A Naval History of the Peloponnesian War by Marc G de Santis

Author:Marc G de Santis [Marc G de Santis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

The Athenian Condundrum

In subsequent history, despite the sincere admiration granted to Sparta for the bravery of its people, Athens won the war for public perception. Athens is remembered as the fountainhead of Western civilization. It is recalled as the source of its philosophy; the originator of its unique artistic tradition; it is the wellspring of democracy. Sparta is remembered for its soldiers. Thucydides’ theatrical presentation of the conversation between the Athenians and valiant but doomed Melians is something of a morality play intended to highlight the harshness of Athenian imperial rule. It might seem that Athens would have been clearly preferable as an imperial master (if one had to have one at all) to that of Sparta if we judge such matters with the values of modern times. It seems confusing at times that so many states would wish to escape from Athens to ally themselves with a retrograde and reactionary military regime. The ancient Greeks were different from us. Not only were there still-relevant cultural cleavages based upon archaic tribal origins, i.e., the Ionians, the Dorians, etc.; there was also the matter of the relative weight of the rival power’s overlordship. The Athenians demanded tribute, whereas the Spartans did not. Sparta’s coalition was less demanding, while the yoke of Athens was noticeably heavier. The success of Brasidas in peeling away states from the Athenian Empire is proof of this. The desire on the part of subject states to be free of Athenian rule was very real, and a continuing vulnerability for Athens as the war dragged on.

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