Athenian Aims and Intentions

Question 1

What does Thuc present as a key beginning point in Ath v Sp within our period? Reference?

Answer 1

Athens assumed the leadership of the Greek Alliance after Sparta had led it
1.95-6

Question 2

What is the reason Thuc provides for power falling to Athens? Reference?

Answer 2

Pausanias’ unpopularity
1.96

Question 3

What does Thuc present as immediately occurring after Athens assumed leadership of the Greeks (Reference)? What are the likely intentions behind this and proof for this?

Answer 3

Capture of Eïon (1.98)
Economic and commercial value of the area in terms of its trade networks, natural resources (silver, timber), and location northwards where Athens was lacking. Proved by later ref (4.102) to the place as an Ath emporion.

Question 4

In what way is Herodotus’ account of Athens taking leadership of greeks different? Reference?

Answer 4

Allies were pressuring Athenians to take power and Athens acted upon this by making Pausanias their pretext for taking control
Hdt 8.3

Question 5

How does Thuc present the character of Ath expansion and the arche?

Answer 5

tyrannical, motivated by gaining more and more power

Question 6

In Thuc’s narrative, what role does the phoros play? What measures run alongside the tribute?
Reference?

Answer 6

Means of asserting dominance and weakening the subservient state. Removal of navies,taking down walls, military alliance
1.19

Question 7

In framing the taking of leadership by Athens as a result of Pausanias’ unpopularity, how is Thuc presenting Athens’ position?

Answer 7

One that was thrust upon them rather than planned or preordained indicating a degree of ignorance

Question 8

In the expansion of Athenian power, what symbolism did city walls and their presence/absence take on? Why?

Answer 8

equation with the city’s autonomy
Upon taking control of a city, Athens ordered that they destroy their walls which made later military subjection easier

Question 9

Why would states have wanted to voluntarily join Delian League/have Athenian oversight?

Answer 9

Acted as an outsourcing of defence

Question 10

When was tribute first exacted? How much was it in total?
Reference

Answer 10

478/7.
460 talents
1.96

Question 11

Why would a state oppose the payment of tribute?

Answer 11

They disagreed with the principle
NOT the ability (or lack thereof) to pay which had been calculated seemingly rather accurately by Athens

Question 12

What was Kallet’s theory as to Athenian intentions in expansion?
How does this differ to idea in Thuc?

Answer 12

extension of borders for the sake of economic gain following the financial stress caused by Persian war
He argues for a politically dominant arche of Athens that transformed over time in political aims, becoming a tyrannical force.

Question 13

Why would the demos of subjected cities accept Athenian domination?
Who argues for this in a very class-based study of Thucydides’ Greece?

Answer 13

it was better than oligarchy
Ste Croix

Question 14

What is the term used for the period in which Thuc most extensively covers Athenian expansion?

Answer 14

pentekontaetia

Question 15

Why would Thuc have exaggerated elements in his narrative in order to build up a picture of a tyrannical Athenian democracy?

Answer 15

his aristocratic and oligarchic nature meant he was immediately suspicious of democratic leadership and power

Question 16

What does Plutarch attribute the popularity of Athens over Sparta to?

Answer 16

better treatment of allies and their soldiers in battle

Question 17

What was the tribute initially intended for?

Answer 17

funding the combined Greek efforts against the Persians

Question 18

What appears to have been Athens’ initial aim once having secured leadership of Greek alliance? Evidence? (2)

Answer 18

Solidify Greek alliance against Persians.
Staying at Sestos vs Persians following end of war (1.89)
Aristides getting all allies to swear oath against Persians when Ath took leadership (plut.vit.arist.25)

Question 19

In what way does Ste Croix argue against the idea of many of Athens’ allies feeling oppressed by their oversight?
How does Ste Croix thus challenge Thuc’s narrative?

Answer 19

Instead of the majority of people within these states feeling oppressed it was rather the oligarchs who led to revolt against Athens likely because they had little political sway.
In Thuc, the revolts are used as evidence for Athenian harsh treatment but rather it may have been more nuanced and ideological than that