The Ionian/Dekeleian War 413-404 Flashcards
(19 cards)
What were the implications of the Peloponnese presence at Dekeleia?
- Peloponnesian military presence disrupted Athenian access to and working of their silver mines in South-east Attica.
- Livestock constantly threatened
- Harvests plundered or destroyed
- Presence of foreign troops on Athenian soil increased the Athenian dependance on imports by sea, thus, their effective control of the Aegean.
What were the Effects on Athens and its relationship with its allies due to the Sicilian expedition?
- Syracuse and its allies in Sicily are now drawn into the Peloponnesian side: Syracuse is an important naval power.
- A large number of Athenian ships were lost, thus, decreasing Naval control of the Aegean: their allies ships were lost as well e.g., Lesbos and Chios.
- Some of Athens most important allies revolt, including Chios and many poleis in Asia Minor.
Which poleis revolts from Athens in 411?
Euboia.
What is the political situation of Persia and Sparta?
- after 413 there is a repproachment between Sparta and Persia
- Peloponnesian side still needs further naval capacity, both money for paying crews and more ships to break Athenian control of the Aegean.
- The Persians have a large naval capacity (Phoenican) and can supply naval funds.
- Sparta is fighting the war as ‘liberators’ of the Greek poleis under Athenian control. So, Persia’s main objective is to regain control of the western coast of Asia Minor.
What is in it for Persia?
- Since the mid 5th century, there had been accommodation between the Peloponnesian’s and Athens that Persia had limited control of Greek cities in Asia Minor.
- It was not unrealistic for Athens to try and persuade the Persians to reduce/remove the support of the Peloponnesian side
Thus, Persia could hope they could strain and tire both sides out.
What was founded in 411?
The oligarchy of the Four Hundred and Five Thousand
How were the Athenian’s affected by the Sicilian disaster?
- Wealthy Athenian landowners and citizens who had invested in silver mining concessions were most affected by the Peloponnesian presence in Dekeleia
- Wealthy Athenian’s affected by the need to raise funds from within Athens to compensate for the loss of tribute from allies who had defected.
Thus, believing those who were expected to place a larger sum towards the Athenian cause should have more control over decision-making.
What were the Arguments in favour for the Oligarchy?
- Decision making would be made by those who contributed mostly to the war effort
- Money could be saved by aboloshing pay for political participaton.
- replacing the democratic constitution with an oligarchic one might make it easier to strike a deal with the Persian king.
- Replacing democracy with an Oligarchy might make it more attractive for disgruntled elites in Athenian allied poleis to stay within the alliance.
What led to the fall of the Four Hundred?
- in Allied states where the Athenian oligarchs effected oligarchical revolutions, this failed to stabilise Athenian control - many went to the Peloponnesian’s.
- Increasingly unable to deliver, the Four Hundred open to secret negotiations with the Spartans, offering to hand Athens over in return for them to be kept in power as a pro-Spartan puppet regime.
- an attempt to fortify Eetioneia (a small peninsula near Piraeus harbour with a view letting Pelopennesian’s into the city) leads to the Four Hundred being overthrown and replaced with a more moderate Oligarchy based around the assembly of the 5000 wealthiest Athenians.
When was democracy restored in Athens for the first time?
410 BCE
How did the Athenians succeed in gaining back some of their control in 410?
via important naval successes, allowing them to gain some control and power.
What Athenian win was there in 406?
Battle at Arginoussai: naval battle, although a large number of troops drowned due to a storm.
As result, six of the ten generals were sentenced to death and prosecuted.
When did the Persian King agree to back the Peloponnesian’s side actively?
407: King Cyrus of Persia
At what battle did Athens lose most of its fleet?
405: Aigos Potamoi
How was Athens effected by the loss at Aigos Potamoi?
- Most of Athens fleet destroyed or captured by Peoloponnesian’s.
- Athens food supply can now be blockaded and the city of Peiraieus besieged.
- Lisander drives out all Athenian citizens from the poleis formally controlled by Athens and sent them back to Athens to increase the number of people behind walls.
- The Assembly was starved into capitalising
Soon after the Assembly voted itself out of existence, and was replaced with a narrow oligarchy
What terms did Athens have to agree to after being starved into capitalising?
The Assembly was starved into capitalising after the battle of Aigos Potamoi:
- welcome oligarchic exiles
- hand over their remaining fleet except for twelve ships
- demolish their long walls that had connected the city with its harbour.
what did the narrow oligarchy placed under Spartan rule consist of?
- Council of Thirty
- Council of 500
- Number of boards of officials
What happened under the rule of the Thirty to the Athenian population?
- The Thirty handpicked 3000 Athenians that were allowed to remain citizens with limited political influence, permission to bear arms, and protection against arbitrary execution without trial.
- The rest of the citizens were evicted from the urban centre of Athens, some went into exile, others gathered in Phyle and eventually conquered Peiraieus. From here, attacked the city centre.
Why did the Spartan King Pausanias decide to restore democracy within Athens?
May have been motivated by a desire to reduce the power of Lysander (the Thirty and the olgarchies of ten (dekerchies) in the states formerly allied to Athens was his priorities)
A further Spartan motive may have been the realisation that continued support of an unpopular oligarchy would play into the Boiotians hands.
