe lnLenslve producLlon of ollve oll for exporL


ModeraLlon also characLerlzed Solons pollLlcal reformsLhe common people

were granLed lmporLanL pollLlcal rlghLs buL noL equallLy Whlle laws

conLlnued Lo orlglnaLe ln a new arlsLocraLlc Councll of lour Pundred Lhey now

had Lo be raLlfled by Lhe popular assembly whlch Solon revlved And slnce

wealLh noL blrLh became Lhe quallflcaLlon for membershlp ln Lhe Councll and

for Lhe archonshlps wealLhy commoners acqulred full pollLlcal equallLy

lurLhermore Lhe assembly could now acL as a courL Lo hear appeals from Lhe

declslons of Lhe archons and Lo Lry Lhem for mlsdeeds ln offlce


unforLunaLely Solons moderaLe reforms saLlsfled nelLher parLy 1he poor

had recelved nelLher land nor full pollLlcal equallLy whlle Lhe nobles

LhoughL Solon a radlcal who had beLrayed hls class ueeply dlscouraged Solon

descrlbed whaL ls Loo ofLen Lhe loL of moderaLe reformers lormerly Lhelr

eyes sparkled when Lhey saw me now Lhey coldly scorn me no longer frlends

buL enemles 3


looLnoLe 3 luLarch Llves Solon 16

Solon had warned Lhe ALhenlans Lo accepL hls reforms lesL Lhe people ln

lLs lgnorance comes lnLo Lhe power of a LyranL Pe llved Lo see hls

predlcLlon fulfllled ln 360 8C afLer a perlod of clvll sLrlfe

lslsLraLus a mlllLary hero and champlon of Lhe commoners usurped power as

LyranL Pe solved Lhe economlc problem by banlshlng many nobles whose lands

he dlsLrlbuLed among Lhe poor and by promoLlng commerce and lndusLry

1ogeLher wlLh exLenslve publlc works and Lhe paLronage of culLure Lhus

sLarLlng ALhens on Lhe road Lo culLural leadershlp ln Creece Lhese reforms

gave rlse Lo a popular saylng LhaL Llfe under lslsLraLus was paradlse on

earLh



lslsLraLus was succeeded by hls Lwo sons one of whom was assasslnaLed

and Lhe oLher exlled afLer he became susplclous and cruel When Lhe nobles

alded by a SparLan army Look Lhls opporLunlLy Lo resLore ollgarchy

ClelsLhenes Lemporarlly selzed power ln 308 8C and puL Lhrough

consLlLuLlonal reforms LhaL desLroyed Lhe remalnlng power of Lhe noblllLy Pe

dlsregarded Lhe old nobledomlnaLed Lrlbes and creaLed Len new ones each

embraclng clLlzens of all classes from wldely scaLLered dlsLrlcLs 1he popular

assembly soon acqulred Lhe rlghL Lo lnlLlaLe leglslaLlon and became Lhe

soverelgn power ln Lhe sLaLe Lhere could be no appeal from lLs declslons A

new and democraLlc Councll of llve Pundred selecLed by loL from Lhe Len

Lrlbes advlsed Lhe assembly and supervlsed Lhe admlnlsLraLlve acLlons of Lhe

archons ClelsLhenes flnal reform was Lhe pecullar lnsLlLuLlon of

osLraclsm an annual referendum ln whlch a quorum of clLlzens could voLe

Lo exlle for Len years any lndlvldual LhoughL Lo be a LhreaL Lo Lhe new

ALhenlan democracy (A quorum conslsLed of 6000 of Lhe 30000 male clLlzens

over Lhe age of elghLeen 1he average aLLendance aL an ALhenlan assembly

whose ordlnary meeLlngs were held every Len days was abouL 3000) 1he 2300Lh

annlversary of Lhe esLabllshmenL of Lhe ALhenlan democracy wlll be celebraLed

ln 1993

Sparta 1o S00 8C

ln sharp conLrasL Lo ALhens was lLs rlval SparLa SparLa had noL [olned

Lhe oLher Creek clLles ln Lrade and colonlzaLlon buL had expanded lnsLead by

conquerlng and enslavlng lLs nelghbors 1o guard agalnsL revolLs by Lhe sLaLe

slaves (heloLs) who worked Lhe land for Lhelr conquerors SparLa devlaLed

from Lhe normal course of Creek pollLlcal developmenL and Lransformed lLself

lnLo a mlllLarlsLlc LoLallLarlan sLaLe ArlsLoLle called Lhe governmenL of

SparLa a mlxed consLlLuLlon for Lhe small mlnorlLy of rullng SparLans lL

was a democracy buL for Lhe greaL mass of sub[ecLed people lL was an

ollgarchy 1he governmenL lncluded Lwo klngs an arlsLocraLlc councll and an

assembly of all 9000 SparLan clLlzens CreaL power reslded ln flve maglsLraLes

called ephors (overseers) creaLed orlglnally as an arlsLocraLlc check on

royal auLhorlLy buL laLer elecLed annually by Lhe assembly


Whlle Lhe ALhenlan sLaLe requlred only Lwo years of mlllLary Lralnlng for

young men Lhe SparLan sysLem LradlLlonally aLLrlbuLed Lo a legendary

lawglver named Lycurgus was deslgned Lo make every SparLan a professlonal

soldler and Lo keep hlm ln a consLanL sLaLe of readlness for war 1o Lhls end

Lhe sLaLe enforced absoluLe subordlnaLlon of Lhe lndlvldual Lo lLs wlll


SLaLe offlclals examlned all newborn chlldren and any found slckly or

deformed were abandoned Lo dle AL Lhe age of seven a boy was Laken from hls

famlly and placed ln Lhe charge of sLaLe educaLors who LaughL hlm Lo bear

hardshlp endure dlsclpllne and devoLe hls llfe Lo Lhe sLaLe AL LwenLy Lhe

young SparLan enrolled ln Lhe army and llved ln barracks where he conLrlbuLed

food from hls alloLmenL of land granLed by Lhe sLaLe and worked by heloLs AL

LhlrLy he was allowed Lo marry buL he conLlnued Lo llve ln barracks vlslLlng

hls wlfe only aL nlghL llnally aL slxLy he was released from Lhe army and

could llve aL home wlLh hls famlly



1hls llfelong dlsclpllne produced formldable soldlers and lnsplred Lhem

wlLh Lhe splrlL of obedlence and respecL for law luLarch reporLs LhaL

SparLan Lralnlng accusLomed Lhe clLlzens Lo have nelLher Lhe wlll nor Lhe

ablllLy Lo lead a prlvaLe llfe buL llke bees Lo be organlc parLs of Lhelr

communlLy cllnglng LogeLher around Lhelr leader forgeLLlng Lhemselves ln

Lhelr enLhuslasLlc paLrloLlsm and belonglng wholly Lo Lhelr counLry



AlLhough many Creeks admlred Lhe SparLan way of llfe Lhe Lyplcal SparLan

was crude and aggresslve Look few baLhs and spoke few words Accordlng Lo

luLarch


Cne may [udge Lhelr characLer by Lhelr [okes

for Lhey are LaughL never Lo Lalk aL random

nor Lo uLLer a syllable LhaL does noL conLaln some LhoughL

lor example when one of Lhem was lnvlLed Lo hear a man

lmlLaLe Lhe nlghLlngale he answered l have heard Lhe

orlglnal 6



looLnoLe 6 luLarch Llves Lycurgus 20



SparLan glrls also recelved sLaLe Lralnlng ln order Lo become healLhy

moLhers of warrlor sons Clad ln shorL Lunlcs whlch oLher Creeks LhoughL

lmmodesL Lhey engaged ln runnlng wresLllng and Lhrowlng Lhe dlscus and

[avelln As Lhelr men marched off Lo war SparLan women bade Lhem a laconlc

farewell Come back wlLh your shleld or on lL



Accordlng Lo luLarch Lhe SparLans



dld away wlLh all secluslon and reLlremenL for

women and ordalned LhaL glrls no less Lhan boys

should go naked ln processlons and dance and slng

aL fesLlvals ln Lhe presence of Lhe young men

1hls nakedness of Lhe maldens had ln lL noLhlng dlsgraceful

lL was done modesLly noL llcenLlously and lL produced

hablLs of slmpllclLy and LaughL Lhem Lo deslre good healLh

and beauLy of body and Lo love honor and courage no less

Lhan Lhe men 1hls lL was LhaL made Lhem speak and Lhlnk as

Corgo Lhe wlfe of Leonldas ls sald Lo have done Some

forelgn lady lL seems sald Lo her ?ou SparLan women are

Lhe only ones who rule men She answered ?es for we are

Lhe only ones who glve blrLh Lo men



Whlle SparLa developed Lhe flnesL mlllLary machlne ln Creece lL remalned

backward culLurally and economlcally 1rade and Lravel were prohlblLed because

Lhe clLy faLhers feared LhaL allen ldeas mlghL dlsLurb Lhe sLaLus quo SparLa

ls a classlc example of how lnLellecLual sLagnaLlon accompanles rlgld soclal

conformlLy and mlllLary reglmenLaLlon



1o provlde addlLlonal assurance LhaL lLs heloLs remalned unconLamlnaLed

by democraLlc ldeas SparLa allled lLself wlLh ollgarchlc parLles ln oLher

eloponneslan sLaLes and alded Lhem ln suppresslng Lhelr democraLlc opponenLs

1he resulLlng SparLan League of ollgarchlc sLaLes ln operaLlon by Lhe end of

Lhe slxLh cenLury 8C was shorLly Lo be faced by an ALhenlanled unlon of

democraLlc sLaLes



unlLy And SLrlfe ln 1he Pellenlc World 300336 8C



1he leaders of Lhe Creek economlc and culLural revlval afLer 730 8C

were Lhe lonlan Creeks descendanLs of Lhe Mycenaeans who had fled Lhe uorlan

lnvaders and seLLled Lhe Aegean coasL of Asla Mlnor and lLs offshore lslands

lnfluenced by conLacLs wlLh hoenlclan Lraders (from whom Lhey borrowed Lhe

alphabeL ln Lhe elghLh cenLury 8C) nelghborlng Lydla and LgypL Lhe

lonlans flrsL klndled Lhe Lorch of Pellenlsm 1hey were also Lhe flrsL

Creeks Lo face Lhe LhreaL of Lhe greaL powers of Lhe near LasL



See Creek Alllances Creek pollLlcal alllances abouL 431 8C



1he erslan Wars



When Lhe erslans conquered Lydla ln 347 8C Lhey also annexed lonla

whlch had been under nomlnal Lydlan rule Chaflng under erslanappolnLed

LyranLs Lhe lonlan clLles revolLed ln 449 8C esLabllshed democraLlc

reglmes and appealed Lo Lhe ALhenlans who were also lonlans for ald ALhens

senL LwenLy shlps buL Lo no avall 8y 494 8C uarlus l had crushed Lhe

revolL burnlng MlleLus ln revenge


uarlus knew LhaL lonla was lnsecure as long as ALhens remalned free Lo

lnclLe lLs kln Lo revolL and Lhus ln 490 8C a erslan force abouL 20000

sLrong salled across Lhe Aegean and debarked on Lhe plaln of MaraLhon near

ALhens uarlus alm of forclng Lhe ALhenlans Lo accepL Lhe exlled son of

lslsLraLus as a proerslan LyranL was frusLraLed when Lhe ALhenlan army

half Lhe slze of Lhe erslan won an overwhelmlng vlcLory kllllng 6400 of Lhe

foe whlle loslng only 192


1he baLLle of MaraLhon was one of Lhe mosL declslve ln hlsLory lL

desLroyed Lhe bellef ln erslan lnvlnclblllLy and demonsLraLed ln Lhe words

of Lhe Creek hlsLorlan PerodoLus LhaL free men flghL beLLer Lhan slaves

1he vlcLory also gave Lhe ALhenlans Lhe selfconfldence LhaL would soon make

Lhelr clLy Lhe leadlng Creek sLaLe



1en years laLer Lhe Creeks were well prepared for a new erslan lnvaslon

under xerxes uarlus successor whose ob[ecLlve was Lhe sub[ecLlon of all of

Creece ALhens now had 200 shlps Lhe largesL fleeL ln Creece and SparLa had

agreed Lo head a defenslve alllance of LhlrLyone sLaLes



1he erslan army reckoned by PerodoLus aL 1700000 buL more llkely

130000 or so was Loo huge Lo be LransporLed by shlp Crosslng Lhe

swlfLflowlng mllewlde PellesponL near 1roy on Lwo ponLoon brldges a

noLable feaL of englneerlng Lhe army marched along Lhe Aegean coasL

accompanled by a greaL fleeL carrylng provlslons 1he SparLans wanLed Lo

abandon all of Creece excepL Lhe eloponnesus Lo Lhe lnvaders buL flnally

agreed Lo a holdlng acLlon aL Lhe narrow pass of 1hermopylae Pere 300

SparLans and a few Lhousand oLher Creeks held back Lhe erslans for Lhree

days unLll a Creek LralLor led Lhem over a mounLaln paLh Lo Lhe rear of Lhe

Creek poslLlon 1he SparLans foughL magnlflcenLly unLll all were slaln

LogeLher wlLh 700 oLher Creeks 1he SparLan dead were lmmorLallzed on a

monumenL erecLed aL Lhe pass Co Lell Lhe SparLans you who pass us by LhaL

here obedlenL Lo Lhelr laws we lle



1he erslans Lhen burned ALhens whose lnhablLanLs had fled for Lhey

placed Lhelr falLh ln wooden walls Lhelr fleeL 1helr falLh was noL

mlsplaced ln Lhe 8ay of Salamls Lhe Creek fleeL largely ALhenlan Lurned Lhe

Llde of vlcLory wlLh Lhe shouL Cn sons of Lhe Creeks! SeL free your counLry

seL your chlldren free your wlves Lhe Lemples of your counLrys gods your

faLhers Lombs now Lhey are all aL sLake 7 WlLh 200 of hls 330 shlps

desLroyed and hls llnes of communlcaLlon cuL xerxes had no alLernaLlve buL Lo

reLreaL Lo Asla alLhough he lefL a sLrong force ln Creece 1he followlng

summer (479 8C) Lhe Creek army wlLh Lhe SparLan conLlngenL ln Lhe vanguard

rouLed Lhe erslan force aL laLaea and Creece was for Lhe Llme belng safe

from lnvaslon



looLnoLe 7 A 8 8urn Lrans 1he ellcan PlsLory of Creece (8alLlmore

enguln 8ooks 1966) p 186



CulmlnaLlon Cf ALhenlan uemocracy



1he parL Lhey played ln Lhe Creek vlcLory over Lhe mlghLy erslan emplre

exhllaraLed Lhe ALhenlans and gave Lhem Lhe confldence and energy LhaL made

Lhem Lhe leaders of Lhe Creek world durlng Lhe remalnder of Lhe flfLh cenLury

8C uurlng Lhls perlod known as Lhe Colden Age of Creece Lhe ALhenlans

aLLempLed more and achleved more ln a wlder varleLy of flelds Lhan any naLlon

greaL or small has ever aLLempLed or achleved ln a slmllar space of Llme 8



looLnoLe 8 C L 8oblnson Pellas A ShorL PlsLory of AnclenL Creece

(8osLon 8eacon ress 1933) p 68



lor more Lhan LhlrLy years (461429 8C) durlng Lhls perlod Lhe greaL

sLaLesman erlcles gulded ALhenlan pollcy ln erlcles Llme Lhe acLual

execuLlve power no longer reslded ln Lhe archons who were chosen by loL buL

ln a board of Len elecLed generals 1hls board operaLed much llke a modernday

governmenLal cablneL 1he generals urged Lhe popular assembly Lo adopL

speclflc measures and Lhe success or fallure of Lhelr pollcles deLermlned

wheLher Lhey would be reelecLed aL Lhe end of Lhelr annual Lerm erlcles

falled of reelecLlon only once and so greaL was hls lnfluence on Lhe

ALhenlans LhaL ln Lhe words of Lhe conLemporary hlsLorlan 1hucydldes whaL

was ln name a democracy was vlrLually a governmenL by lLs greaLesL

clLlzen 9



looLnoLe 9 1hucydldes PlsLory of Lhe eloponneslan War 263



1o enable even Lhe pooresL clLlzen Lo parLlclpaLe ln governmenL erlcles

exLended paymenL Lo [urors (a panel of 6000 clLlzens chosen annually by loL)

and Lo members of Lhe councll Whlle hls conservaLlve opponenLs called Lhls

pollLlcal brlbery erlcles lnslsLed LhaL lL was essenLlal Lo Lhe success of

democracy


Cur consLlLuLlon ls named a democracy because lL ls ln Lhe

hands noL of Lhe few buL of Lhe many 8uL our laws secure

equal [usLlce for all ln Lhelr prlvaLe dlspuLes and our publlc

oplnlon welcomes and honours LalenL ln every branch of

achlevemenL noL as a maLLer of prlvllege buL on grounds of

excellence alone ALhenlans do noL allow absorpLlon ln

Lhelr own varlous affalrs Lo lnLerfere wlLh Lhelr knowledge of

Lhe clLys We dlffer from oLher sLaLes ln regardlng Lhe man

who holds aloof from publlc llfe noL as quleL buL as useless

we declde or debaLe carefully and ln person all maLLers of

pollcy holdlng noL LhaL words and deeds go lll LogeLher buL

LhaL acLs are foredoomed Lo fallure when underLaken

undlscussed 10



looLnoLe 10 1hucydldes PlsLory of Lhe eloponneslan War 237 40


ALhenlan SocleLy


1he ma[orlLy of Lhe lnhablLanLs of ALhens however were noL recognlzed

as clLlzens Women slaves and resldenL allens were denled clLlzenshlp and

had no volce ln Lhe governmenL Legally women were flrsL Lhe properLy of

Lhelr faLhers Lhen of Lhelr husbands 1hey could noL possess properLy ln

Lhelr own name or as Lhe law expressly sLaLed make a conLracL abouL

anyLhlng worLh more Lhan a bushel of barley


ALhens was dlsLlncLly a mans world A wlfes funcLlon was Lo bear

chlldren and manage Lhe home where she was resLrlcLed Lo Lhe womens quarLers

when her husband enLerLalned hls frlends Men dld noL marry unLll Lhey were

abouL LhlrLy and Lhey usually marrled glrls half Lhelr age Marrlages were

normally arranged by Lhe famllles and prospecLlve brldes and brldegrooms

seldom meL before Lhelr beLroLhal lamllles were raLher small and

lnfanLlclde usually by exposure of unwanLed lnfanLs (especlally glrls) was

pracLlced as a prlmlLlve form of blrLh conLrol 1he average llfe expecLancy

was llLLle more Lhan LhlrLy years


ALhenlan socleLy sancLloned a double moral sLandard and Lhe phllanderlng

of a husband was noL Lhe occaslon for adverse publlc commenL A pecullar

lnsLlLuLlon caLerlng Lo Lhe needs and deslres of upperclass ALhenlan males

was LhaL of Lhe companlons (heLaerae) 1hese females were normally

resldenL allens and Lherefore noL sub[ecL Lo Lhe soclal resLrlcLlons lmposed

on ALhenlan women A few of Lhe heLaerae such as Aspasla Lhe mlsLress

of erlcles were culLlvaLed women who enLerLalned aL salons frequenLed by

ALhenlan pollLlcal and culLural leaders Cenerally speaklng however

champlons of Lhe soclal emanclpaLlon of ALhenlan women were rare and Lhe

women Lhemselves accepLed Lhelr sLaLus Aslde from a few cases ln whlch wlves

murdered Lhelr husbands (usually by polson) marrled llfe seems Lo have been

sLable and peaceful ALLlc gravesLones ln parLlcular aLLesL Lo Lhe love

spouses felL for one anoLher 1he Lle Lo Lhelr chlldren was sLrong and Lhe

communlLy seL hlgh sLore by Lhe honor owed by sons and daughLers Lo Lhelr

parenLs


Male homosexuallLy ls frequenLly plcLured on ALhenlan vases and menLloned

ln llLeraLure Soclally accepLable was boy love a homosexual relaLlonshlp

beLween a maLure man and a young boy [usL before Lhe youLh aLLalned puberLy

1hls relaLlonshlp was vlewed as pedagoglcala rlLe of lnlLlaLlon lnLo adulL

socleLy Llke lnlLlaLlon rlLes ln general lL conLalned a sLrong elemenL of

humlllaLlon AdulL male homosexuallLy and homosexual prosLlLuLlon however

were noL soclally accepLable Such relaLlonshlps were looked upon as conLrary

Lo naLure and Lhe ALhenlan governmenL lssued sLrlngenL legal prohlblLlons

agalnsL Lhem



no anclenL socleLy dld wlLhouL slaves alLhough Lhelr lmporLance ls ofLen

oversLaLed almosL everyone free as well as slave had Lo work for a llvlng

ln flfLhcenLury ALhens lL ls esLlmaLed LhaL one ouL of every four persons was

a slave Some were war capLlves oLhers were chlldren of slaves buL mosL came

from ouLslde Creece Lhrough slave dealers no large slave gangs were employed

on planLaLlons as Lhey were ln 8oman Llmes and ln Lhe Amerlcan SouLh before

Lhe Clvll War Small landowners owned one or more slaves who worked ln Lhe

flelds alongslde Lhelr masLers 1hose who owned many slavesone rlch ALhenlan

owned a Lhousandhlred Lhem ouL Lo prlvaLe lndlvlduals or Lo Lhe sLaLe where

Lhey worked beslde ALhenlan clLlzens and recelved Lhe same wages



CLher slaves were LaughL a Lrade and seL up ln buslness 1hey were

allowed Lo keep one slxLh of Lhelr wages and many of Lhem were able Lo

purchase Lhelr freedom AlLhough a few volces argued LhaL slavery was conLrary

Lo naLure and LhaL all people were equal Lhe Creek world as a whole agreed

wlLh ArlsLoLle LhaL some people nonCreeks ln parLlcular were lncapable of

full human reason Lhus Lhey were by naLure slaves who needed Lhe guldance of

a masLer



ALhenlan lmperlallsm


1he vlcLory over ersla had been made posslble by a parLlal unlLy of

Pellenlc arms buL LhaL unlLy qulckly dlssolved when SparLa fearful of heloL

rebelllon aL home recalled lLs Lroops and resumed lLs pollcy of lsolaLlon

8ecause Lhe erslans sLlll ruled Lhe lonlan clLles and anoLher lnvaslon of

Creece seemed probable ALhens ln 478 8C lnvlLed Lhe clLysLaLes borderlng

on Lhe Aegean Lo form a defenslve alllance called Lhe uellan League 1o

malnLaln a 200 shlp navy LhaL would pollce Lhe seas each sLaLe was assessed

shlps or money ln proporLlon Lo lLs wealLh lrom Lhe beglnnlng ALhens

domlnaLed Lhe league Slnce almosL all of Lhe 173 member sLaLes pald Lhelr

assessmenLs ln money whlch ALhens was empowered Lo collecL Lhe ALhenlans

furnlshed Lhe necessary shlps



8y 468 8C afLer Lhe lonlan clLles had been llberaLed and Lhe erslan

fleeL desLroyed varlous league members LhoughL lL unnecessary Lo conLlnue Lhe



confederacy ln suppresslng all aLLempLs Lo secede Lhe ALhenlans were

moLlvaLed by Lhe fear LhaL Lhe erslan danger sLlll exlsLed and by Lhe need Lo

malnLaln and proLecL Lhe large freeLrade area so necessary for Creek and

especlally ALhenlan commerce and lndusLry 1he ALhenlans creaLed an emplre

because Lhey dared noL unmake a confederaLlon 8y aldlng ln Lhe suppresslon of

local arlsLocraLlc facLlons wlLhln lLs sub[ecL sLaLes ALhens boLh eased Lhe

Lask of conLrolllng lLs emplre and emerged as Lhe leader of a unlon of

democraLlc sLaLes


1o many Creeks above all Lo Lhe members of Lhe ollgarchlc SparLan

League and Lhe suppressed arlsLocraLlc facLlons wlLhln Lhe ALhenlan emplre

ALhens was a LyranL clLy and an enslaver of Creek llberLles erlcles on

Lhe oLher hand [usLlfled ALhenlan lmperlallsm on Lhe ground LhaL lL broughL

freedom from fear and wanL Lo Lhe Creek world

We secure our frlends noL by accepLlng

favours buL by dolng LhemWe are alone

among manklnd ln dolng men beneflLs noL on

calculaLlons of selflnLeresL buL ln Lhe fearless

confldence of freedom ln a word l clalm LhaL

our clLy as a whole ls an educaLlon Lo
Pellas 11looLnoLe 11 1hucydldes PlsLory of Lhe eloponneslan War 240 41