Download ARG01 - Relationship prior to Philip and Alexander

It’s all Greek to Me!
What was the historical relationship
between Macedonia and the Greek
City States?
Greek City States
Shared Characteristics
Citizenship, slavery, political exclusion of women,
the influence of Aristocrats in society and politics.
Monarchy
Sparta
Tyranny
Sicily, Samos
Democracy
Athens
Spartan Oligarchy
Oligarchy
“rule by the few”
Structure
The gerousia, which included the two kings & 28
men over 60 years, formulated proposals that
were submitted by all ‘free adult males’ (the
assembly).
Decided whether to accept or reject proposal.
Ephors counterbalanced the influence of the
Kings, gerousia and assembly.
Ephors ensured the supremacy of the law, hence
making the Kings, gerousia and assembly subject
to it.
Spartan Oligarchy
Dual Monarchy
Despite it’s oligarchal institutions, the
Spartan situation can also be viewed as a
dual monarchy because the origins of its
political system are founded in synoecism
(the union of households). Synoecism
meant that two power bases immerged
from village amalgamation, ultimately
producing two kings that served as the
religious heads of Sparta and commanders
of its army.
Spartan Power
Infantry Strength
A result of necessity.
Spartan men had to develop powerful infantry as
to retain control over neighbouring conquered
territory.
Infantry training incorporated in the routine of
daily life
Geographical Situation
Narrow isthmus easily protected in the north
Laconian mountain range to the SE of the
Peloponnese.
Treacherous seas to the south.
Spartan Weakness
Infantry Strength
Unable to compete in naval battles
Geographical Isolation
Treacherous seas made developing a navy
difficult.
Peripheral Territories
Any conquered territories that had their rights
removed provided a threat to Spartan domination
in the South.
Liberators could free them and cause a
disintegration of the Spartan power base.
Athenian Democracy
Democracy
Rule by the people
All male citizens the power to participate in
governing.
Different from Spartan Oligarchy in that
the power lay with the populous and not a
select group of individuals.
Athenian Power
The Defeat of the Persians
479 BC
Signalled the beginning of the Athenian
Golden Age.
International power, economic prosperity,
cultural development.
Democracy
Strength of the populous to make decisions
that they believe in
Sources of Conflict
Different political systems
Mutual Suspicion
Athens and Sparta became increasingly
uncomfortable with the influence that each polis
has in Greece.
Athens domination of the navy
Spartan domination of the infantry
Each saw the other as a threat to international
ambitions and internal security.
Allies
Grievances held against the other leading state.
The Peloponnesian War
Read the information on the
Peloponnesian War.
What effect did this conflict have on the
bilateral power base of Sparta and
Athens in Greece?
Situation - Summary
By 355 Greece was a nation of
independent, unallied city states. The
break down of Grecian unity, the
mistrust between Athens and Sparta
and the breakdown of traditional
political systems left Greece open to
Macedonian domination.
The Relationship
Greek Perception of Relationship
Demosthenes described Philip as a
‘barbarian’ and his marshals as ‘slaves’.
Macedonians were more interested in
drinking, brawling and hunting than the
sophisticated appreciation of the thearte
and intellectual argument.
Greeks (proper) were superior to
Macedonians
The Relationship
Macedonian Perception of Relationship
Different and superior to their Greek cousins
They were not to be ruled by the Greeks.
It is possible that they did appreciate the finer
asspects of Athenian culture. Both Philip and
Alexander appreciated Greek music and literature
as well as the other arts.
There was a begruding respect for the Greek
States born out of Athenian and Spartan military
prowess.
The Relationship
The Greek City States were traditionally
dominant Macedon was traditionally
subordinate
Resentment between the two sides was
strong
Both were independent of each other